Louisville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

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Louisville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

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Welcome to the official U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District, page.

USACE provides vital public engineering services in peace and war to strengthen our Nation's security, energize the economy and reduce risks from disasters.

10/20/2026

📚🏗️ Want to learn more about the history of the Louisville District?

From the construction of Ohio River locks and dams to more than a century of engineering and public service, the Louisville District has a long history of Building Strong.

And guess what? You can explore much of that history yourself!

The Louisville District has several historical publications available online, including the four-volume Falls City Engineers series, which documents the history of the district from its establishment in 1886.

📚 Explore the collection:
🔹 The Falls City Engineers: A History of the Louisville District, Corps of Engineers – Vol. 1: http://cdm16021.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p16021coll4/id/66/rec/1

🔹 The Falls City Engineers – Vol. 2: 1970–1983: http://cdm16021.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p16021coll4/id/68/rec/3

🔹 The Falls City Engineers – Vol. 3: 1984–2004: http://cdm16021.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p16021coll4/id/69/rec/2

🔹 The Falls City Engineers – Vol. 4: 2005–2016: https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getfile/collection/p16021coll4/id/376

And if Ohio River navigation history is more your speed:

🚢 Last of the Old Wicket Dams: A History of Ohio River Locks and Dams 52 and 53, 1928–2018: https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getfile/collection/p16021coll4/id/440

🎙️ Ohio River Locks and Dams 52 and 53: Oral History Collection: A collection of the oral history interviews used to write the Locks and Dams 52 and 53 history book: https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getfile/collection/p16021coll4/id/429

Whether you're a history buff, a navigation enthusiast or simply curious about how the Louisville District came to be what it is today, there's a lot to explore! 📖🌊🏗️

10/19/2026

: The Ohio River navigation system not only saves taxpayers money but also keeps thousands of semi-trucks off the road?

🚢 Just one fully loaded 15-barge tow carries the same amount of cargo as 1,050 semi-trucks! That means less traffic, less wear and tear on highways, and more efficient movement of goods across the nation. ⚓🇺🇸

(And now, for our USACE plug) Our locks and dams are critical to making this possible! By maintaining reliable navigation conditions along the Ohio River, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers helps keep this vital transportation network moving and supports the movement of essential goods throughout the region and nation.🎉

10/16/2026

Tomorrow is International Archaeology Day!🌎🏺

Before many of our projects can move forward, our archaeologists work hard to identify, document and protect cultural resources found on federal lands and around our lakes and waterways. 🦺🔎

Did you know: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages one of the largest archaeological collections in the entire nation!

From stone tools, pottery and historic fur trade beads to knives and gun pieces, these artifacts help tell the story of the people who lived, worked and traveled across our region long before us.

So, the next time you're exploring one of our lakes or public lands, remember—you might be walking through a place with thousands of years of history beneath your feet! 🌿👣

10/15/2026

Halloween is almost here! 👻

Looking for some fun, water-safety-themed Halloween activities? Check out the Bobber Halloween Pack at www.Bobber.info featuring fun pumpkin stencils and a Bobber mask! 🎃

You can also find the Life Jacket-o’-Lantern paper model activity — the perfect way to add a little water safety to your Halloween fun!🦺

And remember, the best safety trick is to keep a close eye on children and make sure they wear a properly fitted life jacket whenever they’re in, on, or near open water — including lakes, rivers, and ponds.

Have a safe, spooky, and fun Halloween! 👻🎃🕷️

10/13/2026

: The fossil beds near McAlpine Locks and Dam in Louisville, Kentucky, are nearly 390 million years old — dating back to the Devonian Period! Scientists have identified nearly 600 species of fossils here, including corals and other ancient marine life.

🌊 The Falls of the Ohio helped shape Louisville’s history and continue to play an important role in the region today. Protecting and preserving these fossil beds while maintaining a safe and reliable navigation system is part of the unique story of McAlpine Locks and Dam.

The fossil beds are part of the Falls of the Ohio National Wildlife Conservation Area, with opportunities to explore the area through Falls of the Ohio State Park.

👉 Learn more about the fossil beds and plan your visit: https://www.fallsoftheohio.org/

10/09/2026

Headed out on the water to enjoy this fall weather? Know before you lock! ⚓

If your boating trip takes you through one of our locks, it’s important to understand that vessels are locked through based on an established order of priority.

1️⃣. US Government vessels
2️⃣. Commercial passenger vessels
3️⃣. Commercial tows
4️⃣. Recreational craft

Recreational boaters may experience a wait while higher-priority vessels are locked through, so please be patient and always follow the directions of lock personnel.

Knowing what to expect before you arrive helps keep everyone safe and navigation moving efficiently!

10/08/2026

🚨 WE’RE HIRING! 🚨

Want to work where your efforts directly support navigation, commerce and the nation’s inland waterways? The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is hiring for two amazing opportunities at Markland Locks & Dam in Warsaw, KY! ⚓️🌊

⛴️ Lock & Dam Operator | WY-05/07/08
💰 $23.65–$35.40/hour
📅 Apply by October 20, 2026
🔗 https://www.usajobs.gov/job/887681100

As a Lock & Dam Operator you will help keep navigation moving by operating lock gates and equipment, supporting safe operations by assisting vessels through the lock chamber and performing maintenance and repairs.

⚙️ Lock & Dam Equipment Mechanic Supervisor | WA-5318-9
📍 Warsaw, KY
💰 $39.78–$46.52/hour
📅 Apply by October 16, 2026
🔗 https://usace.yellogov.com/external/requisitions/JeoL7t3_vw7pPkkr676I3w

This working supervisor position leads maintenance and repair activities at the facility, providing technical direction and training, inspecting completed work, and helping to support the operation and maintenance of critical navigation infrastructure.

Both positions offer the opportunity to Build Strong and serve your community while supporting one of the nation’s most important transportation systems and joining our world-class team! 🇺🇸

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10/07/2026

✨Photo of the Week✨

A tow with coal travels along the Ohio River near Newburgh Locks and Dam in Newburgh, Indiana.

📸 : Darrin Parrent

Scenes like this highlight the critical role our locks and dams play in supporting navigation, commerce, and maintenance activities throughout the inland waterway system. Every day, these facilities help move the commodities that power our economy while ensuring the reliability of one of the nation’s most efficient transportation networks. 🇺🇸 🌊

10/06/2026

🏗️ The Rough River Dam Safety Modification project continues to move forward.

Restoration of the emergency spillway into a haul road is now complete, marking an instrumental step forward for the project. 🚧 Work has also begun on building the first stage of the cofferdam that will eventually protect the area where a new control tower will be built.

The contractor has completed exploratory drilling on site to confirm the makeup of the underlying soil and rock layers. They have also been installing a grout plant and a quality control testing laboratory in preparation for future work. 🦺

The Rough River Dam Safety Modification project is a critical mega-project with an estimated total project cost of up to $891 million that will repair the high-risk dam and provide permanent flood risk reduction for downstream communities. 🌊

The Dam Safety Modification Project will include constructing an entirely new outlet works and installing a full-depth concrete cutoff wall through the embankment and underlying karst foundation to provide long-term flood risk reduction for communities downstream.

The entire project is anticipated to be completed between 2032 and 2034.

10/05/2026

🎓🔬 The SMART Scholarship application window is OPEN! 🇺🇸

Learn more ⬇⬇⬇

Address

220 W. Main Street
Louisville, KY
40202

Website

http://www.lrd.usace.army.mil/louisville, http://www.flickr.com/photos/louisvilleusace/, http://www.army.mil/

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