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Dam in Florida, United States From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Franklin Lock and Dam, also known as the W.P. Franklin Lock and Dam, is a navigable lock and dam in Olga, Florida, United States.[1]
Franklin Lock and Dam | |
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![]() Aerial view | |
Location | ![]() |
Opening date | 1965 |
Construction cost | $3,800,000 |
Dam and spillways | |
Height | 14 feet (depth) |
Length | 400 feet |
Width (base) | 56 feet |
This lock and dam cost $3.8 million,[1] and was constructed in 1965. It is located on the Caloosahatchee River approximately 33 miles (53 km) upstream from the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.[2] The Franklin Lock and Dam was named after Walter P. Franklin (1871-1967), a businessman, civic leader, and mayor of Fort Myers, Florida.[3][4]
It is located at latitude 26° 43" 16', longitude -81° 41"40',[5] on the Caloosahatchee River about 33 miles (53 km) upstream of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.[2]
Lockage usually takes between 15 and 20 minutes. The lock operates from 7 am to 5 pm, 365 days a year, unless otherwise stated in "Notice to Mariners", published by the Coast Guard.
The Franklin Lock and Dam were constructed for flood control, water control, the prevention of salt-water intrusion, and for navigation purposes.[1]
The lock chamber is 56 feet (17 m) wide by 400 feet (120 m) long by 14 feet (4.3 m) high. The lift of the lock is usually 2 to 3 feet (0.91 m) from sea level to the Caloosahatchee River water level.
The channel is 90 feet (27 m) wide by 8 feet (2.4 m) deep.
The lock chamber is concrete, with welded structural steel sector gates, and concrete gate bays. This lock has a discharge capacity of 28,900 cubic feet per second (820 m3/s).[1]
Approximately 15,000 vessels pass through annually, of which about 97% are recreational vessels.[1]
About 13,000 tons of manufactured goods, equipment, crude materials, food, and petroleum products are locked annually.[1]
This lock operates on Marine VHF radio channel 13.[1]