Louisville Engineer District To Dismantle Green River Lock And Dam 6

The Louisville Engineer District is employing emergency authority to remove remaining portions of the Green River Lock and Dam 6, near Brownsville, Ky.

Lock and dam construction on the Green River began in 1836, but the existing upriver locks had not supported commercial navigation for decades. The Nature Conservancy got involved in restoring the rivers to their natural condition to benefit recreational users. The Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act of 2016 included language deauthorizing four locks and dams on the Green River and one on the Barren River.

The remaining portions of Green River Dam 6 were judged to be obstructing a navigable waterway and presenting a safety hazard to recreational users. The Louisville District has authority to remove the remaining portions of Green River Dam 6 under Section 20 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899.

With the partial removal of Green River Dam 5 near Roundhill, Ky., this summer and existing low water conditions, the remaining elements of Green River Dam 6 have been exposed and can be fully removed from the river. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will begin work as soon as water levels allow; work is scheduled to be complete within two weeks, as long as weather conditions and water levels are favorable.