Home / Media / News Stories

News Stories

Results:
Archive: 2014
Clear

  • August

    Camden students learn about environmental cleanup during visit with Army Corps

    Eleven high school students from Camden County, N.J. learned about environmental remediation, large-scale construction, and the importance of problem solving during a visit with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Philadelphia District.
  • Frederick A. Hinman was the third officer in charge of what would later become the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He became the officer in charge of the United States Engineer Office in Norfolk on March 16, 1884. During that time, he improved the approach to Norfolk Harbor and the navy yard between Lambert’s Point and Fort Norfolk and cleared sunken vessels that obstructed navigation in Virginia and North Carolina. Hinman left the Norfolk office in June of 1887. (U.S. Army photo)

    Norfolk District 135: Frederick A. Hinman

    Frederick A. Hinman removed sunken vessels “obstructing or endangering navigation,” including the barge Albemarle near Hog Island lighthouse in Virginia, the schooner Maria and Elizabeth near Cape Charles lighthouse in Virginia, the schooner Tarry Not near Craney Island near the mouth of the Nansemond River, the schooner Anthea Godfrey in “Lynn Haven Roads, Virginia” [sic] (which was destroyed by explosives after having shown the wreck and cargo were valueless), and the steamer Concord, which was burned and sunk in the Pamplico River near Washington, North Carolina.

  • July

    Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area (CIDMMA), also known as Craney Island, is the “Jewel in the Port of Hampton Roads.” Since its construction in 1957, Craney Island’s centralized location provides a low-cost placement option for material dredged from Hampton Roads navigation channels, as well as from private dredging projects.

    Craney Island safety, health management program reaches pinnacle, earns VPP Star status

    PORTSMOUTH, Va. -- The bulletin board just inside the door of Craney Island project office here has a folder with blank reports for “near misses.”
  • Jacob Owen teaches a block of instruction during the second day of the Dam Safety II Workshop May 6.

    Kansas City District supports Pacific Command in Southeast Asia

    "The times, they are a-changin'," sang Bob Dylan 50 years ago as the U.S. Army fought a war in Vietnam. What would Dylan think today when a member of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) visited Vietnam in May to present dam safety information to stakeholders from across Southeast Asia?
  • Mary Sue Bowers, natural resources specialist, Coralville Lake, talks to adjacent landowners about oriental bittersweet, an invasive species threatening Iowa’s woodlands.

    Reducing the impact of invasive species through partnership

    In an effort to reduce the impact of invasive species, Coralville Lake was one of the first agencies to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Hawkeye Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) in 2007. This partnership is just one of the ways the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working with others to fight invasive species. Since then, the Mississippi River Project has also signed an MOU with them.
  • Dense hydrilla beds formed along the banks of the Erie Canal, pictured in September 2013. Biologists are concerned about hydrilla spreading to multiple water bodies throughout New York and into the Great Lakes.

    Stopping an aggressive aquatic hitchhiker

    Buffalo District, in cooperation with the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC),

  • Florida agencies work together

    Across Florida and throughout the nation, invasive species bring with them high ecological and economic costs. It’s far too big a problem for just one agency or group. The Florida Invasive Species Partnership (FISP) is a collaborative group of federal, state and local agencies and non-government organizations, all with a stake in managing non-native species in Florida. FISP facilitates the formation of Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs), alliances of stakeholders addressing regional invasive species management. Some of the concerns they try to address include prevention, education/awareness, early detection, rapid response, monitoring and integrated pest management.
  • Invasive Air Potatoes

    Nipping invasive air potato 'in the spud'

    It’s almost like a scene from a science fiction movie. Florida is being taken over by potatoes. Yes, potatoes. So, what do you do when foreign potatoes invade and attempt to take over the native plants? You try to “nip it in the spud!”
  • The Invasion Curve illustrates that prevention is the most efficient and least costly method of combating invasive species. As a non-native species becomes more established over time, the effort and associated costs of addressing it escalate exponentially. (From the USDA Forest Service 2005 Invasive Plant Environmental Impact Statement)

    Slowing the spread of new invasives

    For the past decade, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and state departments of natural resources — especially those near the Great Lakes — have focused their efforts on controlling the migration of Asian Carp, a known invasive species, before it reaches the Great Lakes. It’s been a challenge.
  • The Wyoming Valley Levee Project, located in Luzerne County, Pa., provides both flood risk management benefits as well as recreational opportunities for the Wyoming Valley community.

    Change in climate impacts levee project

    Since 1968, the Wyoming Valley Levee Project prevented more than $7.6 billion dollars in flood
  • Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area (CIDMMA), also known as Craney Island, is the “Jewel in the Port of Hampton Roads.” Since its construction in 1957, Craney Island’s centralized location provides a low-cost placement option for material dredged from Hampton Roads navigation channels, as well as from private dredging projects.

    Craney Island safety program reaches pinnacle, earns VPP Star status

    After five years of building a world-class safety and health management program, the staff of the Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area has earned the coveted VPP Star recognition.
  • The crew of the Cottrell Contracting Corporation Dredge Marion works to remove shoals from the James River federal navigation channel just off shore from James City County, Va., Nov. 6 2013. The river plays a role in the economies of Richmond and Hopewell, providing a navigation channel of 25 feet deep for ships to move goods to and from the inland ports. (U.S. Army photo/Patrick Bloodgood)

    District continues commitment to James; issues order to dredge

    As part of the three year, $12 million indefinite delivery/indefinite quality contract with Cottrell Contracting Corporation, the district issued a $3.2 million task order to dredge 475,000 cubic yards of sediment causing shoals in the James River at Dancing Point and Jordan Point on June 17.

  • Europe District picks up top DPW award

    WIESBADEN, Germany – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Europe District has claimed a top honor for its contributions to the public works mission at U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz, Installation Management Command announced recently. The agency was named Installation Support Program of the Year on the list of 2013 Directorate of Public Works annual award winners.

  • Europe District picks up top DPW award

    WIESBADEN, Germany – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Europe District has claimed a top honor for its contributions to the public works mission at U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz, Installation Management Command announced recently. The agency was named Installation Support Program of the Year on the list of 2013 Directorate of Public Works annual award winners.
  • Carlos Quinones, Craney Island acting chief, points to the site’s contrasting safety and health management files before and after they earned their VPP Star status.

    Craney Island safety, health management program reaches pinnacle, earns VPP Star status

    PORTSMOUTH, Va. -- The bulletin board just inside the door of Craney Island project office here has a folder with blank reports for “near misses.”

  • District continues commitment to James; issues order to dredge

    The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a task order to dredge portions of the James River federal navigation channel during the next few months.
  • The Army Corps' GIS Cadre working at the Corps' Recovery Field Office in Joplin, Missouri after a multiple-vortex tornado struck Joplin on May 22, 2011.

    Mapping Team’s Future: Picture Perfect - Hurricane Season 2014

    When rescue and recovery crews make their way through communities devastated by hurricanes, tornados
  • NORFOLK, Va. -- James Mercur was the second officer in charge of what would later become the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He took command as the Engineer in Charge of the United States Engineer Office in Norfolk on June 15, 1881, after the first commander, Capt. Charles B. Phillips, died while still in command. He served at the Norfolk office until March 15, 1884, after which he returned the the military academy to teach civil and military engineering until he died in 1896. (U.S. Army photo)

    Norfolk District 135: James Mercur

    On June 15, 1881, Capt. James Mercur took command as the second engineer in charge of the Norfolk office after Capt. Charles B. Phillips, the first engineer in charge, died while still in command. He was in charge of improving the Norfolk, Virginia and Beaufort and Edenton, North Carolina harbors; Cape Fear River and Currituck Sound
  • Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area (CIDMMA), also known as Craney Island, is the “Jewel in the Port of Hampton Roads.” Since its construction in 1957, Craney Island’s centralized location provides a low-cost placement option for material dredged from Hampton Roads navigation channels, as well as from private dredging projects.

    Craney Island mosquito spraying set for July 28

    The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the city of Portsmouth, Va., will conduct joint aerial mosquito spraying Monday, July 28, at federal properties on Craney Island and adjacent city properties.

  • Mapping Team’s Future: Picture Perfect - Hurricane Season 2014

    When rescue and recovery crews make their way through communities devastated by hurricanes, tornados and wildfires, what they need are maps to help them to get around safely.
  • A wide-angle view of an inert Minotaur V launch vehicle is erected on the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport's pad 0B at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia during a pathfinder exercise for NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) Mission.

    Sandy restoration work for NASA’s Wallops Island commences

    Construction work to restore the beach and dunes protecting NASA’s Wallops Island Flight Facility damaged by super storm Sandy began here July 18. Dredges from New Jersey-based Weeks Marine, Inc. are on-site, pumping sand from an off-shore borrow site and placing the sand along the beach restoring berm and dune elevations to levels that will protect NASA and Mid-Atlantic Spaceport infrastructure from strong, storm-generated wave damage from the Atlantic Ocean.
  • New York District Project Manager David Gentile points out an item to Project Analyst Catharine Russamano as a sand and water mixture pumps onto the beach in Port Monmouth, New Jersey, on July 1, 2014 as part of dune and beach construction activities. The dunes and beach are part of the first phase of a larger overall project designed to reduce coastal storm risks to the community.

    Army Corps of Engineers begins new flood risk reduction project in Port Monmouth, New Jersey

    For nearly a year, the Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, has been repairing damage from
  • WACHAPREAGUE, Va. – Stakeholders meet with representatives from the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers here May 21, 2014. The meeting was an opportunity for Norfolk District experts to talk about and answer questions regarding the upcoming maintenance dredging project, which will dredge Finney Creek and Bradford Bay near Wachapreague in August 2014. (U.S. Army photo/Kerry L. Solan)

    Norfolk District prepares to dredge near Wachapreague

    On the Eastern Shore’s lacey, Atlantic-facing coast, two main channels in Finney Creek and Bradford Bay cut their way inland toward the Victorian-era town of Wachapreague, Virginia. The channels, which provide tourism and commerce to Wachapreague and navigation abilities to the U.S. Coast Guard, have naturally silted over since routine dredging in early 2013, but the process was given a significant nudge by Hurricane Sandy. For several months, the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has prepared and begun to implement plans to dredge the channels.

  • Army Corps of Engineers begins new flood risk reduction project in Port Monmouth, New Jersey

    For nearly a year, the Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, has been repairing damage from Hurricane Sandy to previously-engineered beaches in New York and New Jersey. Now, restoration has expanded to a new area where the Corps of Engineers hasn’t previously worked ─ Port Monmouth, N.J.

  • Sandy restoration work for NASA’s Wallops Island commences

    Construction work to restore the beach and dunes protecting NASA’s Wallops Island Flight Facility damaged by super storm Sandy began here July 18.
  • Rendering of New Cadet Barracks.

    New Cadet Barracks increases space, decreases cost

    Not too long ago, dozens of Cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York became very

  • New Cadet Barracks increases space, decreases cost

    Not too long ago, dozens of Cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York became very ill and missed classes.
  • NORFOLK, Va. -- Charles B. Phillips was the first officer in charge of what would later become the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He took command on July 1, 1879, and as the Engineer in Charge of the United States Engineer Office in Norfolk, he supervised improvements of the Norfolk Harbor and its approaches, which are known collectively today as the Port of Virginia. The Norfolk Office at that time was located in Room #2 of the Custom House in Norfolk. He died on June 14, 1881, at the age of 41, while still in command of the Norfolk office. (U.S. Army photo)

    Norfolk District 135: Charles B. Phillips

    Editor’s note: Beginning July 1, 2014, Norfolk District celebrates its 135 Anniversary. Stay with us throughout the year as we look back at our former commanders, completed projects and distinguished employees. On July 1, 1879, Capt. Charles B. Phillips became the Engineer in Charge of the United States Engineer Office in Norfolk, which was the predecessor to the Norfolk District.
  • USACE Park Ranger Joel Miller points out a landmark to his son Hudson while hiking along the North Slope Trail at Lake Sonoma June 26, 2014. The North Slope Trail at Lake Sonoma was designated a national recreation trail by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ trail designated as a National Recreation Trail

    The North Slope Trail at Lake Sonoma, in Healdsburg, California, has been designated a national recreation trail by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The trail is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco District and is among 21 trails nationwide designated this year as new national recreation trails.

  • Congress authorizes eight Jacksonville District projects

    Eight U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District projects that will provide critical infrastructure to local ports and ecosystem restoration efforts in Florida received approval as part of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) of 2014, which was signed by President Barack Obama June 10.