VCMelton

Engineering Venture Crew Meeting
May 5, 2001
Melton Hill Lock
Operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Bobby Benson from the Corps of Engineers demonstrated
the operation of the lock at Melton Hill Dam.

	This facility enables commerce to be transported by barge on the Clinch River all the way to Clinton, TN.
Click on image to enlarge	Utility tunnel below lake level

	Alicia, Sean, Nic, Ryan and Brandon receiving training from Bobby Benson on the operation of the lock.

Upstream gate being opened	Boat entering lock from Melton Hill Lake
After entering lock, the upstream gate is closed and a horn is sounded to warn downstream boaters to leave the area.	Water is then drained from the lock into Watts Bar Lake (downstream of Melton Hill Dam).
After the lock is drained by gravity flow, the lower gate is opened.	Boat leaving Melton Hill Lock and entering Watts Bar Lake which is 57 feet in elevation below Melton Hill Lake.
Group shot during the tour.

After the boat left the lock, the lower gate was closed and the water level in the lock was raised about 10 feet above lower lake level. A partially filled lock reduces the water pressure on the upper gate. It also applies pressure to the lower gate to reduce the risk of damage from downstream wave action while the lock is inactive.

We also learned that the Panama Canal is not really a canal, but a series of lakes and locks. This same method that we observed at Melton Hill is used to transport commerce over the mountains of Panama between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Welcome

Members Wanted

Agenda for Kick-off Meeting, Saturday, October 20, 2001

Schedule of Meetings for 2001 -- 2002

Summary of Previous Meetings:
(Schedule)

Meeting Hosted by Geo/Environmental Associates (October 2000)

Meeting Hosted by City of Knoxville
Engineering Department (November 2000)

Meeting Hosted by TVA (December 2000)

Meeting Hosted by Jacobs (January 2000)

Meeting Hosted by
University of Tennessee ASCE Student Chapter (February 2001)

Meeting Hosted by Wilbur Smith and Associates (March 2001)

Coal Creek Watershed Community Service (April 2001)