12 Jun 2020

LOSOM PDT Meeting Scheduled for June 25; Pre-registration required

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, announces the next Project Delivery Team (PDT) meeting for the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM), to be held June 25 from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Due to continuing COVID-19 restrictions on public meetings, this meeting will be held online only. NOTE: Pre-registration required.

12 Jun 2020

Yazoo Levee Seepage Remediation PDT awards contract

Congratulations to the Yazoo Levee Seepage Remediation PDT for reaching their contract award milestone. They recently awarded the contract to sure-up the integrity of the levee in Commerce, Miss. to the Syte Corporation. The contract work consist of installing 30 relief wells and extending the seepage berm 2,700 feet. The seepage berm extension and relief well installations will help reduce water seepage under the levee which could weaken the integrity of the levee and the overall flood protection system.

12 Jun 2020

New access road planned at Colebrook River Dam and Lake

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), New England District, plans to perform work on federally owned property that is part of the USACE Colebrook River Lake project located in the Naugatuck River Basin. The road work proposed will provide, year round, new access to the northern end of Colebrook River Lake’s Operation and Maintenance (O&M) access road (also known as Old Massachusetts Route 8), in Sandisfield, Massachusetts (MA).

12 Jun 2020

Civil Works Research Area Review Groups go virtual during COVID-19 pandemic

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) recently overcame the hurdle of conducting its annual Environmental, Navigation and Flood Risk Management Research Area Review Groups (RARGs) virtually due to physical distancing considerations related to COVID-19. The RARG meetings, typically held over the course of a few days in April, are the cornerstones of the present USACE civil works research and development (R&D) process, facilitating review and ranking of research needs submitted by districts, divisions, centers of expertise and researchers across the organization. During typical in-person RARGs, the meetings also facilitate team-building, technology transfer and hands-on learning about facilities, emerging products and methods.

12 Jun 2020

Great Lakes water levels still setting records

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, announces that Lakes Michigan, Huron, St. Clair and Erie set new monthly mean water level records for May 2020. These water level records were previously set in 1986 on Lakes Michigan and Huron and just last year in 2019 on Lakes St. Clair and Erie. As we enter the summer months, all of the lakes are either in their period of seasonal rise or are reaching their peak, except Lake Ontario, which will likely begin its seasonal decline this month. Although most of the month was dry, the middle of May brought heavy rainfall to some areas of the basin, resulting in a wetter than average month for the Michigan-Huron and Erie basins. In the coming months, water levels are projected to continue to be near or above record high water levels on all of the lakes, except Lake Ontario. Significant erosion and flooding continues in many locations as water levels remain extremely high. “The water level of Lakes Michigan and Huron has now risen above the peak level that was reached last year,” said John Allis, chief of the Great Lakes Hydraulics and Hydrology Office, Detroit District.

11 Jun 2020

Upper Mississippi River - Illinois Flood Risk Assessments

This inter-agency pilot project developed map products to provide risk communication to communities in Illinois Mississippi Riverfront communities. Structural flood damage assessments for all structures were developed using multi-frequency flood depth grids. Survey data was collected for the lowest entry point and first floor elevation for all residential, commercial and industrial structures within the 1% annual chance exceedance floodplain. Parcel data, GIS data, and elevation certificate data that have been prepared for structures in the floodplain was obtained from county assessors.

11 Jun 2020

Corps reopens swim beaches on Lake Dardanelle

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Russellville Site Office has reopened swim beaches at Piney Bay and Shoal Bay parks located on Lake Dardanelle. The swim beaches no longer have a higher than acceptable level of E. coli.

11 Jun 2020

USACE to discuss American River erosion protection work at June 15 virtual public meeting

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District and Central Valley Flood Protection Board will co-host a virtual public meeting June 15 to discuss the draft environmental documents related to proposed erosion work along the lower American River in Sacramento.

11 Jun 2020

USACE awards contract for historic Arlington Nation Cemetery Memorial Amphitheater cleaning, repointing

In preparation for the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, 11 November 2021, The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a more than $6.3 million contract to clean, repoint, and provide universal access to the exterior of Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) Memorial Amphitheater.

11 Jun 2020

USACE announces the closing of recently opened parks at Whitney Lake

The Fort Worth District closed Soldiers Bluff and Walling Bend Parks at Whitney Lake on June 9 due to recent safety concerns. In recent weeks, large crowds have been gathering in and around Soldiers Bluff and Walling Bend Park. The size of the crowds, some estimated to have been as large as 600 people, have caused concern for public safety related to COVID-19. In an effort to minimize the spread of COVID-19, USACE urged customers to follow social distancing and other CDC guidelines as parks were reopened in May. The recent crowds at Soldiers Bluff and Walling Bend Park have not been in compliance with those COVID19 CDC guidelines.