Locks on Upper Mississippi River reopen to navigation
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, has reopened Mississippi River locks 16 through 22 after flood waters forced their closure to navigation traffic.
High river levels on the Upper Mississippi River resulting from heavy rains on April 17 caused the closure of locks south of Locks and Dam 15 at Rock Island, Ill. The lock closures were necessary to protect critical electrical components and ensure the safety of all personnel. The locks also close when flood waters overtop lock gates and circumvent the raising and lowering of the lock chamber.
The locks and dams on the Mississippi River and other rivers of the Inland Waterway System are purely navigation structures, designed to maintain the Congressionally-mandated nine-foot navigation channel; they do not provide any flood reduction capabilities.
Specific lock closure and reopening information can be found in the table below.
Lock & Location Closed Reopened Days Closed
Lock 16 – Illinois City, Ill. 4/19 @ 5:49 a.m. 4/26 @ 10:05 p.m. 7 days
Lock 17 – New Boston, Ill. 4/18 @ 10:30 p.m. 4/27 @ 3 p.m. 9 days
Lock 18 – Gladstone, Ill. 4/19 @ 8:45 a.m. 4/26 @ noon 7 days
Lock 19 – Keokuk, Iowa 4/19 @ 7 a.m. 4/24 @ 8 a.m. 5 days
Lock 20 – Canton, Mo. 4/18 @ 2:55 p.m. 4/28 @ noon 10 days
Lock 21 – Quincy, Ill. 4/18 @ 10:40 a.m. 4/27 @ 10:30 a.m. 9 days
Lock 22 – Saverton, Mo. 4/19 @ 12 a.m. 4/28 @ noon 9 days
For more information please visit our Rock Island District Flood Web site at www.mvr.usace.army.mil/About/Offices/EmergencyManagement/2013Flood.aspx.
Release no. FY13-04-13