Recon the Osage River Lock and Dam Part 2

We left the train cars behind and worked our way further down the river. It was getting more navigable, not as many obstacles. We even encountered a dredge working in the middle of the river. It was for a private rock and sand company. It wasn't there for the benefit of boat traffic. None the less it made for a deep channel for a section of the river.

As we rounded one last island we came into a clearing. And behold stretching 850 feet across the river was the Osage Lock and Dam no 1. Standing 10 feet tall. Its a low water dam with a lock on the northern side of the river. The old lock masters house is still there and currently lived in. They have a beautiful view. We slowly approached the derelict lock.

OMG. (gulp) well the water was racing through the lock. It seemed like class 5 rapids. There was a wall of water running over the floor of the upper lock gate and then dropping down at least 6 foot to the river level below. I wont say it was impassible. However I was not prepared to cross it. If the Seadoo and I survived the trip down the lock we would have been stuck without a way to return up stream.

We came up to the lock, we got as close as we dared. The water was swift and started to pull us into the mouth of the lock. We shifted into reverse and with the current and the added weight of the extra fuel on the rear of the Seadoos the rear platform started to submerge but luckily they battled the current and got us out of the swift current. We rode along the length of the dam. Watching as the water spilled over the top of the dam and then dropped into the river below. Creating a dangerous boil. I watched a log was washed over the dam and became lodged in debris below. Knowing this was probably our fate if we strayed to close to the edge.

The water was very clear, we could see the structure of the dam and the floor gates that were in the open (down) position. It was a very interesting design and structure. I like to see how things were made and how they work. We rode back across the river along the dam to the lock. To get another look. Maybe it would be passable if the Missouri River backed up to raise the down stream river level enough to equalize the water through the lock more so than they currently are.

Currently at the water level where it was, navigating the houseboat down this section of river and through the lock is not possible. The Osage River can fluctuate significantly with the varying output of Bagnell Dam. So I am not saying its not ever possible.

So is the dream dead? Does it stop here? No I am looking at have the boat trailered about 50 miles by road to Jefferson City, MO and have it put in the Missouir River. The Missouri River is maintained for commercial navigation by the Army Corp of Engineers. This would bypass the 80 mile section of the Osage River.