Where are the locks on the Ohio River?

The McAlpine Locks and Dam is located on the Ohio River 604.5 miles below Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at the northwestern end of Louisville, Kentucky, in the Portland neighborhood. The navigation locks are located on the Kentucky side of the river at mile 606.8.

How do you get through the Ohio River locks?

Enter the lock at idle speed. When approaching a lock at idle speed, sound one long blast followed by one short blast to indicate your desire to lock through. On the Ohio River, use the pull chain located on the short lock wall to activate the whistle.

Where is dam 50 on the Ohio River?

Dam 50 Ohio River 50 on the Ohio River, just above Fords Ferry in this county.

What is a wicket dam?

Overview: Wicket gates are essentially movable dams used to help maintain a navigational pool in a river. Ninety-five percent of the dams managed by Army Corps of Engineers are more than 30 years old and more than half of these dams have exceeded their 50-year service life.

When did the United States complete construction of the dam using the Lock & Dam concept?

The completion of Montgomery Locks and Dam on the Ohio River in 1936 introduced the first gated dam to the Ohio River Navigation System, originally comprised of a series of 52 movable wicket dams along the entire 981-mile Ohio River.

Are there locks and dams on the Ohio River?

In order to better navigate the Ohio River, the US Army Corps of Engineers designed a system of locks and dams. Approved by Congress in 1910, the initial project produced 51 wooden wicket dams and locks along the length of the river. Today, there are 21 locks on the Ohio River.

How many dams are there on Ohio River?

There are 20 dams on the Ohio River, managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. The dams have greatly changed the flow of the river, creating a series of very slow moving pools rather than a free flowing river.

How do locks and dams work?

A series of locks enable river vessels to “step” up or down a river or canal from one water level to another. The higher water in the lock chamber drains to the downstream level in a few minutes. Then, the downstream gate is opened and the boat moves out on the lower water level.

What is a wicket in a lock and dam?

Project: Peoria Lock & Dam. Product: Wicket Gates. Overview: Wicket gates are essentially movable dams used to help maintain a navigational pool in a river. The gates are raised during periods of low water.

Where are the Smithland locks and dam in Illinois?

The locks are on the Illinois side of the Ohio River accessible via the New Liberty Road reached from either Golconda or Brookport, Illinois. The Smithland Locks and Dam was authorized on December 8, 1965, as a replacement for existing Locks and Dam 50 and 51, under authority of Section 6 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of March 3, 1909.

Where are the lock and dam on the Ohio River?

dam in Kentucky/Illinois border. Smithland Lock and Dam is the 18th Lock and dam on the Ohio River, 919 miles down stream of Pittsburgh and 63 miles upstream from the confluence of the Mississippi with the Ohio. There are 2 locks for commercial barge traffic that are 1,200 feet long by 110 feet wide.

When did they start building the Smithland locks?

Smithland Locks’ construction started in 1971 and was placed in operation 1979. The dam construction started in 1974 and was completed in November 1980. The two Smithland Locks are each 110 feet wide and 1,200 feet long.

Where is the Smithland hydro project in KY?

Hydro Project Smithland. Smithland is located approximately 62 river miles upstream of the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, in Livingston County, Ky.