Lock and Dam No. 6 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lock and Dam No. 6 |
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Mississippi River Lock and Dam number 6.
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 Location of Lock and Dam No. 6 in Wisconsin
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| Location | Trempealeau County, Wisconsin / Winona County, Minnesota, United States. Near Trempealeau, Wisconsin. |
| Coordinates | 43°59′59″N 91°26′18″W / 43.99972°N 91.43833°W |
| Construction began | 1933 |
| Opening date | June 1936 |
| Operator(s) |  U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Upper Mississippi River |
| Length | 893 feet (272.2 m)(movable portion) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Pool 6 |
| Total capacity | 180,000 acre⋅ft (0.22 km3) |
| Catchment area | 60,030 sq mi (155,500 km2) |
Lock and Dam No. 6 is an important structure on the Upper Mississippi River. It helps boats travel safely and manages water levels. This lock and dam is located near Trempealeau, Wisconsin, at river mile 714.1. It was first opened in June 1936. The United States Army Corps of Engineers operates and maintains this facility.
Contents
What is Lock and Dam No. 6?
Lock and Dam No. 6 is a key part of the Mississippi River waterway system. It includes two main parts: a lock and a dam. The dam controls the water level, creating a calm pool for boats. The lock acts like a water elevator, lifting or lowering boats so they can pass the dam.
How Locks and Dams Help Boats
Imagine a staircase for boats! That's how a lock works.
- When a boat needs to go upstream (against the current), it enters the lock chamber.
- The gates close, and water fills the chamber, lifting the boat to the higher water level.
- Then, the upstream gates open, and the boat continues its journey.
- For boats going downstream, the process is reversed. Water is released from the chamber, lowering the boat.
This system allows large barges and other vessels to move goods along the river. It makes river travel possible even where the river's natural level changes.
Building and Upgrading the Dam
Construction on Lock and Dam No. 6 began in 1933. It was finished and started working in June 1936. This project was a big effort by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. They are responsible for many waterways across the country. The dam underwent a major update and repair project from 1989 to 1999. This work helped keep the dam safe and working well for many more years.
Key Features of the Dam
The dam part of Lock and Dam No. 6 is quite large.
- It has a concrete structure that is about 893 feet (272 meters) long.
- This structure includes five special gates called roller gates and ten tainter gates. These gates can be opened or closed to control the flow of water.
- There is also a long earth wall, or embankment, which is about 2,600 feet (792 meters) long.
- A concrete overflow area, called a spillway, is 1,000 feet (305 meters) long. This allows extra water to flow over safely during floods.
The lock itself is also very big. It is 110 feet (34 meters) wide and 600 feet (183 meters) long. This size allows it to handle large towboats pushing many barges at once.
Images for kids
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Lock and Dam No. 6 on the Mississippi River.
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An aerial view of Lock and Dam No. 6.
