Emergency and Disaster Information Service. Welcome to PortKY.com -- Interpreting NOAA Hydrographs. Interpreting NOAA Hydrographs Graphs published with permission from the NOAA In its simplest form, you are looking at the river level taken at the upriver side of the McAlpine Locks and Dam, located just downriver from downtown Louisville.
The normal level, or "pool," is approximately 12 feet, and is maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Past data is charted along with future predictions, which can change. As water flows into the Ohio River from precipitation in the Ohio Valley area, the levels will change as the Corps adjusts upriver dams to maintain a level suitable for safe navigation. As the river goes up, you will see a proportionate increase in flow, as indicated on the right side of the graph measured in thousands of cubic feet per second.
At 19 feet, several of the local marina parking lots are flooded, and flooding along River Road starts to occur at 23 feet. Another interesting feature is the "hump" in the river. -Captain Eric And now, the rest of the story: Capt. Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service: Louisville: Ohio River at McAlpine Upper. New Albany Weather Report in Indiana (47150) DRUDGE REPORT 2011®