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  • Technical Recommendations for the Identification and Management of Potential Acid Sulfate Soils in an Ecological Restoration Context

    Abstract: Restoration projects are being implemented to address natural and anthropogenic threats to coastal wetlands, including increased inundation and historic land use alterations. The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and other organizations introduce dredged sediments into coastal environments to increase elevation and stabilize marsh platforms. However, some dredged sediments either contain iron sulfide compounds (i.e., iron monosulfide [FeS] and pyrite [FeS₂]) or form them after application. Under aerobic conditions, FeS and FeS₂ can rapidly oxidize, which generates acidity that can dramatically lower the soil pH, impacts plant establishment, and threatens the success of wetland restoration projects. Recommendations are needed to properly manage iron sulfide containing materials through project design, screening, monitoring, and adaptive management. Tools and techniques exist to evaluate dredged sediments for the presence of FeS and FeS₂ prior to and following marsh sediment applications, and project design and construction approaches can minimize associated acidification risks. This report provides a framework for properly identifying and managing sediments containing iron sulfide minerals during wetland restoration projects. These technical recommendations provide dredged sediment beneficial use practitioners a decision support tool for the successful management of iron sulfide containing dredged sediments to increase the ecological function and sustainability of coastal wetlands.

  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers teams support California Wildfire recovery

    Working on the Southern California wildfire recovery is incredibly challenging as people come together from across the country to deploy and offer their help.

  • Corps of Engineers begins work at Grand Haven Government Basin

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District construction to replace timber fenders on the East and West Government Basin Piers in Grand Haven begins May 19, 2025.   The wooden fenders, used as bumpers to protect vessels from damage against concrete and steel navigation structures, will be hoisted into place using Corps of Engineers floating platforms and welding them into place. The work is scheduled to be completed in mid-July. 

  • Corps of Engineers to host meeting on Lock 25 expansion with area residents and community members

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District, will host a meeting to provide additional information on the new 1,200-foot lock at Lock and Dam 25. The meeting will be held at Lock 25, 10 Sandy Slough Road, Winfield, Missouri, May 22, starting at 10 a.m. Project team members will have posters with designs and will be available to provide information, answer questions, and discuss the project with attendees. Attendees will also be able to tour the project.

  • As temps rise, officials implore recreators wear simple life-saving device

    When the Pacific Northwest sees increasing outdoor temperatures, many people flock to their favorite lakes and streams to cool off. Tragically, this also leads to avoidable drownings and boating-related fatalities. That’s why officials are imploring recreators to wear a simple life-saving device – a life jacket.

  • Applications of the CRREL–-Geometric Optics Snow Radiative Transfer (GOSRT) Model: Incorporating Diffraction and Simulating Detection of Buried Targets

    Abstract: Radiative transfer through a snow surface within the visible and near infrared (NIR) spectra is complicated by the shape, size, and configuration of the snow grains that comprise the snow surface. Ray-tracing and photon-tracking techniques combined with 3D renderings of snow resolved at the microscale have shown promise as a means to directly simulate radiative transfer through snow with no restrictions on the snow grain configuration. This report describes and evaluates the US Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) Geometric Optics Snow Radiative Transfer (GOSRT) model. In particular, we describe the incorporation of the diffraction process into the photon-tracking framework and evaluate how accurately the model simulates the spectral albedo of targets buried within the snow. We find that the model simulated spectral albedo is little affected by the incorporation of diffraction for most applications. However, there are nonnegligible impacts on simulated albedo for small grains in the NIR due to a reduction in forward scattering. We conclude by recommending that diffraction is neglected in CRREL–GOSRT for most cases, as including it substantially increases the computational expense with minimal impacts on the result. Finally, we show that buried targets are only distinguishable for very shallow snowpacks.

  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to Close Winfield Recreation Area to Prepare for Construction of New 1,200-ft. Lock Chamber

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rivers Project Office, will close the Winfield Recreation Area to allow for contractor equipment and material staging associated with two active construction projects at Lock and Dam 25.

  • USACE urges boater safety at navigation locks

    WALLA WALLA, Wash. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District is reminding boaters to exercise caution near navigation locks following several recent incidents involving recreational boats operating near district locks.

  • Strengthening community resilience through engineering

    In spring 2025, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Walla Walla District Water Management team conducted its annual snow flight across southeastern Washington, Oregon, and Idaho—using aerial surveys and ground sampling to assess mountain snowpack’s depth, density, and melt stage. These measurements underpin precise runoff forecasts months in advance, guiding reservoir refill schedules, flood risk mitigation, hydropower release timing, and environmental flow requirements for the Columbia River Basin. The resultant forecasts support farmers’ irrigation planning, municipal and industrial water supply management, endangered fish flow scheduling, and recreational water‑level stability—strengthening regional resilience and community well‑being.

  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announces temporary partial closure of Raystown Lake for dam maintenance

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, will temporarily close the area of