Home |
1 (Oldest) |
2 |
A through M |
N through Z and Others
- Looking NE from near foot of 34th St.:
"Donna York" downbound below K&I Bridge.
Foot of Sand Island at right.
Lower gauge is 12 feet.
21-Aug-05- Looking ENE from near foot of 34th St.:
"Anne B" downbound below K&I Bridge.
Lower guidewall of McAlpine Locks can be seen to right of center.
Large red signs on Sand Island, to left of guidewall, read:
"Danger: Lock Discharge Ahead" and
"Restricted: No Boats Beyond This Sign When Lights Flashing".
(When lock is emptied, water becomes turbulent.)
Lower gauge is 12 feet.
21-Aug-05- Looking NE from near foot of 34th St.:
"Anne B" downbound below K&I Bridge.
Lower gauge is 12 feet.
21-Aug-05- Looking SSW from Falls of Ohio (below McAlpine Dam), Clarksville, Ind.:
Upper gates of dam are closed, though seal is not perfect and some water gets through.
Slough in foreground is fed by castellations (gaps) in dam near Indiana bank.
When dam had navigable pass (through late 1950's), boats could travel beneath Indiana chute span of L&I Bridge (known then as Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge), seen above.
Lower gauge is 11 feet.
22-Aug-05- Looking S from Falls of Ohio:
Water-sculpted fossiliferous limestone bedrock in foreground.
L&I Bridge, with Indiana chute span at left.
Upper gates of McAlpine Dam, and downtown Louisville in distance.
Lower gauge is 11 feet.
22-Aug-05More on the Falls of the Ohio.
- Looking N from Falls of Ohio:
Falls of Ohio interpretive center on bluff in distance.
Statue of Lewis and Clark at upper right.
Mud flats in foreground.
Lower gauge is 11 feet.
22-Aug-05- Looking NE from Cox Park:
In foreground is riprap protecting concrete walkway.
Dock next to boat ramp can be seen in right distance.
Upper gauge is 12 feet.
24-Aug-05More on riprap.
- Looking W from just downriver from Kingfish boat ramp:
Dilapidated docks.
Louisville Water Co. Zorn Ave. pumping station (also known as "Water Works").
Jeffboat can be seen in distance beyond water screen building.
Upper gauge is 12 feet.
24-Aug-05- Looking NNW from wharf near Bingham Way:
"Donna Rushing" downbound at Clark Bridge.
Stern of replica of Columbus' ship "Nina".
(Ship was docked here for several days and was open to public.)
01-Sep-05See the Nina replica website.
- Looking NNW from wharf near Bingham Way: "Gail Ann" downbound at Clark Bridge.
Bow of replica of Columbus' ship "Nina".:
01-Sep-05- Looking NE from Portland Canal at passing basin, near 20th St.:
"R.G. Mayes" downbound.
In foreground are royal paulownia trees (Paulownia tomentosa).
01-Sep-05- Looking ENE from wharf near Bingham Way:
Replica of Columbus' ship "Nina" docked at wharf.
01-Sep-05- Looking NW from levee near 26th St.:
New bridge over McAlpine Locks under construction.
Bicyclists on Riverwalk.
02-Sep-05- Looking NW from wharf near Bingham Way:
"Tom Frazier" upbound at Clark Bridge.
Replica of Columbus' ship "Nina" docked at wharf.
20-Sep-05- Looking NE from Waterfront Park near Big Four Bridge:
Recently-opened Tumbleweed restaurant at right.
Towhead Island at center, with barges moored on north side.
(Note sunken barge which minimizes erosion of foot of island.)
Jeffboat in left distance.
By 2008, there should be a ramp leading up to the Big Four Bridge here.
03-Sep-05More on Phase III of Waterfront Park, including the Big Four Walkway.
- Looking NNE from Waterfront Park near Big Four Bridge:
Foot of Towhead Island at right.
"Belle of Louisville" upbound at left.
Jeffboat in distance.
03-Sep-05- Portland Canal near 12th St.:
"SuperAmerica" upbound.
In foreground, concrete-covered riprap (to prevent erosion of underlying soil) and morning glory.
06-Sep-05- Looking E from Portland Canal near 12th St.:
"SuperAmerica" upbound.
In foreground, concrete-covered riprap (to prevent erosion of underlying soil) and morning glory.
06-Sep-05- Looking N from Portland Canal near 12th St.:
"Wayne C" downbound.
Foliage in foreground includes royal paulownia, at left.
07-Sep-05- Looking ESE from Portland Canal near 12th St.:
Concrete-covered riprap, with plastic drainpipe.
Riverwalk at right; downtown Louisville in distance.
Canal wall and cottonwood seedling at left.
07-Sep-05- Looking N from Portland Canal near 13th St.:
"Jackson H. Randolph" upbound.
At left is protective cell at upper end of guidewall above L&I Bridge.
09-Sep-05- Looking NE from wharf near 3rd St.:
"Spirit of Jefferson" departing wharf, upbound.
Stern has been rebuilt without decorative sternwheel.
09-Sep-05- Looking N from wharf near 3rd St.:
"Don File" downbound.
Duckweed and driftwood in foreground.
09-Sep-05- Looking WNW from Waterfront Park near Adventure Playground:
"Harry R. Jacobson" downbound at Big Four Bridge.
Sailboats at Fleur de Lis Regatta.
17-Sep-05- Looking E from near foot of 34th St.:
"Harry R. Jacobson" downbound at K&I Bridge.
To right of towboat are lower guidewall and open lower gate of 1200-foot lock at McAlpine Locks.
Also visible is part of cofferdam enclosing new 1200-foot lock under construction.
This area was once part of Portland wharf.
Lower gauge is 10 feet.
17-Sep-05More on the Portland neighborhood of Louisville.
- Looking W from near foot of 34th St.:
"Harry R. Jacobson" downbound.
To right of towboat is New Albany (Indiana) Boat Club.
Lower gauge is 10 feet.
17-Sep-05- Looking NE from Waterfront Park near Tumbleweed restaurant:
Sailboats (including "Oasis", "Mariner's Cat III", "Sirius", "Schock Therapy", "Green Grabber", "Jonas Grumby") docked before start of second day of Fleur de Lis Regatta.
Towhead Island across channel.
18-Sep-05- Looking NNW from near bottom of wooden stairs at Garvin Brown Preserve (mile 594):
Scrawny sycamore growing at river's edge.
Twelve Mile Island in distance, beyond sycamore.
20-Sep-05- Looking SW from near bottom of wooden stairs at Garvin Brown Preserve (mile 594):
Scrawny sycamore growing at river's edge.
In distance, new houses on Indiana bluff.
20-Sep-05- Looking WNW from Waterfront Park at silted-up inlet below JFK Bridge:
"Valvoline" upbound above Clark Bridge.
Silted inlet is lush with vegetation.
21-Sep-05- Looking NE from Waterfront Park below JFK Bridge:
"Valvoline" upbound at JFK Bridge.
Tarps enclose sections of bridge being repainted.
21-Sep-05See the Pont Neuf wrapped.
- Looking NE from Portland Canal just above L&I Bridge:
"Valvoline" downbound.
Lift span is in raised position.
Guidewall at right; bridge piers at left.
04-Oct-05- Looking NE from Portland Canal near 12th St.:
"Samuel J" downbound.
04-Oct-05- Looking NE from Portland Canal near 12th St.:
"Laura Elizabeth" downbound.
04-Oct-05- Looking N from near foot of 33rd St.:
"Gail Ann" with deck barge upbound at K&I Bridge.
Foliage includes goldenrod, sunflower, aster and chicory.
Ailanthus tree at left (with compound leaves).
Lower gauge = 10 feet
05-Oct-05- Looking NE from Portland Canal near 12th St.:
"Laura Tamble" upbound.
In foreground is 2003 Trek 7500FX bicycle.
05-Oct-05- Looking NNE from between 33rd and 34th Sts.:
"Robert A. Knoke" downbound below K&I Bridge.
Goldenrod in center foreground, honeysuckle at left, hackberry sapling to right of center.
Lower gauge = 10 feet
06-Oct-05- Looking WNW from Waterfront Park near Adventure Playground:
"Doug Roberts" downbound at Big Four Bridge.
Foliage includes aster, goldenrod and possibly a yellowwood tree.
14-Oct-05- Looking NNW from Waterfront Park between amphitheater and rowing clubhouse:
University of Louisville women's rowing team practicing in channel between Kentucky bank and Towhead Island.
Baldcypress at left, hackberry at right, aster at bottom center.
14-Oct-05- Looking NNE from near foot of 9th St.:
"Laura Elizabeth" upbound.
L&I Bridge at left, Clark Bridge at right.
Foliage growing on concrete embankment includes locust-like shrub or small tree, vine (center) and sycamore (right).
15-Oct-05- Looking NNE from near foot of 9th St.:
"Omar" downbound.
L&I Bridge and upper gates of McAlpine dam at left.
Foliage includes locust-like shrub or small tree, elm (?), vine and foxtail.
15-Oct-05- Looking NW from wharf near 2nd St.:
Upriver edge of pier 2 (built in 1928) of Clark Bridge.
Pier has concrete interior and is faced with granite from Massachusetts.
Of the 8 bridge piers, 4 are faced with Massachusetts granite and 4 with granite from Stone Mountain, Georgia.
15-Oct-05- Looking NE from Portland Canal at passing basin, near 20th St.:
"City of Pittsburgh" downbound.
Ailanthus tree at right; royal paulownia and water maple at left.
15-Oct-05- Looking NE from Portland Canal just above McAlpine Locks:
"Dorothy Lee" tied off with asphalt barges "MM70" and "MM72".
Long gray tanks hold fuel for heaters which keep asphalt in liquid form.
"Amber Brittany" upbound in distance.
Lock gate is under construction at Corps of Engineers repair station across canal.
15-Oct-05- Looking NE from wharf near Bingham Way:
Steamer "Natchez" docked at wharf while tramping to raise money for hurricane Katrina relief.
02-Nov-05- Looking ENE from wharf near Bingham Way:
Starboard side of steamer "Natchez".
02-Nov-05- Looking N from wharf near Bingham Way:
Bow of steamer "Natchez", with twin stages (gangplanks).
"Laura Elizabeth" upbound.
02-Nov-05- Looking NE from Portland Canal near 13th St.:
"Damon Waxler" upbound.
Mulberry at left, willow at right.
02-Nov-05- Looking E from Portland Canal near 13th St.:
"Damon Waxler" upbound.
Downtown Louisville in distance.
02-Nov-05- Looking NE from Portland Canal near 12th St.:
"Charles E. Peters" upbound.
Wooden observation deck and mulberry tree in foreground.
03-Nov-05- Looking N from Waterfront Park between Harbor Lawn and silted inlet:
Steamer "Natchez" upbound on lunch cruise.
Paulownia and sycamore at left. Also locust-like shrub.
03-Nov-05- Looking NW from Waterfront Park between Harbor Lawn and silted inlet:
"Doug Roberts" downbound approaching Clark Bridge.
Foreground foliage includes willow, maple and sycamore.
03-Nov-05- Looking NE from Portland Canal near 12th St.:
"Magnolia" downbound. Mulberry tree.
05-Nov-05- Looking NNW from Waterfront Park near rowing clubhouse:
Two-man shell. Red coaches' boat has outboard motor between two long hulls, thus producing little wake.
Towhead Island is across channel. Cottonwood trunk at right.
05-Nov-05- Looking NNW from Waterfront Park just above Big Four Bridge:
"Alvin C. Johnson" upbound above Big Four Bridge.
Cottonwood and mulberry trees.
05-Nov-05- Looking NE from Waterfront Park just above Big Four Bridge:
Tumbleweed restaurant at right. Towhead Island at center. Cottonwood and sycamore at left.
In distance, "Alvin C. Johnson" upbound at Jeffboat.
05-Nov-05- Looking NNW from Waterfront Park between Big Four (right) and JFK (left) Bridges:
"River Wildcat" downbound. Honeysuckle in right foreground.
"Star of Louisville" (with red stripes) docked at Jeffersonville, Ind., in left distance.
05-Nov-05- Looking WNW from Clark Bridge:
Tow of "Jerry E. Holbert" upbound.
L&I Bridge in distance. Gallagher Station power plant in far left distance.
McAlpine Dam hydro plant at far right, beyond bridge.
12-Nov-05- Looking down from downriver side of Clark Bridge:
"Jerry E. Holbert" upbound. Crew doing some painting.
12-Nov-05- Looking E from Clark Bridge:
Tow of "Mary L" downbound. JFK Bridge being repainted, at left.
Smoky haze is from brush fire at Fort Knox, 20 miles to the south.
12-Nov-05- Looking down from upriver side of Clark Bridge:
"Mary L" downbound.
12-Nov-05- Looking SW from Clark Bridge:
Tow of "Bruce Darst" upbound. Cargo appears to include iron pellets.
Excursion boat "Spirit of Jefferson", wharf boat "Mayor Andrew Broaddus" and
excursion steamer "Belle of Louisville" are docked at wharf.
Muhammad Ali Center at 6th St. and River Road can be seen just left of electrical transmission tower.
16-Nov-05- Looking down from downriver side of Clark Bridge:
"Bruce Darst" upbound.
16-Nov-05- Looking E from Clark Bridge:
Tow of "City of Pittsburgh" downbound. JFK Bridge at upper left.
16-Nov-05- Looking down from upriver side of Clark Bridge:
"City of Pittsburgh" downbound.
16-Nov-05- Looking WNW from Clark Bridge:
Tow of "Samuel J" upbound. L&I Bridge in distance.
04-Dec-05- Looking down from downriver side of Clark Bridge:
"Samuel J" upbound.
04-Dec-05- Looking NE from Clark Bridge:
Tow of "Edwin A. Lewis" downbound.
JFK and Big Four Bridges in distance.
04-Dec-05- Looking down from upriver side of Clark Bridge:
"Edwin A. Lewis" downbound.
04-Dec-05- Looking NNE from Portland Canal near 17th St.:
"Omar" upbound.
06-Dec-05- Portland Canal near 13th St.:
"Mary Harter" downbound. (Port bow view.)
06-Dec-05- Portland Canal near 13th St.:
"Mary Harter" downbound approaching L&I Bridge. (Port quarter view.)
06-Dec-05- Portland Canal near 13th St.:
"Laura Tamble" upbound just above L&I Bridge.
06-Dec-05- Looking SE from New Albany, Ind., riverbank just below K&I Bridge:
Asphalt barge which broke loose from "Kelly Lee", went through lowest gate (next to hydro plant) of McAlpine Dam and came to rest on its side against 2 bridge piers.
Lower gauge is 22 feet.
03-Feb-06- Looking SE from New Albany, Ind., levee near where it meets concrete floodwall:
K&I Bridge, with lower guidewall of 1200-foot chamber at McAlpine Locks visible beyond bridge.
Small house on E. Water St.
Lower gauge is 22 feet.
03-Feb-06- Looking WSW from Clark Bridge:
Coal tow of "Helen Lay" upbound. Louisville wharf at left.
05-Feb-06- Looking down from downriver side of Clark Bridge:
"Helen Lay" upbound.
05-Feb-06- Looking E from Clark Bridge:
Tow of "Roberta Tabor" downbound. Waterfront Park in distance.
05-Feb-06- Looking down from upriver side of Clark Bridge:
"Roberta Tabor" downbound.
05-Feb-06- Looking ENE from Portland Canal near 13th St.:
"Tom Behringer" downbound.
07-Feb-06- Looking NW from Portland Canal near 13th St.:
"Tom Behringer" downbound at lift span of L&I Bridge.
Protective cell (protecting electrical tower from errant barges) at far left.
To right of cell, in distance, is LG&E Canal Substation.
07-Feb-06- Looking WNW from Waterfront Park between JFK and Big Four Bridges:
"Hugh C. Blaske" upbound at JFK Bridge.
Phase III of Waterfront Park under construction.
Riprap should reduce bank erosion.
11-Feb-06"Riprap is a permanent, erosion-resistant ground cover constructed of large, loose, angular or subangular (rounded) stone." Its purpose is to stabilize the riverbank and prevent erosion of the soil. The riprap here appears to consist of several layers: A bottom layer of stones wrapped in wire mesh to hold them in place, a layer of black filter fabric (geotextile) and a top layer of larger stones. (Usually the filter fabric is placed right on top of the soil to keep it from being washed through the spaces between the stones.)
More on riprap:
- Riprap Revetments (Ohio Stream Management Guide)
- Riprap (state of Michigan PDF)
- Hydraulic Design of Flood Control Channels (Corps of Engineers manual)
- Looking NNW from Waterfront Park between JFK (left) and Big Four (right) Bridges:
"Hugh C. Blaske" upbound with 16 barges, including a barge "on the hip" (alongside).
Phase III of Waterfront Park under construction.
Riprap should reduce bank erosion.
11-Feb-06- Looking NNE from Waterfront Park between JFK and Big Four Bridges:
"Hugh C. Blaske" upbound with 16 barges, including a barge "on the hip", approaching Big Four Bridge.
Phase III of Waterfront Park under construction.
Riprap should reduce bank erosion.
Jeffboat in distance.
11-Feb-06- Looking WNW from Waterfront Park between JFK and Big Four Bridges:
"Senator Stennis" upbound above JFK Bridge.
Phase III of Waterfront Park under construction.
Riprap should reduce bank erosion.
11-Feb-06- Looking NNE from Waterfront Park between JFK and Big Four Bridges:
"Claude R" upbound just below Big Four Bridge.
Phase 3 of Waterfront Park under construction.
Jeffboat in right distance.
11-Feb-06- Looking NW from harbor at Waterfront Park:
"Elkhorn" docked, with scraper dredge on bow. Clark Bridge in distance.
01-Mar-06- Looking WSW from harbor at Waterfront Park:
"Elkhorn" docked. Note angled bar protecting top of rudder post.
Great Lawn and downtown Louisville in distance.
01-Mar-06- Wharf near Bingham Way:
"River Clean Up" (or "River Cleanup"), owned by Living Lands and Waters, an environmental organization hosting a month-long riverbank cleanup in the Louisville area.
Boat painted by Illinois artist Heidi Sallows.
01-Mar-06- Wharf near Bingham Way:
"River Clean Up" (or "River Cleanup") docked.
"Mary Ann" downbound at Clark Bridge.
01-Mar-06More on Living Land and Waters.
- Looking SW from Indiana bank just above K&I Bridge, New Albany:
Crew from River Salvage Co. working to remove asphalt from sunken Magnolia Marine Transport barge "MM 53", which broke from tow of "Kelly Lee", crashed into swing span of K&I Bridge and sank on its port side.
"Max K" and derrick barge at right.
Lower gauge is 15 feet.
02-Mar-06On the afternoon of Jan. 26, 2006, three asphalt barges broke loose from the tow of the Magnolia Marine Transport towboat "Kelly Lee" while downbound approaching the Portland Canal. (The tow may have struck the vane dike near the head of the canal; see a 2000 chart of the Ohio River at Louisville.) Two were recovered but a 297-foot barge ("MM 53") containing about 19,500 barrels (819,000 gallons) of asphalt drifted down the chute between Shippingport Island and McAlpine Dam until coming to rest near the LG&E hydroelectric plant. Apparently it stayed there for a while (perhaps several hours) but could not be secured. It then was carried by the current through one of the dam gates and drifted downriver until it hit two piers of the K&I Bridge broadside, turned onto its port side and sank against the bridge. The River Salvage Co. is reheating the asphalt (apparently using heaters on the asphalt barge "MM 54B", which is positioned downriver from the sunken barge) before removing it. When the asphalt has been emptied, the barge itself can be removed.
"The Kentucky and Indiana Terminal Railroad placed its new bridge over the Ohio River at Louisville, Ky., in service on Sunday, December 8 [1912], the formal opening being held November 27. This bridge is used by the Southern Railway; the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern; the Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville and an electric line connecting Louisville and New Albany, Ind. The old bridge was a single track structure built in 1886 and much too light for present day loading, handling from 175 to 180 movements a day over the gauntleted single track. The new bridge has been built at a cost of approximately $2,000,000, the work covering a period of over two years.The K&I Bridge is now owned by the Norfolk Southern Railroad. There are 10-foot wide "highway" lanes cantilevered out on each side of the bridge. These lanes served as a toll bridge for cars and trucks up until the early 1970's, when they were closed to traffic. Pedestrians then used these lanes for a time, but that is no longer tolerated by the railroad." ... The superstructure of the bridge consists of five through trusses and a swing span carrying two steam and two electric tracks, gauntleted. The two long spans over the main channels are 620 feet center to center of piers and the trusses used on these spans are the heaviest simple trusses ever built, the weight of each being 4,400 tons. A truss 373 feet long spans a small island [Sand Island] between the two main channels and an approach truss 275 feet long is used at each end. The swing span is 400 feet long, providing two clear channels each 172 feet wide. The south approach consistes of a steel viaduct 1,281 feet long and the north approach consists of a fill 500 feet long, a deck girder span over the tracks of the St. Louis division of the Southern and a 150 foot deck truss. The trusses are 32 feet center to center, and the maximum vertical distance between center of chords is 110 feet."
From "Erection of Kentucky & Indiana Bridge," Railway Age Gazette 54:57-61 (Jan. 10, 1913),
on microfilm at Louisville Free Public Library. See a diagram of the K&I Bridge from the article.As can be seen in this 1934 Corps of Engineers sketch of the K&I Bridge, the swing span has only 172 feet of clearance on either side of the center pier. This would be risky to navigate during high water, so boats bypassing the locks and travelling through the Falls would take the middle channel span, providing 570 feet of horizontal clearance. I recall reading somewhere that the swing span has not been opened since 1920. To envision the passage through the Falls via the navigable pass, see the 1934 chart of Locks and Dam No. 41. (The dike shown near Sand Island is low enough to be well-submerged during high water.)
- Looking SW from Indiana bank above K&I Bridge, New Albany:
Crew from River Salvage Co. working to remove asphalt from sunken barge "MM 53".
Trees with partly-exposed roots. Surface of soil is sandy here; shale beds are exposed near water's edge.
Lower gauge is 15 feet.
02-Mar-06- Looking SW from Indiana bank above K&I Bridge, New Albany:
Crew from River Salvage Co. working to remove asphalt from sunken barge "MM 53".
Maple tree with partly-exposed roots at right.
Norfolk Southern train crossing bridge.
Lower gauge is 15 feet.
02-Mar-06- Looking WSW from Indiana bank above K&I Bridge, New Albany:
Crew from River Salvage Co. working to remove asphalt from sunken barge "MM 53".
Shale beds along riverbank. Sherman Minton Bridge in distance.
Lower gauge is 15 feet.
02-Mar-06
"The New Albany Shale is the uppermost formation of Devonian age in the Louisville area. [See a generalized geologic cross section of the vicinity of the Falls of the Ohio.] W.W. Borden [author of an 1874 geologic survey report] named the New Albany Shale for excellent exposures along the north bank of the Ohio River. It is generally a black to gray fissile shale that contains much organic matter ... The New Albany Shale, which includes the youngest rocks of the Devonian system, was deposited as a rapid accumulation of mud and organic matter. The rapid burial of the organic matter prevented decay or oxidation of the plant material and thus caused the black color of some of the shale. Most of the organic material apparently floated into the sea, particularly the large logs of Callixylon newberryi, and was buried quickly. The presence of some marine fossils suggests a shallow sea environment at certain stages during the deposition of the New Albany."
Text and diagram from Geology of the Falls of the Ohio River by Richard L. Powell (Indiana Geological Survey, Circular 10, Bloomington, Indiana: 1970.This pamphlet appears to be out of print, but the Indiana Geological Survey sells Geology of the Devonian Strata of the Falls of the Ohio Area, Kentucky-Indiana and Fossil Beds of the Falls of the Ohio at its online bookstore.
Home | 1 (Oldest) | 2 |
A through M | N through Z and Others
Jump to top of page
