Wicket Locks and
Dams
Photos & Stories
November 19, 2007
I
noticed this morning that the Ohio River pool elevations are maintained
at a depth of 1' higher than normal pool. Normal pool is 12' at most
locations on the river. That gives towing companies an extra three feet
below their 9' draft barges. Most companies push the draft limit to 11'
on their barges.
Lakes maintain water elevations for drinking water and
flood control.
The Ohio River where I worked for 30 years maintained
9' water elevations to move cargo from upper end of the river to the lower
end of the river. River depth is maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers
who in turn hire dredges to remove silt and sand away from the river channels.
When I first started working on the Ohio River the dredges moved the silt
and sand to the bank where farmers moved the soil to an appropriate area;
by removing the silt and sand in this way the rivers were wide and deep.
In today's environment the dredged silt and sand is not allowed to leave
the river and small islands are created making the river smaller and shallower.
The volume of water stored in the Ohio river is at least half of what it
was 30 years ago because the sand and silt is only moved to other areas
by natural water erosion and silting methods; the earths gravity is always
wanting to flatten the earth so it moves silt and sand to low points and
banks.
***
By removing the silt from all area lakes in the south, more
water can be stored in reservoirs and lakes. Ingram
Materials in Paducah Kentucky removes sand and gravel from the river
locally.By removing the silt from all area lakes in the south, more water
can be stored in reservoirs and lakes. Local county and city lakes can
buy or hire dredges to dig their lakes deeper. Environmental law will have
to be changed to accommodate the idea of moving the silt and sand to the
lake banks. Local area grant money in todays environment
is used to bring families to rural areas not to dig their lakes deeper.
Photos
Wicket Home Page
Lock and Dam 2007 Christmas
Reunion at Newburgh Locks and Dam
Tom's Lock and Dam Stories
Tom's Lock and Dam Ice Photos
Lock and Dam 50 Highwater Photo
Lock and Dam 50 Photos and Stories
The Mississippi Queen at Lock
50
The Mississippi Queen Up Over
the Pass at Dam 50
Lock and Dam 52 Photos and Stories
Weston
Photos and Stories by Bonnie Gass
Blowing up Lock and Dam
50
Lock
and Dam 50 Today
A Time to Dredge
Ohio River
3 Day Forecast
Lock
50 Today Video
If you would like to place a Wicket Dam photo or Wicket
Dam story on this website please send
a jpeg photo and caption to:
TomLaurelD@gmail.com or call
270 965 2621
Page
Created by NARFE
Crittenden
County Local Chapter 1373