Fighting the Harsh Winter

From the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Headquarters:

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers tug Owen M. Frederick came out to do a bit of snow plowing for the Steward J. Cort Saturday evening. Ice was building up on the lock wall making it difficult for the 105-foot wide boat to pass through the 110-foot wide lock, so the tug, with its specially designed hull went to work scraping the walls to clear the way.

Dams & Levees

From the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Headquarters:

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers uses both dams and levees to manage flood risk, but they are very different structures. Levees help create higher boundaries than a river’s or other water’s natural banks and can protect a community from flood waters, up to a point. Dams are built to hold back massive amounts of water, releasing only as much as operators intend. Over the years our dams and levees have helped save lives and reduced property damage by reducing flood risks.

Kaskaskia River Lock & Dam

From the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Headquarters:

Did you know….that our Mississippi Valley Division has 62 locks within its boundary: 29 on the Mississippi River; 8 on the Illinois River; 6 on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, La.; 5 on the Red River, La.; 4 on the Ouachita and Black rivers, Ark. & La.; 1 on the Kaskaskia River, Ill.; 1 on Old River, La.; 1 on Bayou Teche, La.; 3 in the Atchafalaya Basin, La.; 1 on Freshwater Bayou, La.; and 3 on the West Pearl River, La. (Photo of the Kaskaskia River L&D)