Photo of Dale Hollow Dam, with a dam with water pouring through the turbines, people in lower left looking up at it.

Hydropower

Belleville Locks and Dam

Huntington Disrict
Published Jan. 10, 2024
Belleville Locks and Dam

Belleville Locks and Dam

The Huntington District is home to the Belleville Locks and Dam located on the Ohio River at mile 204. Belleville Locks sit 203.9 miles below Pittsburgh, PA, and 0.5 miles below Belleville, WV.

The two navigation locks are located on the right bank (Ohio side) of the river. The upper pool maintained above the dam extends upstream for a distance of 42.2 miles to Willow Island Dam.

Construction Began in May 1962 and work is now completed. Construction of the locks was initiated in June 1963 and they were placed in operation 12 October 1965. The dam was started in September 1964 and the pool was raised to full height 1 November 1968.

Belleville Locks and Dam is also home to the Belleville Hydroelectric Facility, which went online in April 1999.

Authority

River and Harbor Act of 3 March 1909, Sixtieth Congress, 2nd Session.

Cost

Estimated construction $76,520,800.

Dam

Non-navigable, high-lift, gated dam, top length 1,128' including 111-foot fixed weir with 84-foot open crest. Eight tainter gates, clear span 110' between piers, damming height 26' above sills, clearance above maximum high water when fully raised approximately 5'.

Easements

Of an estimated 1,750 acres in the project, approximately 92.8 acres fee required for the lock site, 32.1 acres fee at the abutment site, 13.3 acres fee for recreation site, .06 acre fee at radio site and flowage easements or other lesser interests over the remaining area.

Hydroelectric

N/A

Locks

Two parallel locks, main lock 110' by 1200', auxiliary lock 110' by 600', miter service gates, vertical-lift emergency gates.

Net Land Owned

92.8 acres fee at lock site. 32.1 acres fee at abutment site. 13.3 acres fee at recreation sites. 0.06 acres fee at radio relay site. 1612.1 acres flowage easements which includes 63.12 acres flowage rights by special use permit from D.O.A., U.S. Forest Service.

Pools

Normal upper pool elevation 602.0' m.s.l., upper pool length 35.3 miles to Hannibal Dam, normal upper pool surface area 6,400 acres, normal lower pool elevation 582.0' m.s.l., (upper pool of Belleville Dam) normal lift 20.0'.

Relocations

No extensive relocations necessary, but remedial measures required to adapt certain facilities to new pool conditions. Facilities include railroad and highway drainage structures and embankment slopes, municipal sewer outfalls and water intakes, pipe lines, power and communication lines, and water terminals.

Status

Construction began in January 1967 and the total project is 100 percent complete. The locks construction contract was awarded in October 1968 and placed in operation in January 1972. Dam construction was initiated in December 1971 and completed in 1976. The pool was raised to full height in September 1975.

Recreation
Three recreation areas are existing or proposed for development


Contact Information
740-374-8710

 

 


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