The Lower C&O Canal Locks: Which One Is Which? Locks 1-24 18 Oct 2019
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A Level or Reach is the Canal backed up behind the eponymous lock.
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Locks 1+2 – in Georgetown – broken
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Lock 3 – Restored 2018/19
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4 – Restored 2019 – supports 4-mile Level 4 from Georgetown up past Fletchers & Chain Bridge to L5
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5 – Feeder Canal enters – Functional
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6 – Our usual put-in for Little Falls – Parking - Level 6 is watered, low and overgrown
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7, 8, 9 - and their levels – broken, overgrown, impassible. (8-14 = the Seven Locks)
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10* - Popular T.O. – Also infrequently used by Cabin John Rescue Squad –
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11, 12, 13 – short levels – of little interest to paddlers – Lock 13 is underneath the Beltway
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14 - head of a tempting 4-mile level that goes up past Carderock, the fraught High Wall with buried Dulles Sewer, Lower Widewater (watered), Anglers, and wide section (watered) – has fascinating possibilities for partial rewatering
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15 – at the head of Widewater – short level (15-20 = the Six Locks up around Great Falls)
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16 – at head of longest (0.3 mi) level with Mary’s Wall – a NHP ask for rewatering
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17 – at the Sandy Beach Steps – newly refurbished
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18 – refurbished in 2019 – dry
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19 – refurbishednin 2019 – it holds the basin in which the Charles Mercer boat lies.
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20 – at Great Falls Tavern – its level was watered until early Nov 2019 freshet burst the gate
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21 – Swains Lock – functioning – its level was partly watered – until 11/2019 downpour
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22 – Pennyfield Lock – refurbished ca 2015 - its 2-mile level is watered but (12/2019) too low
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23 – Violettes Lock – with feeder canal from Dam No 2 – above is overgrown
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24 – Rileys Lock/Aqueduct - dry & will remain so, as it's above the feeder