The In's and Out's of Locking Through a Dam By RiverBill

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The In's and Out's of Locking Through a Dam

By RiverBill
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Mississippi River Locks and Dams Why ?

• To achieve a 9-foot channel in the Upper
  Mississippi River, the construction of a system
  of navigation locks and dams was authorized in
  1930. Dams are built on rivers to hold back water
  and form deeper navigation "pools." Most pools in
  the United States are maintained at a constant
  minimum water depth of 9 feet for safe
  navigation. Dams allow river vessels to use a
  series of locks to "step" up or down the river
  from one water level to another. The Corps
  operates the locks and dams on the Mississippi
  River for navigation, not flood control. The
  locks and dams create slack-water pools for
  navigation during periods of low- and
  moderate-level water. For each pool, there is a
  primary control point, where a predetermined
  water elevation must be kept for navigation.
• Reprinted from US Army Corps of Engineers website

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• How a Lock Works
• Lockage is completed by using a system of valves
  to raise and lower the water level in the lock
  chamber. The filling valves are opened to allow
  water to enter the chamber, making it the same
  height as the upper pool, and the emptying valves
  are opened to allow water to drain out, making
  the chamber the same height as the lower pool.
  There are two sets of valves, the filling valves
  (located at the upper pool) and the emptying
  valves (located at the lower pool).
• During the process, no pumps are used, the
  chamber is operated solely on gravity
• Source USACE

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How to contact Lock Master

• Signal Lock Master by using signal cords located
  on guide walls
• Signal for lockage by using the signal cords
  located at the midpoints of the upper and lower
  guide walls. Look for the sign "Small Craft Pull
  Cord To Signal For Lockage."
• Hail Lock Master on marine radio
• Identify your self as a north or southbound
  pleasure craft wanting to lock through
• Identify boat name
• Ask for approximate wait time
• Call Lock Master on cell phone
• Identify your self as a north or southbound
  pleasure craft wanting to lock through
• Identify boat name
• Ask for approximate wait time

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Mississippi RiverLock Dam Phone Numbers
Marine Radio Channels

• Lock and Dam 24, Clarksville, Missouri
• 573 242-3524 CH. 14
• Lock and Dam 25, Winfield, Missouri
• 314-566-8120 CH. 12
• Lock and Dam 26, Alton, Illinois
• 618 462-1713 CH. 14
• Lock and Dam 27, Granite City, Illinois
• 618 452-7107 CH. 12

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Safety Equipment

• Safety
• Wear life jacket
• Dont put your body between lock wall and boat
• Equipment
• Boat fenders
• Paddle or dock pole to keep boat off lock wall

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Preparing to lock through

• Highly recommend using fenders between concrete
  lock wall and boat
• Some boaters even cover bumpers in a trash bag.
  Lock walls have a pretty rough surface and
  usually have a bit of river slime on them
• Put your fenders out before entering lock.
  Usually on same side of lock as lock office.
• Get a paddle or dock pole out to help keep boat
  off lock wall

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When Do you Enter the LockLock Traffic Signals

• No lights shown
• Wait Contact Lock Master
• Red Light
• Stand clear DO NOT approach
• Yellow Light
• Approach lock under full control
• Green Light
• Enter lock

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Entering the Lock

• Lock Master will open lock gates
• Lock Master will signal when OK to enter
• Traffic signal has Green light
• Some blow a horn also
• Enter lock at no wake speed and locate mooring
  lines hanging along lock wall. Lock worker may
  also give instructions as to where to position
  boat along lock wall

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Preparing to lock through

• Hold rope to keep boat in position
• DO NOT TIE ROPE TO BOAT !
• Be aware of whats going on around you
• As water goes up or down the boats around you may
  move position and get close to your boat.

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Locking through

• Lock Master closes lock gates
• Lock Master raises or lowers water in lock to
  level of next pool
• Lock Master opens lock gates
• Lock Master signals when boats are allowed to
  leave lock chamber, usually with a short horn
  blast

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• Full lock headed southbound
• Pool 25 Party 2009

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Leaving Lock

• Push off from lock wall, leave rope
• Proceed at No Wake speed

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Leaving the Lock
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The Ups and Downs of Locking Through

• Some locks have special weekend hours for
  pleasure craft
• Sometimes you must wait in line with the tows
• When the lock is damaged or some problem arises,
  your stuck and have to wait.

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Thanks for Locking ThroughWithRiverBill