ST.PAUL, Minn. — The Army Corps will begin closing its Mississippi River locks for winter on Wednesday. The first to close:

> Lower St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam. In Minneapolis.

 > Lock and Dam 1, both. Also known as the Ford Dam at the former riverside auto-assembly plant. In St. Paul.

The closure applies both to to commercial and recreational vessels. Lock and Dam 2 in Hastings, and the other downstream locks and dams will remain open as long as weather permits, the Corps said.