Cannelton Locks and Dam
Encyclopedia
The Cannelton Locks and Dam is a concrete dam connected to two locks
on the Ohio River
at river mile 720.8. It is three miles (5 km) upstream from Cannelton, Indiana
. The project was approved on January 27, 1960 by the Secretary of the Army under authority of Section 6 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, approved March 3, 1909, to replace the existing Locks 43, 44 and 45.
s. The gates are held between 15 feet (4.6 m) piers. Each gate is 42 feet (12.8 m) high and 100 feet (30.5 m) long. Electric hoists on top of the piers are used to raise or lower the gates. At the end of the gated section of the dam there is second section, a concrete fixed weir
on the Ketucky side of the river. The weir is 195 feet (59.4 m) long.
The upper pool is normally at an elevation of 383 feet (116.7 m), mean sea level and the lower pool elevation is 358 feet (109.1 m), mean sea level. The lift (difference) between the two pool is 25 feet (7.6 m).
25 million USgals (94,635.3 m³) of water is required to operate the lock.
The locks reduce travel time because it enables large commercial tows to go through only one lockage rather than the three locks it replaced. Also the large lock chamber allows a large vessels to pass through the lock in a single operation instead of using smaller lock sections.
The construction of the locks began in July 1963. The locks began operation in December 1966 and were completed April 1967. Construction on the dam started in August 1965 and the dam was completed in 1974. The structure was designed, built, and is operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers
Louisville District.
There were 128 acre (0.51799808 km²) of overlook property that was initially built during the construction project. In 1995, the property was excessed to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
for use as a wildlife habitat.
Lock (water transport)
A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...
on the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
at river mile 720.8. It is three miles (5 km) upstream from Cannelton, Indiana
Cannelton, Indiana
Cannelton is a city in Troy Township, Perry County, Indiana, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 1,209 at the 2000 census. Cannelton, which is the smallest incorporated city in the state, was formerly the county seat of Perry County until the seat was relocated to Tell City...
. The project was approved on January 27, 1960 by the Secretary of the Army under authority of Section 6 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, approved March 3, 1909, to replace the existing Locks 43, 44 and 45.
Dam
The Cannelton Dam has two sections. The main section is 1412 feet (430.4 m) long with twelve tainter gateTainter gate
The Tainter gate is a type of radial arm floodgate used in dams and canal locks to control water flow. It is named for Wisconsin structural engineer Jeremiah Burnham Tainter....
s. The gates are held between 15 feet (4.6 m) piers. Each gate is 42 feet (12.8 m) high and 100 feet (30.5 m) long. Electric hoists on top of the piers are used to raise or lower the gates. At the end of the gated section of the dam there is second section, a concrete fixed weir
Weir
A weir is a small overflow dam used to alter the flow characteristics of a river or stream. In most cases weirs take the form of a barrier across the river that causes water to pool behind the structure , but allows water to flow over the top...
on the Ketucky side of the river. The weir is 195 feet (59.4 m) long.
Locks
The Cannelton Locks run parallel to each other on the Indiana side of the river. There are two locks alongside the dam, the main lock which measures 110 feet (33.5 m) by 1200 feet (365.8 m) and the auxiliary lock that is 110 feet (33.5 m) by 600 feet (182.9 m). The locks can be filled or emptied in around 8 minutes.The upper pool is normally at an elevation of 383 feet (116.7 m), mean sea level and the lower pool elevation is 358 feet (109.1 m), mean sea level. The lift (difference) between the two pool is 25 feet (7.6 m).
25 million USgals (94,635.3 m³) of water is required to operate the lock.
The locks reduce travel time because it enables large commercial tows to go through only one lockage rather than the three locks it replaced. Also the large lock chamber allows a large vessels to pass through the lock in a single operation instead of using smaller lock sections.
Construction
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
Louisville District.
There were 128 acre (0.51799808 km²) of overlook property that was initially built during the construction project. In 1995, the property was excessed to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
for use as a wildlife habitat.
Statistics
- Construction period (total): July 1963 – 1974
- Construction cost: $98,040,000 million ($672,590,000 million adjusted for inflationInflationIn economics, inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services. Consequently, inflation also reflects an erosion in the purchasing power of money – a...
) - Dam length: 1817 ft (553.8 m)
- Upper pool area: runs upstream 114 miles (183.5 km) to the McAlpine Locks and Dam.
Highway
Indiana State Road 66Indiana State Road 66State Road 66 is an east–west highway in six counties in the southernmost portion of the U.S. state of Indiana.-Route description:State Road 66 begins at the eastern end of a toll bridge over the Wabash River in New Harmony and ends at U.S. Route 150 east of Hardinsburg...
to CanneltonCannelton, IndianaCannelton is a city in Troy Township, Perry County, Indiana, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 1,209 at the 2000 census. Cannelton, which is the smallest incorporated city in the state, was formerly the county seat of Perry County until the seat was relocated to Tell City...
(West) and RomeRome, IndianaRome is an unincorporated community along the Ohio River in southeastern Tobin Township, Perry County, Indiana, United States. It lies across the river from Stephensport, Kentucky and just off Indiana State Road 66 above the city of Tell City, the county seat of Perry County. Its elevation is...
(East).