1935 Mississippi Lock and Dam #20 near Canton, MO

(John A. Weeks III; HAER; Satellite)

USACE_instructions

"The maximum lift is 10.5 feet with an average lift of 5.3 feet....The movable dam has three non-submersible roller gates (20 feet high by 60 feet long), 34 non-submersible Tainter gates (20 feet high by 40 feet long), and six submersible Tainter gates (20 feet high by 40 feet long). The submersible Tainter gates submerge three feet." [USACE]

USACE, Rock Island District posted two photos with the comment:

Today we have another 'Then & Now'! This one takes us down to Lock and Dam 20 in Canton, Missouri. The first photo was taken in July of 1935 and shows construction of the steel forms that would later make up piers 8 and 9 of the dam.

The second photo was taken earlier this month [Oct 2024] and shows what the completed dam looks like today. Both photos were taken looking west towards the lock.

1

2

Note the high river level. All of the gates are out of the water. There was flooding on the Mississippi in 2024. Some of the locks closed in July.

Street View, Jun 2024

In the only other comparable view available, we can't see the river level.

Street View, Jul 2012

And then it occured to me that I could get a different view to compare the river levels.

Street View, Jul 2012

Judging by the height and maintenance of the levees behind the tracks, there are times when those tracks are under water. According to the 2004 SPV Map, those are CB&Q tracks that are now used by BNSF and NS.

Street View, Jun 2024

 

The gates were also out of water in 2008, but the river level wasn't nearly as high on the lock walls.

Johns Weeks, 1 of several photos

Johns Weeks

David Webster posted two photos.

Mirandaandseth Wyman: Lock 20 Canton Missouri

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[The river is still running high on Jul 23, 2024]

2

NOAA

Those trees on the right are near the westernmost point of Illinois.

Street View, Jun 2012

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