THE VOICE
W.P. Franklin lock operator grants all-access tour Story and photos by Maya Jordan
PAGE 2
Fast forward to the present, Huston’s day begins on the sunny-side as his shift starts at 7:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m, with the last lockage at 4:30 p.m. in Alva, Fla., on the Caloosahatchee River. Hutson’s office is a control room with expansive windows overlooking the river. Inside is digital technology, a restroom, refrigerator, and
Aye, aye, captain.
microwave.
You don’t have to be a pirate to know that safety
“In the morning, you do your morning report where
lock and dam operators have the pleasure of
you [state] how many lockages you had if there’s
monitoring the nation’s most precious treasure;
any algae, how much rain you had on the
delicate blue waterways.
[spillway],” said Hutson.
The communications team got an inside look into
Furthermore, he discussed the opening and
the day-to-day operations from W.P. Franklin lock
closing of gates through a traffic signal in which a
operator Glenn Hutson. Originally from Canada,
green light signals boaters to enter after the water
Hutson has been with the U.S. Army Corps of
goes down.
Engineers for 13 years. “As far as the job goes, I’ve always enjoyed it,” he said.
When a boater is seeking access entry, they usually call the lock operator.
Jacksonville District defines a lock operator as someone who has sole authority of dam gates,
Then the operator usually requests for the captain
control valves, and other equipment required for
to wait for the green signal to come in along with
private and commercial traffic to lock through
the mandatory wearing of properly sized life
navigable waterways.
jackets.
The USACE navigation mission is to provide safe, reliable, efficient, effective, and environmentally sustainable waterborne transportation systems for the movement of commerce, national security needs, and recreation. Hutson’s fascination with the great outdoors began as a young boy who received animal books on subjects such as diamondback rattlesnakes from his grandmother. Before working at W.P. Franklin, Hutson started locking at Ortona, Julian Keen, and a couple of months at Port Mayaca. Notably, the district operates two other locks, St. Lucie and Canaveral Locks, for a total of six locks.
Pictured Right: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District lock operator Glenn Huston opens and closes gates for the lock chamber at W.P. Franklin Lock and Dam.
