Millers Ferry Lock and Dam
Encyclopedia
Millers Ferry Lock and Dam is a lock
and hydroelectric
dam
on the Alabama River
, near the community of Millers Ferry
, Alabama
. It was built by and continues to be operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers
. Construction of the complex began in 1963 and was completed in 1974. The Millers Ferry Powerhouse came on line in 1970 and has a generating capacity of 90 megawatts. Following a history of machinery problems and failures, major repair work on the power station was authorized in 1996.
Millers Ferry Lock and Dam impounds the William "Bill" Dannelly Reservoir
. The reservoir covers 27 square miles (69.9 km²) and has approximately 500 miles (804.7 km) of shoreline.
Beginning in the spring of 2009, the Corps of Engineers began opening the dam's locks for a few hours each day in order to restore access to inland waters for migratory marine fish. Fish sampling in the lock is being conducted in order to determine which species are making use of the opening in order to refine the timing.
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...
and hydroelectric
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
on the Alabama River
Alabama River
The Alabama River, in the U.S. state of Alabama, is formed by the Tallapoosa and Coosa rivers, which unite about north of Montgomery.The river flows west to Selma, then southwest until, about from Mobile, it unites with the Tombigbee, forming the Mobile and Tensaw rivers, which discharge into...
, near the community of Millers Ferry
Millers Ferry, Alabama
Millers Ferry is an unincorporated community in Wilcox County, Alabama, United States. The Millers Ferry Lock and Dam is located near the community on the Alabama River.-Geography:Millers Ferry is located at and its elevation is .-Tornadoes:...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. It was built by and continues to be operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers
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...
. Construction of the complex began in 1963 and was completed in 1974. The Millers Ferry Powerhouse came on line in 1970 and has a generating capacity of 90 megawatts. Following a history of machinery problems and failures, major repair work on the power station was authorized in 1996.
Millers Ferry Lock and Dam impounds the William "Bill" Dannelly Reservoir
William "Bill" Dannelly Reservoir
The William "Bill" Dannelly Reservoir is a reservoir created by Millers Ferry Lock and Dam on the Alabama River in Dallas County and Wilcox County in Alabama. It covers and has approximately of shoreline...
. The reservoir covers 27 square miles (69.9 km²) and has approximately 500 miles (804.7 km) of shoreline.
Beginning in the spring of 2009, the Corps of Engineers began opening the dam's locks for a few hours each day in order to restore access to inland waters for migratory marine fish. Fish sampling in the lock is being conducted in order to determine which species are making use of the opening in order to refine the timing.