Headquarters U.S. Army Corps of Engineers News

USACE Navigation mission critical to Armed Forces’ strategic readiness

Kathryne Gest — Thu, 29 May 2025 17:44:00 GMT

When the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) needs to move over 1,000 trucks, trailers, and tons of equipment for a large training exercise, they rely on the cost-effectiveness and convenience of the nation’s waterways.

Rescue revetment task order awarded

Jessica Haas, Public Affairs Specialist — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 12:43:00 GMT

The Memphis District recently awarded a task order to restore existing revetment and repair over-steepened banks along the Mississippi River in Coahoma County, Mississippi, and Phillips County, Arkansas. A total of $1,344,000 was awarded on the current River Repairs IDIQ (Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity) Contract to Midwest Construction Company.

A Winter to Remember: Corps of Engineers continues annual winter maintenance fight to preserve aging infrastructure

Patrick Moes — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 14:21:00 GMT

The American Society of Civil Engineers 2021 infrastructure report card released in March was less than perfect for the nation’s inland navigation system. According to the report, they gave the Inland waterway infrastructure a D+. The ASCE report said the infrastructure "includes locks and dams as well as navigation channels” but added that shipping delays cost up to $739 per hour for an average tow within the United States.

MKARNS 50th Anniversary Kickoff Media Event

Jay Townsend — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 15:27:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Southwestern Division and its partners along the McClellan‐Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System hosted a media day event March 9, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the System that strategically connects the heartland of the United States with the rest of the world.

Corps will dig dry conditions with finished Kentucky Lock cofferdam

Lee Roberts — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 14:12:00 GMT

GRAND RIVERS, Ky. (March 24, 2021) – The cofferdam at the Kentucky Lock Addition Project is finished, a milestone that paves the way for downstream excavation work to prepare the site for construction of the remaining portion of the new lock chamber.

Revetment Team returns after historic season

Jessica Haas, Public Affairs Specialist — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 15:49:00 GMT

The Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Army (Civil Works) Vance Stewart and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations Maj. Gen. William (Butch) Graham visited the Memphis District last week. While visiting, they had the opportunity to welcome home and congratulate the Revetment Team after completing one of the district's longest seasons in history.

St. Francis Levee District awarded Outstanding Maintenance Award

Jessica Haas — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 17:22:00 GMT

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations, Maj. Gen. William (Butch) Graham and the Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Army (Civil Works), Vance Stewart, stopped in West Memphis, Arkansas, where they were briefed by our St. Francis Levee District of Arkansas Partner Rob Rash, Memphis District Project Manager Jason Dickard, and Geotechnical Branch Chief Cory Williams on the Mississippi River Levee system.

2021 Channel Improvement Team Meeting a success

Jessica Haas, Public Affairs Specialist — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 15:06:00 GMT

In a virtual get-together held mid-February, members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineering and Construction Department, operations leaders from the Memphis, Vicksburg, and New Orleans Districts, project managers, regional team members, environmental partners, and other representatives from the St. Louis District, all came together for their annual Mississippi River Channel Improvement meeting to discuss environmental projects and other current channel improvement issues.

Corps lowers impact to fish spawning near Soo Locks

Story by Carrie Fox — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 17:48:00 GMT

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. (March 5, 2021) - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) officials will use dry blasting during New Lock at the Soo construction to avoid or drastically minimize impacts to fish larvae and adult fish spawning near the Soo Locks. The Soo Locks on the St. Marys River allow vessels to navigate the 21 ft elevation change between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes. A new Poe-sized lock being built will provide necessary redundancy in the Great Lakes Navigation System’s critical infrastructure. To build the New Lock, deepening the channel on the upstream side (west) of the Poe lock is necessary. Dredging is scheduled to occur in 2021-2022. Drilling and blasting are required to fragment the bedrock and concrete for dredging.

Army Corps survey vessel crew assist with rescue offshore Florida

By Mark Rankin — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 14:05:00 GMT

The crew of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District Survey Vessel Florida II, assisted the U.S. Coast Guard in the rescue of a small distressed boat off the coast of Florida recently.

Memphis dry dock back in action

Jessica Haas, Public Affairs Specialist — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 17:35:00 GMT

The largest dry dock north of New Orleans, Louisiana, is back in action at the Memphis District's Ensley Engineer Yard after spending 14 months in Morgan City, Louisiana. The Memphis District dry dock, known as ‘5801', was shipped to the Conrad Shipyard in Louisiana for repairs and maintenance in June 2019. The dock has been operating since 1958.

U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center assists Kansas City Corps with hydrodynamic dredge

James F. Lowe, Kansas City District Public Affairs — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 14:41:00 GMT

In a demonstration of collaboration and innovation, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center deployed an experimental asset and team of experts to the Missouri River in the Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to assist in dredging shallow areas called shoals in the navigation river channel.

Kansas City District celebrates ribbon cutting at Gasconade River Office and presents awards

James F. Lowe, Kansas City District, Public Affairs — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 13:29:00 GMT

Col. Bill Hannan, commander of the Kansas City District, presided over a ribbon cutting for a new work facility and presented awards at our Gasconade River Office location, near Hermann, Mo. and later presented awards at our Missouri River Area Office in Napoleon, Mo., Dec. 1.

Upper Mississippi River System Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP)

Pentagon News — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 20:32:00 GMT

Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP) is a long-term program of ecosystem restoration and navigation improvements for the Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS). NESP will improve system capacity and reduce commercial traffic delays through construction of seven new 1,200-foot locks, mooring cells, and switchboat implementation.

Pool 2 Wing Dam Modification Project, Upper Mississippi River Pool 2, Minnesota

Pentagon News — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 16:31:00 GMT

This project will notch a series of wing dams throughout Pool 2 in order to improve main channel border habitat for fishes. Wing dam notching will enable downstream scouring, which creates overwintering habitat. The project area is in the middle and lower half of Pool 2, Upper Mississippi River, downstream of St. Paul, Minnesota; spanning Dakota, Ramsey and Washington counties, Minnesota.

The Dredge Merritt: Maintenance and Repairs

Emily Winget — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 19:02:00 GMT

The dredge Merritt is finally back in the water at the North Carolina State Shipyard after routine maintenance. For the past month the crew has been busy replacing and updating steering systems, painting, replacing gear, cleaning fuel tanks, and repairing corrosion. This period of repairs has been very successful and beneficial to the vessel.

Kansas City District delivers $740 million program for the Heartland

James F. Lowe — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 17:01:00 GMT

As the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District wrapped up final contract awards for fiscal year 2020, the team wants to share a summary of a few major accomplishments and how they tie into the district mission and benefit the Heartland region. The district awarded 1575 contracts worth $740.1 million in fiscal year 2020 – ending September 30.

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

James Lowe — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 15:32:00 GMT

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.

Army Corps' New York District heralds the arrival of the largest container ship to Call in the Port

V. Elias, Public Affairs — Sat, 12 Sep 2020 20:36:00 GMT

The CMA/CGM BRAZIL arrived at the Port of New York and New Jersey, Sept. 12. The arrival of the CMA/CGM Brazil was made possible as a result of the Harbor Deepening Project — a multi-year effort by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District and The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Nashville District Divers and the Maintenance Support Team work together to replace 18-ton debris screens at Wilson Lock

Daniel Barrios — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 19:00:00 GMT

FLORENCE, Ala. (Aug 12, 2020) – A stoic, bearded man with tree trunk arms breathed steadily as he calmed his mind for the dangerous task to come.