• Columbia River locks shut down for annual maintenance

    The $23 billion of commerce that flows along the Columbia River will pause for two weeks beginning March 2 as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Portland District closes three navigation locks for annual inspections and maintenance.
  • Jacksonville District Delivers a Record Amount of Water South

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District delivered a record amount of water from Water Conservation Area (WCA) 3-A to Everglades National Park (ENP) in the past year. Surpassing expectations, the USACE successfully delivered over 1.4 million acre-feet of water, marking the third-highest volume since 2012, during a non-hurricane year.
  • MKARNS Nav Notice No. SWL 24-13 Lock 6 Intermittent Delays Update

    The dive inspection, as noted in Nav Notice 24-04, at David D. Terry Lock (No. 6) NM 108.1 that was previously scheduled February 5 through February 8, 2024, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. has been canceled due to high water. No intermittent delays are expected during this time.
  • MKARNS Nav Notice No. SWL 24-12 Lock 7 Tow Haulage Out of Service

    The tow haulage equipment at Murray Lock (No. 7) NM 125.4 is currently out of service due to electrical issues. Double cut tows will have to be locked the conventional way (without the use of tow haulage). A follow up notice will be distributed when the tow haulage equipment is back in service.
  • Public open house for Quincy Bay Habitat Rehabilitation Project to be held Feb. 15

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, invites the public to an open house announcing the tentative plan for the Quincy Bay Habitat Rehabilitation and Enhancement Project. The open house, which is being conducted in partnership with the Quincy Bay Area Restoration and Enhancement Association (QBAREA), along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Illinois Department of Natural Resources, will take place on February 15 from 5-7 p.m. at the Oakley-Lindsay Center, located at 300 Civic Center Plaza #237 in Quincy, Illinois.
  • Long Branch Lake holds joint emergency preparedness exercise

    Officials held an emergency preparedness tabletop exercise at Long Branch Lake in Macon, Missouri, on Jan. 24, 2024, to showcase the joint emergency preparedness between local, state and federal agencies in the area. The tabletop exercise was coordinated and led by the Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and focused on the communication and coordination efforts during operational releases or an extreme, rare flood event. During the exercise, USACE emphasized that it regularly assesses the conditions and risks associated with Long Branch Dam, along with its other civil works projects.
  • Rathbun Lake holds joint emergency preparedness exercise

    Officials held an emergency preparedness tabletop exercise at Rathbun Lake in Centerville, Iowa, on Jan. 23, 2024, to showcase the joint emergency preparedness between local, state and federal agencies in the area. The tabletop exercise was coordinated and led by the Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and focused on the communication and coordination efforts during operational releases or an extreme, rare flood event. During the exercise, USACE emphasized that it regularly assesses the conditions and risks associated with Rathbun Dam, along with its other civil works projects.
  • MKARNS Nav Notice No. SWL 24-11 USCG Advisory Update Van Buren Railroad Bridge NM 300.8

    NAVIGATION NOTICE       Number SWL 24-11McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation SystemJanuary 31,
  • Congratulations on your retirement, Loy Hamilton!

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Memphis District, congratulates and bids farewell to Mr. Loy A. Hamilton, who retires after 40 remarkable years of dedicated service to the Corps of Engineers and the communities it serves. Hamilton's four-decade career was nothing short of extraordinary. His depth of knowledge and wide-ranging experience made him an invaluable team member, and his commitment to the  USACE mission, personal and professional growth, and the STEM initiative made him an inspiration to many.
  • Verification of Current Los Angeles (LA) Abrasion Test Criterion for Aggregate Degradation in Airfield Asphalt Pavements

    Abstract: Low-quality mineral aggregates can potentially lead to production, construction, and long-term performance-related problems in asphalt concrete pavements. Therefore, effective qualification criteria for mineral aggregates are paramount. This study was performed to investigate the effectiveness of the Los Angeles abrasion (LAA) test to assess the abrasion resistance of coarse aggregates commonly used in airfield asphalt paving. The LAA test acceptance criteria currently specified by state departments of transportation were examined and compared to the current Department of Defense criterion. Additionally, recent experiences during a forensic evaluation to identify potential sources of excessive presence of foreign object debris on an airfield runway are also briefly discussed in this report. The LAA test and associated acceptance criterion in Unified Facilities Guide Specification (UFGS) 32 12 15.13 were evaluated by testing 24 aggregate sources from various US locations. Also, the Micro-Deval abrasion test was performed as a surrogate abrasion resistance test. Sufficient evidence was not found to suggest adjustments to current LAA test criterion or to recommend the use of an alternative abrasion test. The current UFGS specifications should be improved to provide a more thorough aggregate testing protocol and detailed guidelines regarding aggregate sampling and testing frequency during design and construction of asphalt pavements.