Mcalpine Locks And Dam dam
Mcalpine Locks And Dam
Located on the Ohio River in Louisville, Kentucky, Mcalpine Locks and Dam is a vital Federal-owned structure managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers for navigation purposes. Completed in 1964, this concrete dam spans 9,100 feet and has a hydraulic height of 30 feet. It serves multiple purposes including fish and wildlife pond, hydroelectric power generation, recreation, and water supply, with a storage capacity of 525,260 acre-feet.
With a significant hazard potential and a high risk assessment rating, the USACE actively manages flood risks associated with the dam by monitoring its condition, prioritizing risk-reducing activities, and collaborating with local emergency managers to ensure public safety. Emergency action plans are regularly updated, and maintenance and repairs are conducted as needed to maintain the dam's structural integrity. As severe weather events can pose challenges, the USACE remains vigilant in addressing all types of flood risk to protect downstream communities and the dam itself.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Mcalpine Locks And Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| M Fk Beargrass Cr At Lexington Rd At Louisville | 23 cfs | → |
| Muddy Fk At Mockingbird Valley Rd At Louisville | 8 cfs | → |
| South Fork Beargrass Creek At Louisville | 2 cfs | → |
| Silver Creek Near Sellersburg | 3,490 cfs | → |
| M Fk Beargrass Cr At Old Cannons Ln At Louisville | 9 cfs | → |
| Goose Creek At Us Hwy 42 Near Glenview Acres | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mcalpine Locks And Dam.
Boat launches
- North 27th Street Louisville
- Harrison Avenue 1021, Clarksville
- Ohio River Greenway 100-598, New Albany
- Greenwood Road 8203, Louisville
- Charlestown State Park Boat Ramp
- Cooper Chapel Road Louisville
Campgrounds
- Deam Lake State Rec Area
- Charlestown State Park
- Deam Lake Campground
- Buffalo Trace Co Park
- South Harrison Co Park
- Clark State Forest
Paddle runs
- Carnes Mill Site To 7.65 Miles Above Confluece With Ohio River At Confluence With Turkey Creek
- City Limits Of English, In To Carnes Mill Site In Ne1/4ne1/4 Of Sec 13, T3s, R1w
- Junction Of North/South Forks Of Lost River To State Road 337 Bridge, Approx 4 Miles Southeast Of Orleans, In
- State Road 337 Bridge To State Road 56 Bridge At Prospect, In
- State Road 56 Bridge To Forest Purchase Boundary At Roland, In
Track Mcalpine Locks And Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Mcalpine Locks And Dam
Where does the data for Mcalpine Locks And Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Significant hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Mcalpine Locks And Dam.