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Archive: 2020
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  • November

    Example of survey results on Missouri River chart compiled on Oct. 6, 2020 and available at https://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Navigation/ [on the right hand side, scroll down the screen]. The surveys are also emailed out to navigators on a distribution list for the daily boat reports. Each survey is titled as to the portion of the river that was surveyed. You can also put a shortcut on your phone to a web app at: www.nwk.usace.army.mil/navigation which gives shortcuts to the most-use reports relating to the river and our reservoirs including a link to the most recent surveys. Both Apple and Android have our downloadable app for phones or other mobile devices at the appropriate app store. Searc¬h for “USACE Kansas City District”.

    Corps Kansas City survey crews helping define restricted areas on the Missouri River

    The Kansas City District, Missouri River Area Office has two survey teams who have been working long hours to identify locations and extent of shoaling in order to develop direct solutions in repairing the river training structures to improve the self-scouring function and to employ commercial dredgers to remove the sand shoals out of the river channel.

  • October

    During a visit to Fox Army Health Center at Redstone Arsenal Tuesday, Lt. Gen. R. Scott Dingle, U.S. Army Surgeon General, took the time to recognize members of the U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville’s Medical Division, including Wes Turner, Medical Division chief.

    Army surgeon general recognizes Huntsville Center medical division

    Lt. Gen. R. Scott Dingle, who assumed command of the U.S. Army Medical Command in June, praised the team for ensuring Army Medicine provides safe, evidence-based environments of care for the Army’s top priority – its people.
  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District, in partnership with Pleasant Hills Authority, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 21 to signify the completion of the Streambank Protection Project.

    Eroded Streambank Wall Gets an Extreme Makeover

    Approximately 20 people gathered near what appeared to be an insignificant wall to celebrate the completion of a project that has an enormous impact on six communities.

  • LA District employees participate in Combined Federal Campaign to assist local charities

    The CFC is the only authorized solicitation of employees in the federal workplace on behalf of charitable organizations. Its mission is to promote and support philanthropy through a program that is employee focused, and cost efficient and effective in providing all federal employees the opportunity to improve the quality of life for all, according to the Office of Personnel Management, which manages the campaign.
  • Aerial view of levee setback construction progress along L-536.

    Omaha District executes historic $1.65 billion program

    There were many challenges this year; recovering from the catastrophic Lower Missouri River Basin flooding event of 2019, protecting the workforce and public safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, and hurricane first responder deployments. But in the face of unprecedented adversity, USACE Omaha District rose to each challenge through leveraging industrious teamwork and continuing to successfully support its worldwide missions. The District ended the year executing its largest program ever at $1.65 billion.
  • Dr. David Pittman, director of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, answers questions from members of the Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce at their October meeting held virtually, Oct. 23, 2020. Pittman also provided an update on the current status of the organization and stressed the importance of the “Power of ERDC” to the local community.

    ERDC Director addresses Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce

    Dr. David Pittman, director of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), virtually addressed Vicksburg and Warren County community leaders during the Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce meeting Oct. 23.
  • Contractors work build a new sidewalk near the Information Technology Laboratory at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) in Vicksburg, Miss. in September 2020. The work is part of the ERDC Master Plan, developed by the Installation Operations Division with a goal of enhancing quality of life and safety on all ERDC properties.

    Installation Operations Division paves the way for ERDC properties

    Tucked away in a third-floor office suite in the headquarters building, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Installation Support Division (ISD) is charged with making ERDC properties a better and more efficient place for all employees.
  • A new podcast series tells the stories of how, over the last 10 years, a growing international community of practitioners, scientists, engineers, and researchers across many disciplines and organizations are working together to combine natural and engineering systems to solve problems and diversify infrastructure value by applying the principles and practices of Engineering With Nature®.

    Collaborating with academia to develop future practice and practitioners

    In this episode of the Engineering With Nature® (EWN®) Podcast, guests are Dr. Brian Bledsoe, director of the University of Georgia’s Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems (IRIS), and Dr. Todd Bridges, senior research scientist for environmental science with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and national lead of the EWN Initiative and the sponsor of this podcast. They discuss a new partnership, the Network for Engineering With Nature (N-EWN), to promote new practices and expertise and to foster the drive and passion for delivering nature-based solutions for infrastructure in the next generation of scientists, engineers, business leaders and decision-makers.
  • TAM Commander COL Philip Secrist presents a certificate to architect Angelivette Nieves-Viruet who completed the Leadership Development Program Tier I and graduated virtually from Puerto Rico.

    Leadership Development Program grows leaders at all levels  

    Nine team members from the USACE Middle East District recently completed a year-long Leadership Development Program and graduated Oct. 14.
  • Coastal restoration progress reflects the Army Corps’ New York District continued commitment for storm risk management and reducing risks to coastal communities that remain vulnerable from future storms.

    Army Corps’ New York District continues its Coastal Restoration Mission Eight Years following Sandy

    New York District continues its Coastal Restoration Mission Eight Years following Sandy.
  • Coastal restoration progress reflects the Army Corps’ New York District continued commitment for storm risk management and reducing risks to coastal communities that remain vulnerable from future storms.

    Army Corps of Engineers New York District continues its Coastal Restoration Mission Eight Years following Sandy

    New York District continues its Coastal Restoration Mission Eight Years following Sandy.
  • Michael Banks: From Cavalry Scout to Engineer and Project Manager

    Michael Banks: From Cavalry Scout to Engineer and Project Manager

    Project managers (PMs) are vital to the work of the US Army Corps of Engineers. They are project catalysts who combine both customer and stakeholder expectations to ensure a project is completed on time and within budget. Michael Banks is one such Far East District Project Manager.
  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District, in partnership with Pleasant Hills Authority, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 21 to signify the completion of the Streambank Protection Project.

    Eroding bank at Lick Run has been restored

    To signify the Streambank Protection Project's completion, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District, in partnership with Pleasant Hills Authority, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 21.
  • Dr. David Pittman, director of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, stands with Dr. William “Bill” Martin and Dr. Reed Mosher, the newest inductees to the Waterways Experiment Station Gallery of Distinguished Employees at a ceremony, Oct. 15, 2020.

    Martin, Mosher inducted into Waterways Experiment Station Distinguished Gallery

    Dr. William “Bill” Martin and Dr. Reed Mosher are the two newest inductees to the Waterways Experiment Station (WES) Gallery of Distinguished Employees at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) after a ceremony held Oct. 15.
  • Dr. David Pittman, director of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, stands with Dr. William “Bill” Martin and Dr. Reed Mosher, the newest inductees to the Waterways Experiment Station Gallery of Distinguished Employees at a ceremony, Oct. 15, 2020.

    Martin, Mosher inducted into Waterways Experiment Station Distinguished Gallery

    Dr. William “Bill” Martin and Dr. Reed Mosher are the two newest inductees to the Waterways Experiment Station (WES) Gallery of Distinguished Employees at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) after a ceremony held Oct. 15.
  • Fiscal Year 2020

    USACE Chicago District completes record-breaking fiscal year with $241M program

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago District closed out fiscal year 2020 with a record-breaking $241M program. A significant contribution to the spike in execution was $137M from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the district’s support to the COVID-19 pandemic response.
  • Federal and state partners shovel ceremonial sand to kick-off the official start of the Jacksonville District's Central Everglades Planning Project South at a groundbreaking ceremony.in Miami today. (USACE photo by Mark Rankin)

    Corps groundbreaking ceremony kicks off Everglades restoration construction projects

    MIAMI, Fla. (Oct. 23, 2020) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District hosted a groundbreaking ceremony today for the Central Everglades Planning Project South, a project designed to restore more natural flows through the heart of the Everglades and improve water flows south to Everglades National Park.
  • Honored guests break ground at a ceremony for the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory’s new Climatic Chamber Building in Hanover, New Hampshire on Oct. 16, 2020. (Left to right) #### ####, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New England District Commander Col. John A. Atilano II, U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, CRREL Director Dr. Joseph Corriveau, New England District Project Manager Caitlin Slattery, Colby Company Engineering President Calen Colby and Colby Company Engineering Chief Executive Officer Sarah Emily Colby. The new Climatic Chamber Building will serve as a Material Evaluation Facility, providing a critical means to examine and test extreme cold-weather environments to develop and validate Army field materiel, which is required for Soldier and unit readiness.

    ERDC’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory breaks ground for climatic chamber building

    The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s (ERDC) Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), along with U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New England District broke ground together for CRREL’s new Climatic Chamber Building Oct. 16 at the Hanover, New Hampshire, campus. The Climatic Chamber Building will serve as a Material Evaluation Facility. The facility will provide a critical means to examine and test extreme cold-weather environments to develop and validate Army field materiel, which is required for Soldier and unit readiness.
  • The Advanced Circulation (ADCIRC) model simulation shows maximum water surface elevations along the Texas Coastline during Hurricane Laura using the National Hurricane Center Advisory 23 consensus track shifted left. Researchers at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center are using numerical modeling systems, like ADCIRC, to help U.S. Army Corps of Engineers districts better prepare for tropical storms by simulating scenarios to look at the possible storm impacts to district maintained and operated structures.

    ERDC researchers use numerical modeling to assist with hurricane preparations

    As a tropical system approaches the coastline and the intensity and impact of the storm becomes evident, officials and first responders brace for landfall by staging equipment and readying personnel for the aftermath. To assist in these efforts, researchers at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) are using numerical modeling systems to help U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) districts better prepare for storms.
  • October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, an observance tied to the Army’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive workforce. The theme, “Increasing Access and Opportunity,” promotes educating employees and hiring authorities about disability employment issues and celebrating the many and varied contributions of workers with disabilities.

    National Disability Employment Awareness Month promotes 'Increasing Access and Opportunity'

    “Emphasis should be on the point that people with disabilities are typically creative problem solvers; they must be able to navigate a world historically designed for people without disabilities,” noted Jennifer Sheehy, deputy assistant secretary, of the Army’s Office of Disability Employment Policy.
  • Great Lakes and Ohio River Division September Employee of the Month

    Staff Spotlight: 23 Questions in 60 Seconds: Kylie Strunk

    LRD September Employee of the Month
  • Lead Operator Jesse Neal operates the grapple crane on the PRIDE of the Cumberland, placing debris into an air curtain burner on a new floating barge Oct. 21, 2020 in Lake Cumberland near Waitsboro Recreation Area in Somerset, Kentucky. (USACE Photo by Lee Roberts)

    Floating barge with air curtain burner incinerates Lake Cumberland debris

    SOMERSET, Ky. (Oct. 22, 2020) – A new floating barge equipped with an air curtain burner began incinerating debris on Lake Cumberland this week, a move that will increase the efficiency of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District team charged with debris removal operations onboard the PRIDE of the Cumberland.
  • Oregon Wildfires Temporary Housing Mission

    Oregon Wildfires Temporary Housing Mission

    Jason Ritter, Randy Campbell, Mike Johnson, Steve Caldwell and Cecil Cox have deployed to support wildfire recovery efforts in Oregon supporting the Portland District. FEMA Region X approved 3 counties in Oregon for a temporary housing mission. Wildfires have displaced nearly 800 families who are eligible for federal assistance.
  • A new podcast series tells the stories of how, over the last 10 years, a growing international community of practitioners, scientists, engineers, and researchers across many disciplines and organizations are working together to combine natural and engineering systems to solve problems and diversify infrastructure value by applying the principles and practices of Engineering With Nature®.

    Collaborating with industry to promote natural infrastructure

    In this episode of the Engineering With Nature® (EWN) Podcast, guests Don McNeill, business development manager for Caterpillar Inc.’s Earthmoving Division and director of the Natural Infrastructure Initiative (NII), and Dr. Mike Donahue, vice president of Water Resources & Environmental Services at AECOM, discuss the need for natural infrastructure solutions.

  • Sustainable Rivers Project

    Sustainable Rivers Program:Improving our River BasinsThe Sustainable Rivers Program (SRP) is a
  • IN THE PHOTO, Bartlett police officers made a surprise visit to Contract Specialist Sequoria Wilson’s son’s birthday party, at her request, earlier this month. “They gave out goody bags to all the kids, took my son on a ride around the block, and took pictures," Wilson said. "The goody bags had masks, a BPD coin, coloring book, candy, toy shields, and more." (Courtesy photo)

    A birthday to remember

    As children, we grow up dreaming of what we want to be when we grow up. When we set our sights on something and become passionate about it, nothing can get in our way. One Memphis District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers child is very interested in police officers, to say the least. Anything having to do with the police, he loves it.
  • Aerial photo taken of the San Francisco Waterfront.

    Corps seeks public comments for SF Waterfront Flood Resiliency Study

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) San Francisco District is preparing a feasibility study to evaluate coastal storm and flood risk management alternatives along 7.5 miles of the San Francisco Waterfront. USACE is currently accepting public comments regarding the study. Comments, including any suggested alternatives, information and analyses for our consideration are requested by Oct. 21, 2020.
  • Lt. Col. McGee is seen here holding a traditional staff meeting with his team in Pre-Covid 19 conditions.

    The Power of Recruiting, Training, and Retaining: Assembling the Best Workforce for FED

    As the Corps of Engineers Far East District works to complete the 107 projects currently in construction phase, the District’s general and administrative (G&A) staff work diligently behind the scenes to support all the public can see as they drive by any US Army Corps of Engineers construction site.
  • Erica Medley, a dam safety geologist with Portland District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, makes her way through thick smoke and fallen trees as she surveys damage on site at Blue River Dam Sept. 14. Medley joined a multi-disciplinary team of operations, engineering and dam safety personnel for a detailed inspection of the project just days after the Holiday Farm Fire burned through the area, impacting Blue River and nearby Cougar Dam.

    Historic wildfires test Corps’ Willamette Valley projects

    The Beachie Creek and Lionshead wildfires that closed in on the Corps 13-dam system in the Willamette Valley caused minor damage to four dams.
  • A worker installs a blackout shade in a barrack on Fort Wainwright in March 2020.

    Corps project helps improve Soldiers’ sleep

    Almost every night, people close their curtains to go to sleep; but for Soldiers stationed in the Fairbanks area, regular curtains will not suffice. Getting quality sleep in the middle of summer, when daylight is nearly 24 hours a day, is a challenge that can adversely affect mental health. U.S. Army Garrison Alaska is taking a multifaceted approach to address this problem and a small but effective piece of this work is by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District. They worked with Fort Wainwright and Fort Greely to install 2,740 blackout shades in 30 barracks this year to improve sleep quality and in turn, enhance the mental health and well-being of Alaska’s warfighters.