Unhindered barge traffic is an old sight on the lower Mississippi River, but similar traffic on many rivers and streams is impossible without man-made aids to ensure a navigable channel during low water seasons. Modern concrete locks and dams on the Pearl, Ouachita, and Red rivers provide year-round navigation for commercial and pleasure river traffic.

The three Pearl River locks, located in southern Louisiana, were transferred to Vicksburg from the Mobile District. Though operable, the locks were placed in caretaker status in the 1970s because of lack of adequate traffic. However, the potential for renewed commercial traffic holds a promise of future economic growth for the lower reaches of the river.

In 1982, the Vicksburg District assumed the responsibility for development, operation, and maintenance of the Red River Waterway from the New Orleans District. The construction of five modern locks and dams was completed as scheduled on December 31, 1994, and construction of river training aids continues. This $2-billion waterway will provide year-round 9-foot navigation to Shreveport, Louisiana.

With the completion of H. K. Thatcher and Felsenthal locks and dams in Arkansas in 1984, a chain begun in the 1960's by the Vicksburg District to link ports along the Ouachita River with the rest of the world has become a reality. These locks, along with Columbia and Jonesville locks in Louisiana, now provide year-round 9-foot navigation to Camden, Arkansas. The modern Ouachita River project combined waterway improvement works, such as dredging and bend widening, with the four modern locks and dams while retaining the Ouachita's status as one of the world's most beautiful rivers.

The new Ouachita Navigation System replaces the antiquated 6-1/2-foot system completed in 1925, of which Locks 6 and 8 in Arkansas were the last remaining operational parts. The old locks and dams were unique and outmoded because they used individual manually operated wooden wickets to control navigation pool levels. The obsolete 6-1/2-foot system could not efficiently handle modern river traffic.

H. K. Thatcher, Felsenthal, Columbia, and Jonesville locks and dams use state-of-the-art mechanical and electronic equipment to efficiently pass river traffic. Where once two men in a boat adjusted the wickets of the dam, a push of the button can raise or lower the fainter gates to adjust the upstream levels. Similar simplified actions are required to open and close the lock gates or raise or lower water levels in the chamber.