26 Morgantown Lock Road
Morgantown, WV 26501-2329
304-292-1885

Morgantown Lock and Dam is one of nine navigation structures which provide for year-round navigation on the Monongahela River between Pittsburgh, Pa., and Fairmont, W.Va.

Location
Morgantown Lock and Dam is located at river mile 102.0 at the city of Morgantown, W.Va. The lock chamber and operations building are situated along the left bank of the river. Road access to the project is from a state road leading south from the U.S. Route 19 bridge crossing the river at Morgantown.

History
Construction of Morgantown Lock and Dam began in 1948 and was completed in 1950. The structure brought about the removal of the original stone and timber Locks 10 and 11 which had been built by the government between 1897 and 1903.

Project Information
Morgantown Lock and Dam consists of a lock chamber and a gated dam. This type of dam is constructed to permit increased control over the water level in the navigation pool upriver of the dam. Machinery mounted on tall concrete piers moves large chains which lift gates that are hinged into the body of the piers. As the gates are raised or lowered to control the amount of water flowing under them, the upstream pool is maintained at a relatively constant level for an authorized depth of at least 9 feet throughout its length. The dam, however, cannot be operated to control flood flows. An incidental benefit derived from the pool formed by the dam is the availability of a source of municipal and industrial water.