Kanawha River 
Locks and Dams

Current Conditions

London Locks and Dam

Authority
River and Harbor Act of 3 July 1930.
 
Cost
Construction - $3,269,800
 
Dam
Non-navigable, gated dam, top length 557'-5-1/2 . Five roller gates, spanning 100'-3'1/2' between piers. Damming height, 26'.
 
Easements
Of an estimated 203 acres in the project, approximately 8 acres fee required for the lock site, 6 acres fee for the abutment site, and flowage easements or other lesser interests over the remaining area.
 
Hydroelectric
N/A
 
Locks
TWO PARALLEL LOCK CHAMBERS:
Landward lock is 56' wide by 360' long, with miter gates.
Riverward lock is 56' wide by 407' long, with miter gates.
 
Net Land Owned
7.6 acres fee at lock site. 5.7 acres fee at abutment site. 189.2 acres flowage easements.
 
Pools
Normal upper pool elevation 614.0' m.s.l., upper pool length 7.8 miles to head of navigation, normal upper pool surface area 700 acres, normal lower pool elevation 590.0' m.s.l., (upper pool of Marmet Dam), and normal lift 24.0'.
 
Relocations
Relocations necessary, but remedial measures required to adapt certain facilities to new pool conditions.
 
Status
All construction work is complete. The project was placed in operation during September 1933 and was completed in May 1934.  47' Extension of Riverward chamber completed in July 2003.

Contact Information

304-442-8422


How To Find Us
Kanawha River, 82.8 miles above mouth of river and about 2 miles downstream from Montgomery, WV.

 
 
Restricted Areas
           Restricted Areas photo illustration
 
 
 
 
 

Marmet Locks and Dam

The locks were opened in 1933 and the dam was completed in 1934.
A project to repair and expand the Marmet Locks and Dam was completed in 2008.  Marmet Locks and Dam are a key component of the transportation infrastructure linking the Kanawha Valley, an important chemical and coal producing area, to its raw materials supply and product markets.
 
Authority
River and Harbor Act of 3 July 1930.
 
Cost
Construction $3,565,900
 
Dam
Non-navigable, gated dam, top length 557ft-5-1/2". Five roller gates, spanning 100ft-3-1/2" between piers. Damming height, 26 feet.
 
Easements
Of an estimated 409 acres in the project, approximately 8 acres fee required for the lock site, 13 acres fee for the abutment site, and flowage easements or other lesser interests over the remaining area.
 
Hydroelectric
N/A
 
Locks
Twin locks, each of which is 56 feet wide by 360 feet long, with miter gates.
 
Net Land Owned
8.0 acres fee at lock site. 12.8 acres fee at abutment site. 388.3 acres flowage easements.
 
Pools
Normal upper pool elevation 590.0 feet, m.s.l., upper pool length 15.0 miles to London Dam, normal upper pool surface area 1,300 acres, normal lower pool elevation 566.0 feet m.s.l. (upper pool of Winfield Dam), and normal lift 24.0 feet.
 
Relocations
No extensive relocations necessary, but remedial measures required to adapt certain facilities to new pool conditions.
 
Status
All construction work is complete. The project was placed in operation during August 1933 and was completed in June 1934.

Contact Information
304-949-1175

How To Find Us
Kanawha River, 67.7 miles above mouth of River at Marmet, W. Va.

Recreation
One recreation area exist and one is proposed

 

  Restricted AreasRestricted Areas photo illustration

Winfield Locks and Dam

Authority
River and Harbor Act of 30 August 1935; New construction, Water Resources Development Act of 1986.
 
Cost
The original project construction cost $6,340,100. The new lock and gate bay cost $227,400,000.
 
Dam
Non-navigable, gated dam, top length 676'-9 . Six roller crest gates and one tainter gate, spanning 100'-3 1/2" between piers. Damming height 28'.
 
Easements
Of an estimated Easement Acreage of 1,243 acres for the project, approximately 315.53 acres fee required for the lock site, 15 acres fee for the abutment site, 4.33 acres for recreation site, and flowage easements or other lesser interests over the remaining area.
 
Hydroelectric
One license has been granted to the Kanawha Valley Power Company for Hydroelectric power plant (capacity of 14,760 KW) for a term of 30 years, effective 17 January 1984. This outgrant contains 14.62 acres that consists of a forebay area, intake structure, a powerhose, a tailrace, a substation and a transmission line.
 
Locks
New Main lock is 110' wide by 800' long with miter gates. Twin auxiliary locks each of which are 56' wide by 360' long, with miter gates.
 
Net Land Owned
315.53 acres fee at lock site. Approximatlly 12 acres fee at recreation site #1. 15 acres fee at abutment site. 1,247.2 acres flowage easements, which includes flowage rights by use permits as follows: 1.00 acre from National Youth Administration; 2.90 acres from Department of Agriculture.
 
Pools
Normal upper pool elevation 566.0' m.s.l., upper pool length 36.7 miles to Marmet Dam, normal upper pool surface area 3,100 acres, normal lower pool elevation 538.0' m.s.l., (upper pool of R.C.Byrd/Gallipolis Dam), and normal lift of 28.0'.
 
Relocations
No extensive relocations necessary, but remedial measures required to adapt certain facilities to new pool conditions.
 
Status
The original project was placed in operation during September 1935 and was completed in August 1937. The new lock chamber was placed in operation in November 1997.

 
Contact Information
304-586-2501

How To Find Us
Kanawha River, 31.1 miles above mouth of river at Winfield, WV.

Recreation
There are 5 recreation areas at lock site, visitors center, overlook, observation areas, serveral nature/wildlife habit ponds and over 1 1/2 miles of fishing acess.

 

Restricted Area

Project staff members at Winfield Locks and Dam have begun installing/maintaining "Keep Out" buoys showing the Restricted Zone around the Dam.

At this time the Huntington District would like to remind Boaters to observe Restricted Zones while near any of our Locks and Dam. Additionally, boaters are reminded to observe the "No Vessels in Lock Approach unless Locking Through" signs which are posted to prevent a collision with barges or others vessels locking through.

Winfield Locks and Dam is routinely visited by Recreational Boaters, it's our hope to make this year one of the safest ones yet! Boaters, always observe Restrictive buoys/signs and don’t forget to check all your safety gear such life jackets, throw cushions, fire extinguishers, and sound devises before entering the water. 

  Restricted Areas photo illustration