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
Aerial view
Location Olga, Florida, United States
Opening date1965
Construction cost$3,800,000
Dam and spillways
Height14 feet (depth)
Length400 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.

Purpose

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The Franklin Lock and Dam were constructed for flood control, water control, the prevention of salt-water intrusion, and for navigation purposes.[1]

Technical information

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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]

Lockage

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Vessels

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Approximately 15,000 vessels pass through annually, of which about 97% are recreational vessels.[1]

Commodities

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About 13,000 tons of manufactured goods, equipment, crude materials, food, and petroleum products are locked annually.[1]

Radio channel

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This lock operates on Marine VHF radio channel 13.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Divisions/Operations/Branches/SFOO/DOCS/FactSheet_WPF.pdf Archived 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine USCE Factsheet
  2. ^ a b "W.P. Franklin Lock & Dam - Olga, FL - Waterway Locks, Planes and Lifts on". Waymarking.com. Retrieved 2010-08-25.
  3. ^ Pertuit, Eddie (August 25, 1967). "Walter P. Franklin Dies at Age of 96". News-Press. Fort Myers, Florida. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  4. ^ "U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014". Social Security Administration.
  5. ^ "Franklin Lock - Florida, United States". Marinas.com. Retrieved 2010-08-25.

26°43′22″N 81°41′35″W / 26.72271°N 81.69294°W / 26.72271; -81.69294