Ice Gorge On Illinois Drops Water Level At Lagrange Lock
The Waterways Journal
January 20, 2014
Lock gates were still being repaired at LaGrange Lock on the
Illinois River at press time: estimates had repairs complete by
January 17. The locks wickets were dropped on the night of January
15, but because water was trapped upriver by ice gorges. the
levels dropped near the lock, leaving water not sufficient for
boats to transit the pass.
During the deep freeze of the previous week, ice built up along
the waterway, particularly in the Peoria. Ill., area, the Corps of
Engineers said, making it tough for tows of barges to pass through
and leading to reduced deliveries, according to the Corps.
There are tow width restrictions at four locks on the Illinois
River because of ice build-up on the sides of lock chambers. as
well as problems fully opening lock gates. Widths were cut to 105
feet from the normal 110 feet at four locks — LaGrange at
Versailles. Ill.; Peoria at Crewe Coeur: Starved Rock at Ottawa:
and at Marseilles Lock.
At press time, lock operators were expecting water levels at
LaGrange to increase thanks to upriver efforts to break up the ice
gorges. hopefully allowing boats to rim the pass by January 17.