Skip to main content (Press Enter).
US Army Corps of Engineers
Huntington District Website
Huntington District
®
  • About
    • Leadership
    • FAQ
    • History
    • District Overview
  • Business With Us
    • Contracting
    • Freedom of Information Act
    • Flood Plain Management Services
    • SmallBusinessProgram
  • Missions
    • Civil Works
      • Recreation
      • Navigation
      • Locks and Dams
        • Belleville Locks and Dam
        • Captain Meldahl Locks and Dam
        • Greenup Locks and Dam
        • London Locks and Dam
        • Marmet Locks and Dam
        • Racine Locks and Dam
        • Robert C. Byrd Locks and Dam
        • Willow Island Locks and Dam
        • Winfield Locks and Dam
      • Water Information
      • Levee Safety Program
      • Current Projects
      • ORBA
      • Dam Safety Program
      • Buchanan County
    • Regulatory
      • Public Notices
      • Jurisdictional Determinations
    • Public Review
    • DSMMCX
    • DERP-FUDS (WVOW, PBOW, WVMA)
    • Master-Plan-List
    • PCXIN
  • Locations
    • USACE Locations
    • Huntington District Map
  • Careers
    • Equal Employment Opportunity
  • Media
    • Images
    • News Stories
    • News Releases
  • Library
  • Contact
    • RSS
  • Coronavirus

Home / Missions / Civil Works / Locks and Dams
  • Marmet Locks and Dam

    Marmet Locks and Dam

    Located at mile 67.7 of the Kanawha River, Marmet Locks and Dam was completed in 1934. The two lock chambers measure 360' by 56'. The project is located about 9 miles upstream of Charleston West Virginia, and is approximately 27 miles from the head of navigation.

    MORE

  • Belleville Locks and Dam

    Belleville Locks and Dam

    The Huntington District is home to the Belleville Locks and Dam located on the Ohio River at mile 204. Belleville Locks sit 203.9 miles below Pittsburgh, PA, and 0.5 miles below Belleville, WV. The two navigation locks are located on the right bank (Ohio side) of the river. The upper pool maintained above the dam extends upstream for a distance of 42.2 miles to Willow Island Dam. Construction Began in May 1962 and work is now completed. Construction of the locks was initiated in June 1963 and they were placed in operation 12 October 1965. The dam was started in September 1964 and the pool was raised to full height 1 November 1968. Belleville Locks and Dam is also home to the Belleville Hydroelectric Facility, which went online in April 1999.

    MORE

  • London Locks and Dam

    London Locks and Dam

    Authorized through the River and Harbor Act of 3 July 1930, the cost of construction was $3,269,800. The locks became operative in September 1933 and were completed in May 1934. The locks contain two parallel lock chambers.

    MORE

  • Winfield Locks and Dam

    Winfield Locks and Dam

    Though the purpose of the Winfield Locks and Dam is navigation, there are also 5 recreation areas; visitors center, overlook, observation areas, serveral nature/wildlife habit ponds and over 1 1/2 miles of fishing acess.

    MORE

  • R.C. Byrd Locks and Dam

    R.C. Byrd Locks and Dam

    A brilliant double rainbow lights up the sky above Robert C. Byrd Locks and Dam.

    MORE

R.C. Byrd Locks and Dam

  • How To Lock Through
    1. Stay between red and black buoys. They mark the river's navigable channel.
    2. On a down river approach, a dam is difficult to see. Be dam conscious and know your location on the river with regard to each dam and lock. Keep a sharp lookout for the Danger Dam signs and the white and orange pillar buoys which mark the dam. Be aware the buoys are not in the river year round and they can move off-station due to river flows. All water immediately above and below each dam are danger areas. It is recommended that boaters refer to Navigation Charts which provide valuable information on the location of the dams and other structures in the river.
    3. Personal watercraft of the 'sit down' variety are allowed to lock through, but must enter and depart according to the lock operator's instructions. The craft must remain stable. The operator must wear a Coast Guard-approved PFD, known as a personal floatation device, at all times and remain seated when the craft is not in motion. The 'stand up' variety of watercraft must be tied-off to an approved vessel during approach, lockage and departure with the operator remaining on-board the approved vessel until clear of the lock approach wall.
    4. When approaching a lock, wait for the lock operator to signal that you may enter. Craft going downstream should stay in the clear 400 feet upstream from the end of the guide wall until the signal to enter is received. This is particularly true if large craft are about to leave the lock and are headed in your direction.
    5. Vessels desiring lockage shall on approaching the lock give the following signal at a distance of not more than one mile from the lock: one long blast of the whistle followed by one short blast. (Whistles for the convenience of small craft operators are located at the ends of the guide walls at some of the locks.)
    6. Traffic signal lights guide you at all navigation locks on the Ohio and Kanawha rivers. They look like automobile traffic lights.
    7. The lock operator may, in addition to the traffic lights, signal you with an air horn.
       
      Traffic Light Signals
      Flashing Red -- Stand clear -- Do Not Enter
      Flashing Amber -- Approach lock but under full control
      Flashing Green -- Enter

      Lock Air Horn Signals
      One Long Blast -- Enter landward lock
      Two Long Blasts -- Enter riverward lock
      One Short Blast -- Leave landward lock
      Two Short Blasts -- Leave riverward lock
    8. Carry aboard at least 50 feet of mooring line to be used during lockages to tie crafts safely to the lock wall. Crafts without a proper mooring line may not be locked. Do not tie up to ladders or recessed mooring pins along the wall. Follow the instructions of the lock operator as to the mooring location.
    9. Make sure there is a mooring ring or similar device on the boat to which a mooring line can be tied.
    10. Small boats with only one person aboard may use one long line securely fastened at one end of the boat with a bight of the line around the mooring post on the lock wall and the free end of the line around a cleat at the other end of the boat. This will allow the person at the free end of the line to pay out or take in mooring as the water level changes.
    11. Stand by to pay out or take in mooring line as the water level in the lock rises or falls.
    12. Larger boats should use two separate mooring lines leading from bow to stern to separate mooring posts on the lock wall. This will require a person at each end of the boat to pay out or take in mooring lines as the water level changes.
    13. In locks with floating mooring bitts, place the mooring line around the mooring post on the floating mooring bitt. It will not be necessary for the lock operator to handle the craft line.
    14. Use fenders to save damage to boats and to lockwalls. Old rope makes good fenders.
    15. Passengers should remain seated during lockage.
    16. Always wear a PFD (life jacket) when it is necessary to handle lines on deck or in rough weather.
    17. Lock operators have been given the same authority over your boat in the lock as traffic policemen have over cars at intersections. For everyone's safety, obey their instructions.
    18. Wait for the lock operator's signal to leave the lock. Travel at a reduced speed on entering and leaving the lock.
    19. Keep away from the stern of passing tows. The stern waves are apt to capsize small craft.
    20. Avoid passing across the head or line of travel of tows. Tows cannot be maneuvered to change course quickly.
    21. Keep away from the head of barges moored along the shore. Small craft may be carried under the barges by the undertow.

Locks and Dams

Belleville Locks and Dam

Captain Meldahl Locks and Dam

Greenup Locks and Dam

London  Locks and Dam

Marmet Locks and Dam

Racine Locks and Dam

Robert C. Byrd Locks and Dam

Willow Island Locks and Dam

Winfield Locks and Dam

Useful Links

  • Corps Locks
  • River Information
  • National Weather Service

Navigation Charts

  • Navigation Maps & Charts

      

ESSAYONS
Our Mission

Deliver vital engineering solutions, in collaboration with our partners, to secure our Nation, energize our economy, and reduce disaster risk.

About the Huntington District Website

This is the official public website of the Huntington District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. For website corrections, write to public.affairs@lrh01.usace.army.mil

  • Accessibility
  • Contact Us
  • Quality Facts
  • Link Disclaimer
  • No Fear Act
  • Privacy & Security
  • Site Map
  • USA.gov
  • Open Government
  • Plain Language
  • Small Business
  • EEO & SHARP
U.S. Army
  • IG
  • RSS
  • FOIA
  • iSALUTE