There’s no canal on the other side of this lock. This is inlet lock #2 to the C&O canal, located adjacent to lock #23 also known as violette’s lock. These doors kept the waters of the Potomac out of the canal, but would occasionally let water flow in to fill a closeby dam. This is also a location where boats from the river could enter the canal and vice versa. This is located in western montgomery county, just west of Darnestown.
Clearly, canals have their issues. Sometimes its tough to keep water in them. The giant gash in the middle of this picture is where the C&O canal ripped through its towpath during “Tropical Storm Hannah” this past year. The water from the canal emptied into the Potomac, visible through the gash.
Though nobody is towing boats out west right now, the C&O canal is currently a very popular place for hikers, bikers, canoers, etc. and the towpath is the heart of most of those activities. So, as soon as this gash was discovered work, had began on its repair. You can see in the far left of the picture that a temporary path was created, blocking the canal from both sides so that work could progress on the actual Towpath.
How do you fill a canal back up after such an accident? Well, tune in tomorrow when I show you how.