Winfield Lock & Dam #25

January 16, 2010

Today we made a trip to the Winfield Lock and Dam to see the bald eagles. It was foggy, wet and chilly, but a good trip. Here is a map to lock and dam #25.

Short History of The Bald Eagle

The bald eagle was officially declared the National Emblem of the United States in 1782. The American Bald Eagle’s scientific name, Haliacetus leucocphalus, literally means “white-headed sea eagle”. These majestic birds are one of the largest birds of prey found in North America. Females are slightly larger than males reaching 15 pounds, standing 3 feet tall and spreading up to 8 feet in wingspan. The female eagle lays 1 to 3 white eggs in March and April. The bald eagle has excellent vision and on a clear day, they can see fish from nearly 2 miles away. Once spotted, eagles use their razor sharp talons to catch their prey. A mated pair of bald eagles will return to the same nest, and defend a territory around that nest each spring. Both eagles take turns incubating the eggs for 34 to 40 days. As of 1995, the bald eagle is no longer considered an endangered species. Harming an eagle carries an initial conviction of a one-year jail sentence and $5,000 in fines. There are approximately 4,500 nesting pairs and 20,000 total birds in the lower 48 states.

Short History of Lock & Dam #25

Lock and Dam No. 25 is located in the Upper Mississippi River at mile 241.4, near Winfield, Missouri. The lock and dam became operational in 1939. Total cost of construction was $8,687,600. The structure consists of a dam, 1,140 feet long with 14, 60 foot tainter gates and 3, 100 foot roller gates. The overflow dike is 2,566 feet long. The lock consists of one main chamber, 110 feet wide by 600 feet long. Here is a PDF from the US Army Corps of Engineers with more information about the Winfield Lock & Dam.

Here are a few pictures we took.