Chalk up one more cost of what might be considered climate chaos brought on by global warming.

This year’s epic drought has water levels in the Mississippi River very low, enough to slow barge traffic.

And it may only get worse, as the Army Corps of Engineers holds back water on the Missouri River, which is also low, for irrigation and other needs, according to published reports.

(So far, the Ohio River is holding up better and barge traffic has not been affected, said U.S. Army Corps spokesman Todd Hornback, based in Louisville).