Point Marion Lock and Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Point Marion Lock and Dam |
|
|---|---|
Looking downstream at Point Marion Lock and Dam.
|
|
| Location | Dunkard / Springhill townships, Greene County, near Point Marion, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates | 39°43′38″N 79°54′39″W / 39.72722°N 79.91083°W |
| Construction began | 1923 |
| Opening date | 1926 |
| Operator(s) | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Monongahela River |
| Height | 15 ft (4.6 m) |
| Length | 638 ft (194 m) |
| Reservoir | |
| Total capacity | 11,500 acre⋅ft (14,200,000 m3) |
| Catchment area | 2,751 sq mi (7,130 km2) |
| Surface area | 704 acres (285 ha) |
The Point Marion Lock and Dam is an important structure on the Monongahela River in Pennsylvania. It used to be called Lock and Dam Number 8. This dam is one of nine special structures that help boats travel safely on the river. These structures are located between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Fairmont, West Virginia.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers built and takes care of the Point Marion Lock and Dam. It creates a long, deep pool of water upstream, which is about 11.2 miles (18.0 km) long. This pool stretches all the way to the next dam, called the Morgantown Lock and Dam. The dam is located at river mile 90.5, which means it's 90.5 miles (or 145.6 kilometers) from where the Monongahela River starts.
Contents
What is a Lock and Dam?
Rivers are not always deep enough for large boats to travel easily. They can also have different water levels. A lock and dam system helps solve these problems.
How Dams Help
A dam is like a big wall built across a river. It holds back water to create a deeper area called a "pool" or "reservoir." This deeper water makes it easier for boats to float and move. The Point Marion Dam is a "gated dam," meaning it has gates that can be opened or closed to control the water flow.
How Locks Help Boats Move
A lock is like a special "water elevator" for boats. It helps boats move from one water level to another. Imagine a boat needing to go from a lower part of the river to a higher part, or vice versa. The lock makes this possible.
Point Marion Lock: A Closer Look
The Point Marion Lock and Dam has one lock chamber. This chamber is like a big concrete box on one side of the river. It is 84 feet (26 m) wide and 720 feet (220 m) long.
How the Lock Works for Boats
When a boat wants to pass through, it enters the lock chamber. Large gates close behind it. Then, water is either added to the chamber (to raise the boat) or drained from it (to lower the boat). Once the water level inside the lock matches the water level on the other side, the front gates open, and the boat can continue its journey. This system allows barges and other vessels to transport goods like coal and steel along the Monongahela River.
More Than Just for Boats
The reservoir created by the Point Marion Dam does more than just help boats. It also provides water for towns and factories nearby. This means it's a source of clean water for people to drink and for industries to use in their operations.
History of the Dam
The construction of the Point Marion Lock and Dam began in 1923. It took about three years to build, and it officially opened in 1926. For almost a century, it has played a vital role in river transportation and water supply in the region.
