Mcalpine Locks And Dam
Mcalpine Locks And Dam is a concrete dam located in Jefferson County, Kentucky, built in 1964. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
About Mcalpine Locks And Dam
The primary purpose of Mcalpine Locks And Dam is navigation. The dam maintains water levels sufficient for boat and barge traffic, supporting commercial or recreational navigation on the waterway. The dam is owned by Usace - Louisville District (federal). It impounds the Ohio River near Louisville.
The dam stands 50 feet tall and stretches 9,100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 18,840 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 525,260 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 91,170 square miles. Completed in 1964, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/14/2024.
At 50 feet, this dam is taller than 93% of dams nationwide.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Jefferson |
| Nearest City | Louisville |
| River/Stream | Ohio River |
| Coordinates | 38.28186, -85.78250 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Length | 9,100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 525,260 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 525,260 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 407,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 18,840 acres |
| Drainage Area | 91,170 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 116,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - Louisville District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 06/14/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY03034 |
| Federal ID | KY03034 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |