BK’s World~L&D #3 Tour

I called Everts and told them I was sick today, then left to take a tour of Lock and Dam #3. Worked out well. Steve and Kari haven’t a clue I was playing sick.

The visitor area has been closed for the last two years while the new construction was underway. My tour guide George, thought that it would be opening up this spring.

Seeing all the NO TRESPASSING signs on the way to the Lock and Dam reminded me that I was passing the Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plant. It’s this power plant that keeps the water from freezing and allows boat fishing the 11 miles from the head of Lake Pepin up to the Dam throughout the winter months.

Once arriving at the secure area, the security gates were open and I was allowed to drive up to the lock area were I was met by George.

George and I chatted a bit, then it was off to the dam for what turned out to be the highlight of the tour for me. We crossed the catwalk over the lock, then followed the side walk to the dam.

The first photo is of the door that leads to the top of the dam. Once on top, I tried not to look down through the grates to the water below. My knees were getting a little rubbery.

The Lock and Dam was placed into service in July of 1938 as part of the 9 foot navigational project focused on commercial traffic up and down the Mississippi River.

Dam consists of concrete 365′ long with 4 roller gates. Each one of the towers houses the machinery to raise and lower the rollers to maintain the 9′ channel up stream on Pool 3. Lock and Dam #4 in Alma mostly controls Pool 4.

The next couple photos are looking down at the rollers.

I’ve fished extensively as close as I can legally go on the downstream side of the dam. I’ve often thought how nice it would be to get closer.

Today, after looking at the water just behind the rollers I’ve changed my mind. When they talk about “The drowning machine” around these dam, they are not kidding. Looking down that water is flowing up stream to the roller and then going down and down stream only to come back up and flow up towards the rollers again. I have a new respect for that area of the dam.

I asked George about the boaters that bypass the lock during high water when the rollers are raised up out of the water.

His response surprised me a bit. I know it’s not legal to take that “short cut”, but he was telling me that many times during high water the logs and trees will float down stream and get caught between the concrete towers. The eventually will be pulled down under the surface so they are visible from his point of view, the the boater wouldn’t be able to see them until it’s too late.

This is not an area a person would want to be without power. Take the extra 10 minutes to use the lock or take the chance to have a life threatening mishap or at best, a chance to visit with the sheriff. You’re choice.

Because of the events of 9/11, there are areas I was not allowed to take photo’s and my video camera was not allowed.

I did get a quick shot of two Idoer’s fishing near the dam. Didn’t see them catch a fish though, but I wasn’t watching too closely either.

Next photo is a shot taken down stream of the dam and the following photo is up stream, Pool 3.

When George told me to dress warm and wear a Snow Suit, I thought he was kidding. It’s Damn windy on top of the Dam!

The last photo is of the WI side and the finished Lower Embankment Project. This was finished up this fall with the main goal of ensuring the river wouldn’t erode around the dam.

Great pictures and thanks for sharing

Just curious, did he say what temp the discharge is and is it constant throught the yr??

Walking back over to the lock side I asked George about the single lock gate that looks like a doorway to Pool 3. Apparently this was common practice when building the dam’s in case it was necessary to add a second lock chamber.

The first two photos are of a tainter valve well. This would be the area the chamber filling valve would be installed if a second lock was needed. Planning ahead.

HERE is a link to the Corp of Engineers website that talks about the Lock and Dams that are in the St Paul District.

HERE is an animated view of how a lock operates.

Lock is 110 feet wide by 600 feet long.

When a tow that’s longer then 600 feet long, it will need to be broken apart and locked up in two sections. Since the first section to be locked up doesn’t have any power, the lock operator uses a winch (photo) to pull this section out of the lock and then retrieve the last portion of the tow.

For anyone that has waited two plus hours for a barge to lock through, generally the split is what’s taking so long.

What impressed me the most about the lock was as big as it is, it operates on a simple theory allowing the river to do most of the work.

*Open a gate, let the vessel in.
*Closed the gate, open the valve and water rushes in and raises the vessel.
*Open the gate to let the vessel out.

Then reverse the process to go down stream.

Of course it takes some large machinery to do this, but that’s the theory.

Safety and security is evident from the time I entered the property to the time I left. Signs talking about “restricted access” and “life jackets beyond this point” are sprinkled around the lock and dam.

Between locking and adjusting the dam rollers, maintenance takes up much of the operators day. Everything from greasing the roller chains to waxing the control room floor keeps the operators busy.

I would like to thank George for the time taken today to walk me around his place of work and talk about the workings and history. All the operators at “3” are exceptionally friendly and helpful.

Lock and Dam #3 will be closing on December 3rd for the season.

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Great pictures and thanks for sharing

Just curious, did he say what temp the discharge is and is it constant throught the yr??

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Excel Energy has specific and strict guideline on what the temp of their discharge into the main river is. George and I didn’t talk much about the power plant, but from past talks, I believe the discharge temp can’t be more then 5 degrees higher then the rivers temp.

Short answer: 5 degrees F.

Long answer…. Link to PDF<< Starting on page B-2.

Thanks Brian that is some great info and awesome pictures.

In your first picture that is a pretty skinny neck pillow on your dash for your full sized head.

From out of the fields of IA….ZING!

Brian, great info and photo’s. Must have been an interesting tour.

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I asked George about the boaters that bypass the lock during high water when the rollers are raised up out of the water.

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I can not believe boaters actually do that…boggles my mind.

Very good info here BK.
Turk