A wide view of the dam.
	A shot of a barge wrapped around one of the piers. This barge is preventing gates 3 and 4 from being placed back into the water.
	A view of the same barge from further upriver.
	View of the small chamber. The M/V Lucedale is tied off along with a crane barge and two other barges.
	View of one of River Salvage's rigs.
	View of the River Salvage Rig "Large Marge" and the MEM 94256. This barge was floating above the dam and was able to be recovered.
	Another view of the Large Marge. Okie Moore's equipment was still en-route when these photos were taken.

Friday, January 21, 2005-

After the floodwaters receded, another problem came to light, the loss of navigational pool between Belleville and Willow Island Locks. The industry prepared as much as it could with as little notice as they had. The river was falling at a moderate rate, forcing the removal of all red flag barges from the pool by 1700 on January 17th. The levels at Belleville lock reached the critical stage of 6 feet on the upper gage at 0200 on January 19th, and no vessels were allowed to transit the pool after that point. Some projections indicated pool to drop to the levels of the old lock systems, or around 10 feet below normal pool in places. Furthermore, salvage operations were proceeding very slowly, being hampered by frigid temperatures and a winter storm system, which covered the area with a 4" blanket of snow. The following photos were taken from the W.Va. side above the hydro plant and at the fishing parking lot.

River Levels:
Belleville Upper Gage: 2.0 feet (10 feet below normal pool)
Belleville Lower Gage: 22.6 feet

	View looking out on the dam. Workers are trying to remove the barge that is blocking gate 7.
	Zoomed in view of the work at gate 7. A hydraulic shear was used to cut the barge along the pier. The bottom of the AEP 611B is also visible.
	View looking at the downriver side of the dam.
	View of the barges that are blocking gates 3, 4, and 5.
	View of the barge that is blocking gates 3 and 4.
	View of gates 4 and 5.
	River Salvage Rig "Large Marge" working to clear gate 7.
	Another view of the work at gate 7.
	Closer view of work at gate 7. Note that gate 8 is in a lowered position, but is barely a foot or two in the water.
	View of the work to remove the PEN 207B at gate 7. Most of the barge has been cut from the pier, but salvage crews are still struggling to free the barge.
	View above the hydro dam. This sandbar is usually underwater, and you can see the normal waterline along the rip rap.
	The upper mooring cell above the lock. You can also see the usual waterline here.
	Looking down on the land wall at Old Lock 20. The esplanade out to the land wall is just coming out of the water. During normal pool, the land wall is covered by 13.5 feet of water.

Friday, January 28, 2005-

Progress was very slow in the beginning, but salvage progressed as the week went along. Two barges were removed from the dam, leaving two remaining. The removed barges were pulled down below the dam, and placed along the left descending shore. They were pulled from that location at a later time. Although these photos just show one barge left, there is actually another barge that is still sunk under gate # 3. The following photos were taken from the W.Va. side above the hydro plant and at the fishing parking lot.

River Levels:
Belleville Upper Gage: -2.4 feet (14.4 feet below normal pool)
Belleville Lower Gage: 18.8 feet

 

	This is a photo of the sunken barge at mile marker 215 on the right descending shore. The stern of the M/V Wally Roller can be seen on the right side of the photo.
	The "Large Marge" working with the remnants of the PEN 207B below the dam.
	Another view of the "Large Marge" working below the dam.
	View of the "Large Marge." A remnant of another barge is shown.
	View of the downriver side of the dam. All gates are still out, except for gate # 7. The sunken barge below gate # 3 is completely underwater.
	View of the upriver side of the dam. The AEP 611B is resting above the piers, and is not blocking any gates. This barge will be pulled out after the pool is raised.
	Close-up shot of the AEP 611B.
	M/V James R. Morehead tied off to the cells above the lock. The normal waterline is well above the Morehead's towknees.

As of January 31st, all gates were cleared at 1455. The AEP 611B was not blocking any gates, and the decision was made to raise the barge at a later date. The gates were tested, and the pool began to raise at 1800. As of that time 47 vessels were waiting for the pool to reopen. The river level rose quickly and was back at normal pool in just over 12 hours. The pool was reopened at 0600 on February 1st, and priority vessels were allowed to enter at that time.

Friday, June 17, 2005-

A few days earlier in the month of June, River Salvage started work again at Belleville to raise the AEP 611B and also raise a few barge sections that were left below the dam in January. Work progressed rather quickly, due to the very favorable weather and water conditions. When I arrived at Belleville on this day, much of the salvage work had already been completed.

	One of River Salvage's rigs spudded down below the dam.
	The James Garrett tied off on the outside of the long wall below the dam. One of the raised barge sections has been placed on another barge.
	View of the "Large Marge" below the dam on the W.Va. side. A section of the PEN 207B has been placed on shore, and later placed on a barge.
	Close-up of the PEN 207B.
	The AEP 611B being fleeted at Mile 178 after being raised, looking upstream.
	Another view of the AEP 611B, looking downstream.