C&O Canal Low

[Matt Geiman]

Was walking around Swains Lock today to check out some put in/take out spots for my pontoon row boat. I'd like to use the canal to row up river, however it is too low right now. Anyone know when it will be filled up again?

[namfos]

I response to a similar inquiry a couple of weeks ago, I received this response from the C&O Canal Trust:

Each year the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park routinely drains the canal to perform vital maintenance on this iconic early American canal.  The C&O Canal is the most intact early canal structure in America.  The lower 22.5 miles of canal is watered by two intake River Locks and contains 23 Lift Locks, 9 Weirs, 23 Culverts and more than 20 miles of stone walls.  Most of these structures are more than 182 years old.  These historic structures, amazing as they are, require some degree of regular maintenance every year.  The structures are monitored year round by dedicated park staff and many volunteers.  While we are sometimes forced to take immediate action to protect our historic resources, we normally schedule major repair projects and routine maintenance activities in the late fall through early spring timeframe just as the canal company did when it was in operation.  We schedule these activities to coincide with yearly low visitation periods.  The canal strives to respect our more than 4.0 million visitors’ desire to immerse themselves in history on one of our historic canal tours or simply boat, cycle or hike along the canal with minimal disruption. 

This year the park is performing scheduled maintenance on 6 of our 9 historic weirs.  These structures not only assure that water levels are maintained during operating periods, they are also essential to removing water in preparation for flood events, protecting historic canal structures and adjacent real estate in Georgetown. 

Additionally, the park is removing downed trees that limit navigation and severely restrict hydraulic conductivity.  These activities can only be performed during times when the canal is taken out of service.

While the park understands and respects our neighbors’ desire to always have water in the canal, it is impossible to do so year round.  We remain dedicated to our mission of cultural and natural resource protection for future generations to enjoy.  We welcome comments from the public and respect our neighbors up and down the 185-mile long canal.  

With this said, we do not expect to return water to the canal until late March, 2013, with the exception of intemediate filling and drawdown associated with various maintenance activities.

 

[Brad]

You can always call the National Park Service, too, http://www.nps.gov/choh/contacts.htm. I would call the HQ number. They are usually pretty responsive. It is the NPS, not the Trust that controls the filling and drawdown of the canal.

I run a kid's fishing event at Fletcher's that I have been involved with for 7-8 years. Usually this event is in late April and usually we have to push really hard to get the canal filled by then so we can stock it. Last year the event was over Earth Day weekend and they filled it for us and then immediately re-drained it. 

[Mike Bailey]

Here is a photo of the ferry dating back to before the tunnel and bridge at Fletcher's.   Note how full the canal was then.  Think of it (the canal) as a very long large old bath tub with more drains and leaks now than there is supposed to be.  The liability and cost associated with keeping it full, as well as safe, by default and in this day and age, is very high.  

In this case how would you manage it to be safe and save money?  Besides making it a parking lot in Georgetown. :)

 

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[Scott Stankus]

This brings to mind for me two questions:

1. Do they drain it into the Potomac directly or somehow suspend the source and let it drain itself into Rock Creek?

2. What happens to all the fish when they drain it?

--Scott

Sent from my iPhone

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[Matthew Longley]

I was surprised by how shallow it is there (with the water gone), at least the section by fletchers.

Brad, what do you guys stock there?

On Sunday, January 20, 2013 5:55:10 PM UTC-5, Matt Geiman wrote:

[Aaron O]

Matt,

         I volunteered at Brad's event last year and really had a nice time.  Brad will be able to verify but I'm pretty sure they stocked a 100 ft section with 2000 small mouth and blue gills in a netted off area.  Afterwards they removed the netting and the fish were free to go.

 

 

Aaron 

 

[Brad]

Nice picture Mike!

Aaron was close. We net off a section that runs roughly from the end of the dock in Mike's picture to about the end of the upper parking lot. Actually it goes past the end of the upper parking lot but ends before that northern bank of the canal is completely blocked by trees.

We are limited by our NPS permit to stock only native fish, but some non-natives always seem to sneak into our delivery. We shoot for as many redear sunfish as we can afford each year. In the times I have been present the stocking, which has been 4 years, I don't think we have ever got any smallmouth. A few largemouths and a few crappie maybe, but no smallmouths. We also trap some interesting stuff between the nets. Last year there was about a 2' eel in there that provided a lot of enjoyment for the kids when it would show itself. 

And to answer the question as to where all the fish go, they follow the receding water back down the canal. 

[eric]

I live up near that section (swains lock) and I think last year it was filled around late april/early may.

Eric

On Sunday, January 20, 2013 5:55:10 PM UTC-5, Matt Geiman wrote:

[McFly]

They usually wait until the freezing weather is long gone because every year they have a few fools that try to walk on the ice in the canal, they usually fall through.

On Sunday, January 20, 2013 5:55:10 PM UTC-5, Matt Geiman wrote:

[Lane Smith]

I've been one of those fools once or twice. Some years it is solid enough to play hockey on.

Perhaps I'm wrong but their estimate of 4 million visitors a year seems inflated. I don't doubt that many people utilize the adjacent trails for exercise (if you count people more than once of course). However, suggesting there are that many unique visitors per year who travel along the locks with sole intent of observing the majesty of a 184 year old artificial water way seems ... Off?

[Lane Smith]