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The Alton Dam No. 26 was built directly adjacent to downtown Alton. During the late 1960s it was determined that the foundation material under the dam was washing away creating a possibility of failure in the future. The dam was demolished and replaced with the Melvin Price Locks & Dam in 1994.

Lawsuits were filed to stop construction during the process with an eventual settlement that required a comprehensive environmental review of the impacts of the locks and dams system. Another result was the creation of the Environmental Management Program to begin to counter the negative environmental impacts of the locks and dams on the Upper Mississippi River.