ASHLAND CITY, Tenn. (WKRN) — The construction of Cheatham Lock and Dam on the Cumberland River began in 1950, and the lock was opened to navigation in 1952.

The project became fully operational with the completion of the third generating unit in the power plant in November 1960.

It was one of three dams that replaced the old locks and small dams built in the early 1900s to keep water high enough in the river for navigation and commerce year-round.

Besides maintaining water levels, it now provides flood risk management, hydropower, navigation, water quality and supply, and recreation.

The lock serves the purpose of bringing the boat and barge traffic from the lower level below the dam to the higher level above it and vice versa.

News 2 spoke with Stephen Panter, the lock master at the dam, about how many boats go through this lock.

“On average, we lock about 2,200 vessels a year, and 12,500,000 tons of commodities come through here a year,” Panter said.

Those commodities consist of coal for the local steam plants, sand for concrete and construction materials.

But anyone can use the lock, and it’s free.

“We do have lots of recreational vehicles that come through here,” Panter pointed out. “We probably get about a thousand recreational boats a year that traverse these waterways, and it’s anyone from kayaks to jet skis to your standard bass fishermen and pontoon boats.”

And then there’s the recreation side of things that the dam provides by the creation of Cheatham Lake above the dam.

We spoke with Cheatham Lake Resource Manager Tadd Potter.

“We have everything from camping, boating, swimming, picnicking, fishing, hunting,” Potter said. “We have nine different recreation areas on the lake and two class A campgrounds that we offer 50 amp electrical service and water hookup.”

“We have the beach behind us; that is really a draw for lots of people. And so, we see that this area is our biggest draw," Potter continued.

And water safety is the most important thing.

“Here on the beach, we have a life jacket loaner board that we offer folks a life jacket that don’t have one,” Potter pointed out.

To learn more about the campgrounds, swimming beaches, picnic facilities, boat ramps and more, follow this link.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/on-tour-middle-tn/cheatham-dam-provides-commerce-and-recreation/