1 May 2023

Headwaters Highlights: New Cumberland Locks and Dam

If the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed New Cumberland Locks and Dam in 1839 instead of 1961, it might have been called Vernon Locks and Dams or Cuppytown Locks and Dam, named after John Cuppy, who designed the town and named it Vernon. Instead, the earliest land buyers in Vernon requested Cuppy to name the town after Cumberland, Maryland – and a town was born. But, more importantly, a lock and dam found its name.

1 May 2023

Headwaters Highlights: New Cumberland Locks and Dam

If the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed New Cumberland Locks and Dam in 1839 instead of 1961, it might have been called Vernon Locks and Dams or Cuppytown Locks and Dam, named after John Cuppy, who designed the town and named it Vernon. Instead, the earliest land buyers in Vernon requested Cuppy to name the town after Cumberland, Maryland – and a town was born. But, more importantly, a lock and dam found its name.

17 Aug 2022

Gate keepers: Installing new miter gates at New Cumberland requires planning, time, extra measures

Crewmembers with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Medium Capacity Fleet performs repairs at the New Cumberland Locks and Dam on the Ohio River in Moraine, Ohio.

14 Apr 2022

Louisville District celebrates National Volunteer Month

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District celebrates National Volunteer Month every April by recognizing the tremendous effort of the volunteers who give their time at the recreational sites in the district’s footprint. Volunteers are an essential part of delivering the district’s recreational activities.

6 Dec 2021

USACE team successfully completes miter gate repairs at Markland Locks and Dam

For approximately two years, Markland Locks and Dam’s auxiliary chamber, in Warsaw, Kentucky, has been closed for repair. However, as of Dec. 4. 2021, the 600-foot chamber has reopened to navigation traffic. The chamber was originally closed due to an issue with the upper miter gate, and during that time all traffic continued to pass through the primary chamber. The Regional Heavy Capacity Repair Fleet has been on site at the project since August working to repair the miter gates.

18 Nov 2021

Meet Our Team: Chicago Lock Operators

Two of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago District's best and brightest Chicago Lock operators: Richard Munoz Jr., and Justin Detert, discuss their careers with USACE, explain why they like what they do, and highlight facts about the lock.

5 Oct 2021

Lockmaster’s view – The McAlpine Locks and Dam

Within the entire length of the Ohio River, there was only one place where rock reef extended across the river for a stretch of three miles – The Falls of the Ohio. This area of water was a low water slope, dropping around thirty feet over the three miles and made it practically impassable by cargo and transportation vessels in the early 1800s except when the water level was high; even then, it was treacherous. This article consists of a safety summary and a personal interview from the McAlpine Locks and Dam Lockmaster, Jay Rickman.