Temporary Canal Loading Dock-Great Falls

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park » Temporary Canal Loading Dock-Great Falls » Document List

The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park offers park visitors the opportunity to ride a canal boat as part of their park experience. Canal boat rides are offered at Georgetown, District of Columbia, and at Great Falls, Potomac, MD.

During the 2007 season, boat operations will be impacted by two major construction projects at Great Falls. These projects for the park entrance road and for the Great Falls Tavern will restrict visitor within that area. As a result, the permanent boat loading dock will be unavailable for use.

A temporary dock be installed upstream of Lock 20, along Level 20. The dock will involve the placement of a concrete deadman anchor on the shoreline. The floating dock would be attached to the deadman. The temporary dock will enable park staff to continue offer the canal boat rides.

It is anticipated that the temporary dock would be in use for the 2007 season only. It will be removed and the area will be returned to pre-installation conditions.

The park's Interdisciplinary Team reviewed the project for impacts to natural and cultural resources. The project does not pose any serious or long-term effects to the environmental, historical, cultural, archeological, or visual resources. It meets categorical exclusion #D.1 –Minor changes in amount or type of visitor use for the purpose of ensuring visitor safety or resource protection in accordance with existing regulations.


Contact Information

For further information about this project, please contact Park Engineer, at 1850 Dual Highway, Suite 100, Hagerstown, MD 21740.