U.S. Army Corps of Engineers welcomes new commander to Detroit District

Press Operations — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 23:48:12 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District transitioned leadership in a Change of Command ceremony Thursday, July 16, 2026, at The War Memorial in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. Lt. Col. Donald K. Lew assumed command from Lt. Col. Wallace W. Bandeff in front of about 200 regional leaders and guests. Brig. Gen. Daniel J. Herlihy, USACE Great Lakes and Ohio River Division commander, presided over the ceremony.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers selects Derick Walker as Natural Resources Manager at Lake Ouachita

Press Operations — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 21:07:48 GMT

MOUNTAIN PINE, Ark. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District has selected Derick Walker as the new Natural Resources Manager at Lake Ouachita.

ERDC researchers granted patent for novel underwater UXO blast shield invention

Justus Reed, Public Affairs Specialist — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 21:01:48 GMT

Military weapons, ammunition, equipment, and materials, collectively known as munitions of war, lie at the bottom of rivers, lakes, and oceans across the country. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers works to safely locate and remove the munitions, preventing aquatic and human environmental hazards. Two U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) engineers recently developed a patented technology that could significantly improve how those underwater munitions are detected and recovered.

Pulling Up the Past: Preserving Gullah Heritage and Generational Connection with Sweetgrass in the Lowcountry

Jack Lwin, Visual Information Specialist — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 19:11:08 GMT

No matter where you go in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, you are bound to encounter local Gullah artisans with expertly woven baskets, baskets that symbolize the bond across generations and the familial knowledge that sustains those connections. The key to this craft, beyond cultural wisdom alone, is in the material itself: sweetgrass.

Baltimore District public affairs specialists recognized with USACE, Army awards

Sophia Henry — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 19:05:44 GMT

Whether responding to historic challenges like the 2024 Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse by coordinating the critical salvage of debris from the harbor, or constructing modern barracks to support service members, the district is constantly at work behind the scenes to keep communities safe, connected, and prosperous. Bringing these vital stories to light is the mission of a specialized team within the district, the Public Affairs Office. The Public Affairs team works to inform, engage, and educate both local communities and internal teams through strategic communications.

USACE Transforms Dredged Sediment into 3D-Printed Oyster Reefs to Bolster Coastal Resilience

Pentagon News — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 18:38:13 GMT

Maintaining the nation's waterways requires removing millions of cubic yards of sediment annually to keep navigation channels safe and reliable. Traditionally, this dredge material has been viewed as a byproduct to be managed.

USACE Walla Walla District welcomes new commander

Press Operations — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 17:00:00 GMT

WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Lt. Col. Kathryn A. Werback relinquished command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, to Lt. Col. Douglas D. Droesch, during a change of command ceremony held in Walla Walla, Washington, July 15.

Strengthening water partnerships: USACE water manager partners with Northwest River Forecast Center

Abigail Chipps — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 16:36:00 GMT

For the past four years, Kyle Comanor has managed water flows at dams near and within the greater Seattle area. In his role as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Seattle District’s senior water manager for western Washington, communicating with other agencies, especially those who forecast, is critical in making water management decisions that positively impact recreational water use, flood risk reduction and public safety.

Jim Hogg Park to Temporarily Close for Essential Sewer System Upgrades

Press Operations — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, announce the temporary closure of Jim Hogg Park, beginning July 20, 2026, to conduct essential repairs to the sewer distribution system.

IHNC Lock replacement public review period extended

Press Operations — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:42:40 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, has extended the public review period ending on Aug. 10, 2026, to now end on Aug. 25, 2026, for the Final General Reevaluation Report and Integrated Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) Lock Replacement Project.

The Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) Screening Process: Stage A Development and National Results

Press Operations — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:01:00 GMT

Abstract: Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) pilots demonstrate the potential to use modern forecasting methods to manage water more effectively. Growing demand for water, coupled with rising incidence of both drought and flood conditions, creates urgency for adapting reservoir operations. The FIRO Screening Process is a US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) effort to gauge readiness for and provide a point of entry to the FIRO approach. Screening identifies USACE reservoirs that might be candidates for FIRO implementation. This report offers an overview of Stage A of the FIRO Screening Process, which eliminates sites with prohibitive barriers to FIRO (e.g., no controlled outlet, no water control plan, poor forecast skill). Stages B and C entail more in-depth assessments of potential benefits and challenges of implementing FIRO at a site. This report provides an overview of the screening approach, the development of Stage A, and results from screening the national portfolio of USACE reservoirs. Stage A eliminated 184 reservoirs (31 percent) of the national portfolio from further consideration for FIRO. The 409 sites (69 percent) of the national portfolio that passed Stage A are eligible for further screening of FIRO suitability in Stage B.

Navajo Nation signs feasibility agreement, recognizes the Navajo Silver Jackets

By Robert DeDeaux Los Angeles District Public Affairs — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 23:28:19 GMT

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Beneath the natural splendor of a sandstone arch, known as Window Rock, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District Commander Col. Andrew Baker signed an agreement June 1 for a $3 million feasibility study.

USACE Vicksburg District announces new leadership appointments within the Programs and Project Management Division

Press Operations — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 18:46:00 GMT

VICKSBURG, Miss. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District is pleased to announce two leadership selections within the Programs and Project Management Division (PPMD). Alainna Garcie O’Bannon is the new Chief of the Program Integration and Controls Branch and Craig Prestwood, P.E., PMP, as Chief of Project Management Branch.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fort Worth District to Host Change of Command Ceremony

Press Operations — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 17:38:32 GMT

Col. Marlon S. Ringo will assume command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fort Worth District, during an 11 a.m. Change of Command ceremony July 31 at the Fort Worth District’s Fort Worth Room.

Characterization Methods for Navigation-Channel Sediment and Debris

Press Operations — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 16:40:00 GMT

Purpose: The purpose of this Coastal and Hydraulics Engineering Technical Note (CHETN) is to describe the equipment and methods available for characterizing sediment and debris located in navigation channels. This overview is intended for US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) district personnel involved in dredging project planning, engineering, design, and operations. The tools outlined in this note include side-scan sonars, multibeam echosounders, sub-bottom profiling, penetrometers, and physical sediment sampling, all of which can aid planning for dredging, including beneficial use of dredged material. These tools are particularly relevant at sites that have not been dredged in many years and for new work, including channel deepening.

During historically dry year, USACE to hold virtual public meeting about Lost Creek, Applegate reservoir levels

Press Operations — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 13:52:31 GMT

Army water managers will hold a virtual public information meeting July 22 to discuss historically low water levels and the summer forecast for the Rogue River Basin.

USACE to discuss low Willamette Valley reservoir levels at virtual public meeting

Press Operations — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 13:43:00 GMT

Water managers with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will hold a virtual public information meeting July 23 to share the latest summer water forecast and discuss ongoing drought conditions across the Willamette Valley’s 13 federal reservoirs.

Evaluation and Improvement of Postfire Curve Number Methods in Arid and Semiarid Watersheds

Press Operations — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 16:14:00 GMT

Abstract: This research assesses the Soil Conservation Service curve number (SCS-CN) loss method’s suitability for postfire hydrologic processes. The SCS-CN method, favored for its simplicity, was not designed for post-wildfire application. We evaluated two existing methods that adjust the SCS-CN model for wildfire effects and proposed a revised method. This new method adjusts the initial abstraction ratio (λ) and CN based on antecedent soil moisture conditions. Three wildfire-impacted Southern California watersheds were modeled using the SCS-CN method. Prefire data were used to estimate the average CN for each subbasin, which were then used to evaluate the SCS-CN methods for postfire application. This study found that unadjusted SCS-CN application underestimated excess-precipitation volume and peak discharges. The Higginson method had mixed success, while the Livingston method overestimated peak discharges and excess-precipitation volume. The revised method performed best when compared against observed data using various performance metrics. The study concludes that adjusting λ and CN based on antecedent root zone soil moisture conditions consistently improved model performance. The overestimation by the Livingston method underscores the need for caution when applying regional methods.

Shoreline Change in Response to Wind- and Vessel-Generated Waves at Mordecai Island, New Jersey

Press Operations — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 16:10:00 GMT

Abstract: Mordecai Island is an undeveloped island in southeastern Barnegat Bay, New Jersey. It shelters the adjacent area and provides important habitat but also has a long history of erosion, breaching in the 1980s. Dredged sediment was used to fill the breach, various shore protection features have been added, and future erosion mitigation is planned to include an emergent breakwater. The proximity to Beach Haven Inlet, the fetch over Barnegat Bay, and the short distance from the New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway mean that tidal currents, wind waves, and vessel wakes are all potential drivers of erosion. Water level, current, and wave data were collected from November 2019 to January 2020 and June 2021 to August 2021 to help characterize forcing, and a machine learning algorithm was developed to identify vessel wakes. Spatial distributions of wind waves and vessel wakes were inferred from simplified models, their reasonableness assessed with measurements, and they were compared to shoreline retreat data. Shoreline retreat was determined from topobathymetric data spanning 2014 to 2019. Comparisons can provide insights about the observed erosion, but marsh edge retreat can be highly variable and strongly influenced by a range of factors that was not in the scope of this study.

USACE Vicksburg District to pause Phase II interim repairs at Arkabutla Dam to lower the lake level

Press Operations — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 15:24:59 GMT

Vicksburg, Miss. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District will temporarily pause Phase II of interim risk reduction measures (IRRMs) at Arkabutla Dam this week to safely release water and lower the lake level.