Quality of the Ohio River and atmospheric deposition and its relation to corrosion of lock and dam facilities in the lower Ohio River Basin near Paducah, Kentucky

The purpose of the report is to evaluate the quality of the Ohio River, atmospheric deposition, and corrosion product samples and their relation to corrosion of Lock and Dam 53 on the Ohio River near Paducah, Kentucky. Chemical determinations of river quality, atmospheric deposition, and corrosion product were performed on samples from Dam 53 and compared to similar determinations at Dam 52 (a control site 19 miles upstream) and to historical data from the region, where available. Statistical methods (summaries and applicable hypothesis tests) were used to help identify water-quality characteristics and environmental factors that have some potential for accelerating corrosion processes at Dam 53.