Very few understand the importance of our nation's inland waterways system, to the economy and geopolitics; to American farmers, energy producers/providers, and manufacturers/constructors; to the supply chain; and to our environment and our quality of life. The inland waterways move sixty-five percent of U.S. grain for export, add 540,000 jobs to the workforce, massively reduce traffic congestion on our roads/rails, and offer the most environmentally sound way to move critical commodities the U.S. and the world depend upon. This course will shed light on the necessity of this system.