The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers own and operates four navigation locks along the Cumberland River. Barkley Lock is located 30.6 river miles from where the Cumberland River joins the Ohio River at Smithland, Kentucky. Cheatham Lock is located at river mile 148.6 and is approximately 10 miles northwest of Ashland City, Tenn. Old Hickory Lock is located at river mile 216.2, approximately 11.5 miles northeast of Nashville, Tenn. Cordell Hull Lock is located at river mile 313.5 near Carthage, Tenn.
USACE operates nine navigation locks along the Tennessee River. Kentucky Lock, located near Gilbertsville, Kentucky, 22.4 miles from the confluence of the Tennessee and Ohio Rivers. The Wheeler Locks, Wilson Lock, the highest single lift lock east of the Rocky Mountains, and Guntersville Lock are all near Decatur, Ala. Nickajack Lock, Chickamauga Lock, and Watts Bar are all found near and around the Chattanooga, Tenn. area. At river mile 602.3, Fort Loudon is the uppermost dam on the Tennessee River, located near Lenoir City, Tenn.
Nine miles southwest of Oak RIdge, Tenn., USACE operates Melton Hill Lock on the Clinch River.