The lock and dam consists of a 811 foot long main structure featuring five roller gates and eight Tainter gates. It also has an earth embankment of 9,800 feet featuring a secondary spillway of 1,350 feet. The lock is the standard size for the upper river at 110 feet wide by 600 feet long. The lock and dam is undergoing rehabilitation, a project that started in 1989 and was scheduled to be completed in 2006. However, the photo of the lock (below) shows that construction is still going on. These projects take a long time because the river is open to traffic from April through November, which leaves only the coldest parts of winter for construction.
The Lynxville area is noted as being a great birdwatching area. It is a major flyway for ducks, hundreds of thousands of which pass through this area twice a year. Bald Eagles are in this area all year long, since it is the southern part of the Eagles summer range, and the northern part of the Eagles winter range. Other species seen in large numbers include Tundra Swans, American White Pelicans, Turkey Vultures, and hawks. Locals suggest a boat ramp just north of Lynxville as being a great birdwatching location.
