Barkley Canal
Barkley Canal is a 1.75 mile long connector between Kentucky Lake on the Tennessee river at mile 25.3, and Barkley Lake on the Cumberland river at mile 32.8. The bottom width is 400 feet, and the depth at minimum pool level, El. 346, is 11 feet. If locks are closed for repair on either Kentucky L & D or Barkley L & D, the locks of the other one are always left open and available for use to move boat and barge traffic to the Ohio river. As well as providing alternative routes for traffic between the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers and the Ohio river, the canal also enables diversion of power flow between the two reservoirs, benefitting the public in times of heavy power use.
At times the current can be strong in this canal. It is strong enough that mussel beds are abundant in it, and I have watched the musselers pull them out while traversing it. My guess is that the mussels are the washboard species. If I am wrong, one of you musselers out there please correct me....I used to brail them up myself !!
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