kids encyclopedia robot

McAlpine Locks and Dam facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
McAlpine Locks and Dam
McAlpine Locks and Dam.jpg
McAlpine Locks and Dam, Louisville, Kentucky
Official name McAlpine Locks and Dam
Location Louisville, Kentucky
Coordinates 38°16′41″N 85°47′32″W / 38.2781°N 85.7922°W / 38.2781; -85.7922
Opening date 1830
Operator(s) United States Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District
Dam and spillways
Impounds Ohio River
Power station
Operator(s) Louisville Gas & Electric
Installed capacity 80 MW

The McAlpine Locks and Dam are a big structure on the Ohio River in Louisville, Kentucky. It includes special water elevators called locks and a hydroelectric dam. This dam helps make electricity from the river's water.

This important place is found at the Falls of the Ohio. It helps control a long stretch of the river, about 72.9 miles (117.3 kilometers) long. The locks and a canal here were the first big engineering project on the Ohio River. They were finished in 1830.

This project was called the Louisville and Portland Canal. Its main job was to help boats and ships get past the rocky parts of the Falls of the Ohio. Before this, it was very hard for boats to travel through this area.

How the McAlpine Dam Was Built

Tugboat at McAlpine Lock and Dam -c
A tugboat at McAlpine Locks and Dam in 2012.
Paddling through McAlpine (10019343396)
People paddling near McAlpine.

From 1925 to 1927, more parts were added to the dam. A special plant was built to make hydroelectric power. This means using the force of moving water to create electricity.

The locks were also made bigger during this time. A private company started the work, and then the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finished it. The hydroelectric plant here was once the seventh largest in the whole United States!

In 1960, the system was given a new name: the McAlpine Locks and Dam. This was to honor William McAlpine. He was the only regular person, not a military officer, to ever lead the Corps of Engineers district in Louisville.

Today, the water level above the dam is about 420 feet (128 meters) above sea level. A huge area of 91,170 square miles (236,000 square kilometers) drains into the river above the dam. On average, 118,000 cubic feet (3,340 cubic meters) of water flow past McAlpine every second.

The lock chambers are on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River. They can lift or lower boats by about 37 feet (11 meters). This helps boats move between the higher water level of the McAlpine pool and the lower water level of the Cannelton pool downstream.

The hydroelectric plant has eight big machines called turbines. These turbines can make 80,000 kilowatts of electricity. That's enough power for many homes!

In October 2003, the McAlpine Locks and Dam were recognized as a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. This is a special award from the American Society of Civil Engineers. It means the dam is an important example of great engineering.

The McAlpine locks had a big improvement project that cost $278 million. It took 10 years and was finished in early 2009. This made the locks even better for river traffic.

Who Manages the Dam?

The hydroelectric plant, which makes electricity, is owned and run by Louisville Gas & Electric. This company is part of a bigger company called PPL Corporation.

The locks themselves, which help boats move up and down the river, are managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. They make sure the locks work smoothly for all the boats that use the Ohio River.

Locks and dams of the Ohio River
Upstream:
Markland Locks and Dam		 Downstream:
Cannelton Locks and Dam


Images for kids

  • Diagram of Falls of the Ohio and Portland Canal in 1916

    Chart of Falls of the Ohio and Portland Canal from 1916

  • Locks and Dam No 41 navigation chart from 1934

    Locks and Dam No 41 navigation chart from 1934

  • McAlpine Locks and Dam navigation chart (detail) from 2010

    McAlpine Locks and Dam navigation chart (detail) from 2010

  • Aerial view of Falls of the Ohio and Locks and Dam No 41 circa 1930s or 1940s

    Aerial view of Falls of the Ohio and Locks and Dam No 41 circa 1930s or 1940s

  • Aerial view of McAlpine Locks circa 2000

    Aerial view of McAlpine Locks circa 2000

  • Towboat Brimstone entering auxiliary lock at McAlpine Locks, 1987, Ohio River mile 607 (87j072)

    Towboat Brimstone entering auxiliary lock at McAlpine Locks, 1987

  • Towboat Steel Trader departing auxiliary lock at McAlpine Locks, 1987, Ohio River mile 607 (87j173)

    Towboat Steel Trader departing auxiliary lock at McAlpine Locks, 1987

  • Dewatered main lock undergoing repairs at McAlpine Locks, 1987, Ohio River mile 607 (87j116)

    Dewatered main lock undergoing repairs at McAlpine Locks, 1987

  • Coast Guard buoy tender Obion entering main lock at McAlpine Locks, 1999, Ohio River mile 607 (99a043)

    Coast Guard buoy tender Obion entering main lock at McAlpine Locks, 1999

  • Towboat Enid Dibert departing main lock at McAlpine Locks, 1999, Ohio River mile 607 (99c025)

    Towboat Enid Dibert departing main lock at McAlpine Locks, 1999

  • LG&E Ohio Falls Generating Station at McAlpine Dam, 1998, Ohio River mile 606 (98k009)

    LG&E Ohio Falls Generating Station at McAlpine Dam, 1998

  • Tainter gate at McAlpine Dam, 1998, Ohio River mile 605 (98k058)

    Tainter gate at McAlpine Dam, 1998

  • Fourteenth Street Bridge pier and upper gates of McAlpine Dam, 1998, Ohio River mile 605 (98k059)

    Fourteenth Street Bridge pier and upper gates of McAlpine Dam, 1998

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
McAlpine Locks and Dam Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.