Starved Rock Lock and Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Starved Rock Lock and Dam |
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Barges passing through Starved Rock Lock and Dam
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| Official name | Lock and Dam No. 6 |
| Location | LaSalle County/Utica, Illinois (Starved Rock State Park), United States |
| Coordinates | 41°19′21″N 88°59′8″W / 41.32250°N 88.98556°W |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1926 |
| Opening date | 1933 |
| Operator(s) | United States Army Corps of Engineers |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Gravity dam |
| Impounds | Illinois River |
| Height | 34 ft (10 m) |
| Length | 1,310 ft (400 m) |
| Width (base) | 33 ft (10 m) |
| Spillway type | Controlled |
The Starved Rock Lock and Dam, also known as Lock and Dam No. 6, is a large structure on the Illinois River. It helps boats travel safely along the river. This important facility is managed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, which is a part of the U.S. military that builds and manages public works.
The lock and dam are part of the Illinois Waterway, a system of rivers and canals that connect different parts of the country. It was built a long time ago, between 1926 and 1933. Because of its history and importance, the Starved Rock Lock and Dam was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. This means it's recognized as a special place worth preserving.
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Where is the Starved Rock Lock and Dam?
The Starved Rock Lock and Dam is the southernmost facility on the original Illinois Waterway. It is located on the Illinois River near a small village called Utica in north-central Illinois.
You can find it at river mile 231, which is a way of measuring distance along a river. It's just upstream from Plum Island, a place known for its eagles. The United States Army Corps of Engineers operates this facility today.
Building the Starved Rock Lock and Dam
The Starved Rock Lock and Dam was built between 1926 and 1933. It was a key part of the larger Illinois Waterway project. The main goal of this huge project was to create a clear path for boats. This path would stretch all the way from the Great Lakes down to the Gulf of Mexico by way of the Mississippi River.
Building the lock and dam was a big challenge. The first plan for construction in 1923 didn't work out. After some legal issues about the land were fixed, a second plan was started in 1926. The project was almost finished when the state of Illinois ran into money problems. So, the federal government stepped in to help.
With help from a law called the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1930, the federal government made sure the Starved Rock Lock and Dam was completed in 1933. The total cost to build it was a lot of money, with both the state and federal government contributing.
How the Lock and Dam Works
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The Starved Rock Lock and Dam has two main parts: the dam and the lock.
The Dam: Holding Back Water
The dam itself is a long, strong wall made of reinforced concrete. It's about 1,310 feet (400 m) long. This wall helps control the water level of the river. It has a section called a "head gate" and a "controlled spillway." The spillway is a part of the dam that can open to let extra water flow through, preventing floods.
The dam is quite wide at its bottom, about 33 feet (10 m). Its height above the riverbed changes, but it can be as tall as 34 feet (10 m).
The Lock: A Water Elevator for Boats
The lock at Starved Rock is like a special "water elevator" for boats. It allows boats to move from one water level to another. This lock is 110 by 600 feet (34 by 183 m) in size.
When a boat wants to go through, it enters the lock chamber. Large gates at each end of the lock open and close. Water is either added to the chamber to raise the boat or removed to lower it. This lock can raise or lower boats by about 18 feet (5.5 m). The walls of the lock chamber are very tall, about 38 feet (12 m).
Who Designed It?
The design of the Starved Rock Lock and Dam was led by an engineer named Walter Mickle Smith. He was the Chief Design Engineer for the entire Illinois Waterway Project. He worked with Mortimer Grant Barnes, who was chosen by the Governor of Illinois to oversee the project.
Both Smith and Barnes had worked together before on the famous Panama Canal locks. They were experts in building large water projects. They used their experience to create the detailed plans for the locks and dams along the Illinois River.
A Historic Place
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Starved Rock Lock and Dam Historic District
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A close-up of the dam at Lock and Dam No. 6
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| Nearest city | Ottawa, Illinois |
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| Area | 27.9 acres (11.3 ha) |
| Built | 1933 |
| Architect | Walter Mickle Smith |
| MPS | Illinois Waterway Navigation System Facilities MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 04000166 |
| Added to NRHP | March 10, 2004 |
On March 10, 2004, the Starved Rock Lock and Dam was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It became known as the Starved Rock Lock and Dam Historic District. This happened because it was part of a larger group of important sites along the Illinois Waterway. On the same day, seven other lock and dam sites on the Waterway were also added to the National Register.
This historic district is important for three main reasons:
- Engineering: It shows amazing engineering skills used to build such a large structure.
- Transportation: It played a huge role in moving goods and people by water.
- Maritime History: It's a key part of the history of boats and shipping on rivers.
The historic district includes five buildings and structures. Some of these are considered "contributing members," meaning they help show why the district is important. The Starved Rock Lock and Dam Historic District covers about 27.95 acres (113,100 m2).
