• The Use of Native Vegetation and Natural Materials in Shoreline Stabilization: A Case Study of Bubble Gum Beach, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

    PURPOSE: This technical note is the fourth in a series about using native plant communities to achieve engineering and ecological purposes such as shoreline stabilization, structural enhancements, habitat creation, and ecosystem development. In this series, we demonstrate the utility of natural materials (specifically, native vegetation, oyster reefs, and coir logs) in living shoreline projects. Plant species and plant communities play critical roles in wave attenuation and sediment accretion in coastal areas. The application of vegetation in the coastal areas, especially on the East and Gulf Coasts, has focused heavily on the creation of living shorelines—serving both environmental and engineering purposes. This technical note documents the workshop conducted by the US Army Engineering Research and Development Center (ERDC) and hosted by the US Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Philadelphia District (NAP) and Center for the Inland Bays. The goals of this technical note are (1) to demonstrate the application of native plant communities, oyster shells, and coir (coconut) materials and their installation techniques along shorelines to the engineering community; (2) to demonstrate how targeted vegetation establishment can facilitate ecosystem development along shorelines to improve engineering and environmental outcomes; and (3) to provide native vegetation installation techniques for living shorelines projects’ purposes.
  • Temporary full road closure of Highway 177 across Norfork Dam

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is scheduling a full road closure for Highway 177 across Norfork Dam from 6:30 a.m. Sept. 18 until 5 p.m. Sept. 21, 2023, to remove equipment used to perform routine maintenance on the dam.
  • Temporary full road closure of Highway 178 across Bull Shoals Dam

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is scheduling a full road closure for Highway 178 across Bull Shoals Dam from 6:30 a.m. Sept. 18 until 5 p.m. Sept. 20, 2023, to deploy and remove equipment used to perform maintenance on the dam.
  • Galveston District holds FY23 4th Quarter Army Professional Awards Ceremony

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Galveston District (SWG) held its Fiscal Year 2023, 4th Quarter Army Professional Awards Ceremony and Townhall at the Jadwin Building in Galveston, Texas, Sept. 7, 2023. More than 100 District employees attended the ceremony and townhall in person, and many more attended virtually.
  • Army Corps Trailblazer Inducted into Hall of Fame

    At the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ New York District Annual Awards and Picnic, William Slezak, serving the District for over 35 years in a number of key managerial positions, was inducted into the District’s Hall of Fame ⎼ the highest District-level honor ⎼ before an audience of 170 employees and guests and congratulated by District Commander Col. Alexander Young.
  • Selection of a Time Series of Beneficial Use Wetland Creation Sites in the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge for Use in Restoration Trajectory Development

    PURPOSE: The development of regional restoration trajectories of marsh creation and nourishment projects is key to improved design, management, and implementation of adaptive management principles. Synthesizing information from multiple marsh creation projects constructed at various times but with consistent site characteristics and borrow material sources, helps elucidate restoration success in a specific region. Specifically, this technical note (TN) documents the process of determining a suitable study area, construction methods, and the current state of establishing sites in the Louisiana Gulf Coast that could be used for restoration trajectory development. This investigation compiled information from the construction phases, Landset 8 satellite imagery, and the most recent digital elevation model (DEM) to investigate elevation and vegetation establishment within these sites.
  • Chittenden Locks Commemorate Replacing Large Lock Center Gate with The Great Miter Retire 5K Fun Run Oct. 7

    Army Corps will host The Great Miter Retire 5K Fun Run, Oct. 7, 2023, to launch the large lock center miter gate replacement project at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks. The community will get the opportunity to walk along these original 106-year-old engineering marvels one last time during the event that starts and ends at the miter gates.
  • Critical Public Facilities team eager to serve local community

    Following a disaster, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers relies on the Critical Public Facilities team to help get communities back on their feet.
  • Pittsburgh District’s Nakita Smith selected for ERDC University

    Researchers from 10 U.S. Army Corps of Engineer Districts have been selected for the 2023 session of the Engineer Research and Development Center University (ERDC-U). Nakita Smith, lead realty specialist with the Pittsburgh District, was chosen to participate in the detail program, now in its eighth year.
  • Bull Shoals and Norfork Dam Safety Exercise

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District hosted a dam safety exercise for Bull Shoals and Norfork Dam’s along with state and local stakeholders at the Bull Shoals White River State Park on Sept. 6, 2023.