Visitors got a behind-the-scenes look at one of the Mississippi River’s busiest navigation structures during the Lock
and Dam No. 2 Open House, held in conjunction with Hastings’ Rivertown Days.
Most of the facility is closed to the public throughout the year, but during this annual event, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers opens its gates, giving visitors a firsthand look at how the lock and dam operates and the important role it plays in river navigation.
KDWA attended the open house and spoke with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Paul District Public Affairs Specialist Melanie Peterson about this special occasion and the significance of Lock and Dam No. 2.
“This open house is a great way for people to see behind the scenes at the Lock and Dam that they might not normally get to see. We have them all up and down the river, and we try to align them with the festivals that go on in the city. So this one corresponds with Rivertown Days.”
The lock, at Lock and Dam No. 2, is 600 feet long and 110 feet wide.
While the open house offers a unique experience for visitors, Peterson says the lock and dam system serves a much
larger purpose every day.
“Our lock and dam system is something that’s critical to our nation’s economy to keep the commodities going up and down the river. It’s important for recreation traffic. We actually maintain a nine-foot navigation channel for barges and recreation traffic to go up and down the river.”
That navigation channel allows everything from recreational boaters to commercial barges to travel efficiently along the Mississippi River.
“A 15-barge tow—that’s the equivalent of 1,050 semis. So we’re taking traffic off the roads and off the trains to go up and down the river.”
Peterson says shipping by river doesn’t just reduce road congestion—it also helps the economy and the environment.
“It’s economically the best option. It’s environmentally friendly, and it saves the producers money. Farmers save money shipping on the Mississippi River.”
Annually, the Corps of Engineers hosts one open house at each lock and dam. Even when tours aren’t taking place, visitors can still stop by the public observation platform to watch barges and recreational boats pass through the lock.
“People are welcome to come here, and you can watch barges lock through or recreation traffic lock through.”
For more information about Lock and Dam No. 2, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Paul District provides
updates on its website and social media pages.
A link to these resources can be found in this report on KDWA.com.
[Click the soundbite to listen to the report.]