Marmet Locks and Dam
The locks were opened in 1933 and the dam was completed in 1934.
Marmet Locks and Dam are currently the busiest locks in the Ohio River System in terms of commercial lockage cuts.
A project to repair and expand the Marmet Locks and Dam was completed in 2009. Further construction is currently underway at Marmet Locks and Dam to replace small locks and increase capacity. Marmet Locks and Dam are a key component of the transportation infrastructure linking the Kanawha Valley, an important chemical and coal producing area, to its raw materials supply and product markets.
Quick Facts
2012 Commercial Cargo Lockages: 1,906. National Rank: 70.
2012 Tonnage (in thousands): 9,813. National Rank: 68.
Authority
River and Harbor Act of 3 July 1930.
Cost
Construction $3,565,900
Dam
Non-navigable, gated dam, top length 557ft-5-1/2". Five roller gates, spanning 100ft-3-1/2" between piers. Damming height, 26 feet.
Easements
Of an estimated 409 acres in the project, approximately 8 acres fee required for the lock site, 13 acres fee for the abutment site, and flowage easements or other lesser interests over the remaining area.
Hydroelectric
N/A
Locks
Twin locks, each of which is 56 feet wide by 360 feet long, with miter gates.
Net Land Owned
8.0 acres fee at lock site. 12.8 acres fee at abutment site. 388.3 acres flowage easements.
Pools
Normal upper pool elevation 590.0 feet, m.s.l., upper pool length 15.0 miles to London Dam, normal upper pool surface area 1,300 acres, normal lower pool elevation 566.0 feet m.s.l. (upper pool of Winfield Dam), and normal lift 24.0 feet.
Relocations
No extensive relocations necessary, but remedial measures required to adapt certain facilities to new pool conditions.
Status
All construction work is complete. The project was placed in operation during August 1933 and was completed in June 1934.