How many locks are operated by the Corps of Engineers?
The US Army Corps of Engineers operates 275 lock chambers. These locks are generally 110 feet wide, and either 600 feet or 1200 feet long. The most typical tow size through these locks is three barges wide and five long. The smaller tributaries, such as the Alabama River, sport locks that are 84 feet wide and 600 feet long, which can support tows of two-barge width and length. How many people are employed in the waterway industry? In 1992, over 8,000 firms employed over 170,000 people whose annual wage averaged $30,180. These firms included 452 barge and towing companies, over 2,000 public and private ports and terminals, plus shipyards, contractors, marine surveyors, marine divers, and numerous other categories of companies. When industries that depend on the river systems for transportation are taken into account, over 400,000 jobs and $700 million in tax receipts can be attributed to inland waterways, according to the National Waterways Conference. What are the primary commodities m
