ST. LOUIS – In response to receding water, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Louis District has
opened Mississippi River Locks 24 in Clarksville and Locks 25 in Winfield. The locks had been closed since last Saturday, in anticipation of the high water.
Lock 24 in Clarksville opened just after midnight on Saturday morning. Lock 25 in Winfield opened Sunday at 7 p.m. The closures were essential to protect critical components and facilities and be able to restore services as quickly and economically as possible after water levels receded.
Locks at Mel Price in Alton and Lock 27 in Granite City did not close.
Current levels at the Kaskaskia Lock and Dam on the Kaskaskia River are not low enough to announce its opening at this time.
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.
The Corps works with partners and stakeholders including the U.S. Coast Guard and the river industry to reduce the risk of damages from flooding.
The Corps’ experienced, multi-disciplinary Emergency Management team is supporting state and local
efforts and providing both supplies and expertise along flooding areas of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers.
For more information, visit http://bit.ly/floodfight2013
Release no. 13-035