2 Jul 2020

Corps to Host Virtual Meeting on Youghiogheny River Lake Master Plan Revision

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District is hosting a virtual public meeting to kick off the Youghiogheny River Lake Master Plan revision. The corps is seeking public input about environmental and recreational subjects to consider during the master plan revision process.

2 Jul 2020

Corps announces public comment on the Final EIS for the Combined Operational Plan (COP)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District, announces public comment on the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Combined Operational Plan (COP). Public comments are due August 3.

2 Jul 2020

Vicksburg District to reopen select beaches and recreation areas at Mississippi lakes beginning July 6

Vicksburg, Miss. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District will reopen select beaches and recreation areas at its Mississippi lakes – Arkabutla Lake, Sardis Lake, Enid Lake and Grenada Lake – and incorporate preventative health measures beginning July 6.

2 Jul 2020

Lake Red Rock Beaches Now Open

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District has opened North Overlook Beach and Whitebreast Beach at Lake Red Rock.

2 Jul 2020

Mobile District to Begin Dredging on the Mobile Bar Channel

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District announces that beginning the week of July 5, 2020, the District will commence dredging operations on the Mobile Bar Channel.

1 Jul 2020

PUBLICATION NOTICE: Laboratory spiking process of soil with various uranium and other heavy metals

Abstract: Laboratory studies using metal spiked soils are challenging due to soil heterogeneity. This work provides an easy, quick, precise, and accurate technique for the preparation of spiked soils for laboratory research. The process described spiking soil with various uranium species and other heavy metals for laboratory scale pilot experiments under various biogeochemical conditions. The procedure involves grinding both dry soil and metal chemicals into the fine powder. The spiked soil mixture was further homogenized through a modified splitting and combining of the sample by diagonal flipping using plastic sheeting. Comparison of measured concentrations with theoretical values were obtained with <20% precision and accuracy. However, tradition spiking method with metal solution of-ten yielded high heterogeneous spiked soils due to strong metal adsorption in soils. Re-drying and re-grinding of soils were required following the spiking in order to homogenize treated soils, generating inhalable particulates. Thus appropriate personal protective equipment and practices are required for the safety concern. The present method with metal salt powder proved a safe, useful, quick, accurate and precise, and homogenized soil spiking method.

1 Jul 2020

PUBLICATION NOTICE: Spatial Analysis of Precipitation and Snow Water Equivalent Extremes for the Columbia River Basin

Abstract: Recent advances in the spatial statistics of extremes and model calibration were applied to develop and deliver areal-exceedance estimates for precipitation (PREC), by season and duration, and snow water equivalent (SWE), by cool season month and for the water year, for 758 delineated sub-basins of the Columbia River Basin (CRB), which correspond to a new CRB hydrology model watershed delineation. Understanding that future US Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division, mission requirements may change, project execution also included the development and delivery of an application guidance document to credibly compute areal-exceedance estimates, including uncertainty, for PREC or SWE for any arbitrary area within the CRB. R, a free software environment for statistical computing and graphics (https://www.r-project.org/), and QGIS, a free and open source geographic information system (https://qgis.org/en/site/index.html), were the primary tools used for product development and delivery. The following R software packages were primarily used during project execution: evd, Glmnet, maps, raster, rgdal, SDMTools, sp, and SpatialExtremes.

1 Jul 2020

Corps announces public comment and webinar on planned deviation from Lake O Regulation Schedule to reduce risk from Harmful Algal Blooms

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District, announces public comment on the Draft Revised Supplemental Environmental Assessment (EA) and Proposed Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the planned deviation from the water control plan for Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades Agricultural Area, also known as the Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule (LORS 2008) in order to reduce risk from Harmful Algal Blooms. A webinar to provide information regarding the proposed planned deviation is planned for 1 p.m. on July 21. Public comments are due July 30.

1 Jul 2020

Success Lake joins Operation Dry Water to raise awareness of the dangers of boating under the influence

This Fourth of July weekend, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will participate in Operation Dry Water, a coordinated three-day effort to heighten awareness of the dangers of boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

1 Jul 2020

Blue Marsh Lake Swimming Beach to Open; Restrictions in Place for Holiday Weekend

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced the swimming beach at Blue Marsh Lake will open to the public on July 2, 2020. The bathhouse and shower facilities at the beach will also open. Visitation in the Dry Brooks Day Use Area will be limited to 75% capacity. Park Rangers will be monitoring the visitation and closing the area as needed.