The combination of anchor pull, current and weight can swamp a small boat. The anchor should be lifted as vertically as possible. As it is lifted, it can be washed. Care should be taken that it does not hit the side of the boat. The dams provide a navigable channel for river traffic.
Locks are a means of passing vessels through the dams.
The locks in Pennsylvania are built and maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. At locks, the lockmaster is in control and will signal your boat to enter with a horn or a light system. Before entering a lock, the boat should stop at least 100 yards from the lock entrance. Once the lockmaster has been signaled, the boat must stay clear of the lock chamber until signaled to enter. Once inside the chamber, the lock lines are adjusted with the water levels.