Canal Drains Water from Lock 5 to Georgetown

Date: October 28, 2016
Contact: Brendan Wilson, 240-625-2931

Washington, DC – On Thursday, October 27, 2016, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park (C&O Canal) began draining the watered canal section from Lock 5 (Towpath Mile 5) to Georgetown (Towpath Mile 0). The draining will allow the reconstruction of Lock 3 and the rehabilitation of Lock 4 in Georgetown to begin. The section of the canal immediately upstream and downstream of the project will be without water until the summer of 2018. To allow continued use of the canal during the construction, the park will explore a design and construction option for a low dike near the Foundry Branch Culvert (Towpath Mile 1.48). The dike would enable the park to re-water the section of the canal between Lock 5 and Foundry Branch Culvert.
 
Once the Lock 3 and Lock 4 project is completed in 2018, reproduction canal boats will once again be able to travel along the waterway. Work is being completed by Clarke Construction under contract with the National Park Service. Park staff are available to monitor the activity and respond to any fish entrapment that may occur. The park will provide updates on the project as appropriate.