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  • USACE seeking volunteers for DeQueen Lake shoreline cleanup

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking volunteers to pitch in from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 11, 2025, for a shoreline cleanup event at DeQueen Lake.

  • 2025-0119

    The proposed project is a levee lift of the crown and protected side berm improvements on the A-East Levee Section of the South the Lafourche Levee District Larose to Golden Meadow Hurricane Levee Project. Approximately 133,132 cubic yards of borrow embankment clay fill will be required for the approximately 24,900 feet by 80 feet (45.7 acres) of the proposed 2-foot crown lift in project area. The crown will be 10 feet wide and slope at 3 on 1 down to the flood side and protected side berms of the levee. The protected side berm improvements will consist of approximately 80,374 cubic yards of borrow embankment clay fill will be required for the approximately 24,900 feet by 70 feet (40.0 acres) of the proposed protected side berm improvements. The protected side berm improvements are 70 feet wide on a 20 to 1 slope. All disturbed areas of the levee require seeding and fertilizing once complete to establish grass vegetative growth. The borrow source providing the material that will be utilized for the proposed levee lift will be evaluated for suitability prior to use to ensure compliance with all requirements under 33 U.S.C. Section 408.

  • Three-Dimensional Simulation of Finite-Strain Debonding Using Immersed Meshes

    Abstract: We propose a method for modeling interfacial damage and debonding under quasi-static loads using immersed meshes in 3D at finite strains. This is an extension of our previous work on an immersed variational multiscale discontinuous Galerkin method in 2D. The variational approach remains the same, but transitioning from 2D to 3D introduces significant complications in the computational geometry aspects. The immersed VMDG method is a stabilized interface formulation derived using variational multiscale ideas to apply discontinuous Galerkin treatment to the interface while employing a continuous Galerkin approximation elsewhere. Key benefits are the variationally derived stabilization terms that evolve during deformation and are free of user-defined parameters. Also, the transition from perfect bond to damage behavior at the interface is handled naturally by incorporating an interfacial gap variable governed by a yield criterion and a flow rule. To support 3D simulations, we introduce algorithms for integrating cut elements, forming interface segments, and computing the VMDG stabilization tensor. Cut-element integration is performed using voxel-based moment-fitting integration to avoid the robustness issues associated with using mesh Booleans and tetrahedral integration cells. Several numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the robustness, efficiency, and range of applicability of the method.

  • Hydrodynamics in the Morganza Floodway and Atchafalaya Basin, Report 5: Phase 5

    Abstract: The Morganza Floodway and Atchafalaya Basin, located in Louisiana west of the Mississippi River, were evaluated using a 2D Adaptive Hydraulics model. Prior to this study, Phase 1 and 2 model studies showed that the Morganza Floodway may not be able to pass the Project Design Flood discharge of 600,000 cubic feet per second due to levee overtopping. Phase 3 and 4 model studies help to further the understanding of how flood waters propagate throughout the floodway as well examined alternatives to increase the discharge capacity of the floodway. Phase 5 furthered the work completed in Phases 3 and 4 by exploring more alternatives to aid the Morganza Floodway in passing the Project Design Flood.

  • Hydrodynamics in the Morganza Floodway and Atchafalaya Basin, Report 4: Phase 4

    Abstract: The Morganza Floodway and Atchafalaya Basin, located in Louisiana, west of the Mississippi River, were evaluated using a two-dimensional Adaptive Hydraulics model. Prior to this study, Phase 1 and 2 model studies showed that the Morganza Floodway may not be able to pass the Project Design Flood discharge of 600,000 cfs due to levee overtopping. A Phase 3 model study helped to further the understanding of the effects of trees and vegetation on the flow capacity of the floodway. In Phase 4 of this study, changes in elevations through means of excavation as well as the cutting of rights-of-way (ROW) were examined to determine their effects on flow conveyance in the floodway.

  • Exploring Burnt Area Delineation with Cross-Resolution Mapping: A Case Study of Very High and Medium-Resolution Data

    Abstract: Remote sensing is essential for mapping and monitoring burnt areas. Integrating Very High-Resolution (VHR) data with medium-resolution datasets like Landsat and deep learning algorithms can enhance mapping accuracy. This study employs two deep learning algorithms, UNET and Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), to classify burnt areas in the Bandipur Forest, Karnataka, India. We explore using VHR imagery with limited samples to train models on Landsat imagery for burnt area delineation. Four models were analyzed:(a) custom UNET with Landsat labels, (b) custom UNET with PlanetScope-labeled data on Landsat, (c) custom UNET-GRU with Landsat labels, and (d) custom UNET-GRU with PlanetScope-labeled data on Landsat. Custom UNET with Landsat labels achieved the best performance, excelling in precision (0.89), accuracy (0.98), and segmentation quality (Mean IOU: 0.65, Dice Coefficient: 0.78). Using PlanetScope labels resulted in slightly lower performance, but its high recall (0.87 for UNET-GRU) demonstrating its potential for identifying positive instances. In the study, we highlight the potential and limitations of integrating VHR with medium-resolution satellite data for burnt area delineation using deep learning.

  • Kanopolis lake hunting equipment permits postponed

    Deer hunting season is upon us, and there are some changes to Kanopolis Lake’s normal equipment permitting process. Hunting equipment permits will not be required when placing tree stands or ground blinds for the 2025-2026 deer hunting season, due to resources constraints.

  • MKARNS Nav Notice SWL 25-64 Sailing Instructions NM 237.1 to 238.1

    Due to shoaling, mariners are advised that until further notice, both upbound and downbound tows should favor the red buoys from NM 237.1 to 238.1.

  • Herd Highlight: Russell Somsen, Oahe Project natural resource specialist

    Meet Russell (Russ) Somsen, a natural resources specialist at the Oahe Project in Fort Pierre, South Dakota. Russ has worked 35 years for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Omaha District in a variety of roles to include work with the Emergent Sandbar Habitat Program, threatened and endangered species, noxious weed control, ecosystem mitigation, visitor services and the processing of real estate and regulatory actions. He also serves as a contracting officer representative for multiple contracts.

  • Youth deer hunt announced for Millwood Tri-Lakes

    -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Millwood Tri-Lakes Project Office is accepting applications for a special youth deer hunt at Millwood Lake Nov. 1-2, 2025.