• Norfolk District Schedules Aerial Mosquito Treatment at Craney Island on July 30

    The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has scheduled aerial mosquito treatment on Wednesday, July 30th, over the federal property on Craney Island.
  • USACE Galveston District Holds Change of Command

    Col. David Dake assumed command from Col. Rhett Blackmon as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District (SWG) commander during a change of command ceremony, July 29, 2025, at the district’s headquarters. On top of handing over command to Dake, Blackmon also celebrated his retirement from the Army after 26 years of service.
  • Engineering Practice Guide for Floodplain Benching: A Natural Infrastructure Approach for Riverine Systems

    Abstract: Floodplain benches are a potential solution for inland river systems where out-of-bank flooding generates unacceptable flood risk and access to riverine floodplains has become restricted over time. Benches are a naturally forming geomorphic feature between the riverbed and a higher floodplain or terrace. In addition to reducing flood risk, benches reduce erosion risk, improve aquatic ecosystems, enhance plant and wildlife diversity, expand recreational opportunities, and may be places of cultural and tribal value. This document informs engineering activities related to site investigation and design of floodplain benches. It is intended to be used by engineers and ecologists to inform the design of floodplain benches in a manner that is consistent with and augments other planning, design, and engineering guidance. A well-designed floodplain bench can improve ecological and biological functions while also reducing flood risk by creating a channel in geomorphic equilibrium with current conditions and resilience to anticipated changes in hydrology and sediment supply rates. This publication is among a series of planned technical reports providing guidance on how to identify, conceptualize, and design natural infrastructure solutions for riverine and coastal systems. It has been produced by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineering With Nature® Program.
  • Public comment period begins for Watsonville Slough Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration report

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers San Francisco District (USACE), in collaboration with the Pajaro Storm Drain Maintenance District (PSDMD), has prepared a draft Detailed Project Report and Environmental Assessment (DPR/EA) for the Watsonville Slough Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Section 1135 Study under the Continuing Authorities Program (CAP) in Santa Cruz County, California.
  • Corps of Engineers seeks comments on Pool 6 ecosystem restoration project

    ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is seeking comments on a draft Environmental Assessment, or EA, for a proposed Johnson Island ecosystem restoration project in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, in Pool 6 of the Upper Mississippi River.
  • Predicting Frozen Ground and Thaw Risk from Standard Land Model Output: Data, Algorithms, and GeoWATCH Implementation

    Abstract: The Geospatial Weather Affected Terrain Conditions and Hazards (GeoWATCH) tool provides real-time mobility predictions at 30 m resolution on demand for any location on the globe. This tool combines dynamic weather data provided by the Air Force 557 Weather Wing (557WW) with static terrain data to downscale soil moisture from global and regional scales to resolutions better suited for terrain analysis applications. Frozen and thawing ground data layers were recently incorporated into the GeoWATCH framework to better support terrain assessment for Warfighter functions in cold regions. This report documents our approach for diagnosing the frozen and thawing ground data layers and provides examples. First, using data from controlled land-surface model simulations, we established simple curve-fitting formulas relating soil temperature to frozen water content. We then added the new formulas to the GeoWATCH code so that end users can generate frozen soil products on demand. Finally, GeoWATCH uses the resultant frozen soil product with a series of soil layers to determine the risk of actively thawing soil and springtime mud conditions. While the new overlays are not integrated into the GeoWATCH mobility diagnostic calculations, they provide insight into soil state conditions critical for operations and weather-based risk assessment in cold regions.
  • Corps of Engineers set to reroute the Red River through control structure

    ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, contractor Ames Construction will reroute the Red River of the North through the Red River Control Structure August 7.
  • First spillway gate removed at Center Hill Dam for replacement

    LANCASTER, Tenn. (July 28, 2025) – Work crews at Center Hill Dam removed the first of its massive spillway gates Saturday, a pivotal first step for an ongoing project to replace all eight original tainter gates and lifting equipment that have been in continuous operation since 1948.
  • Stemming the Spread: Corps of Engineers Buffalo District Works to Control Hydrilla in the Great Lakes Basin

    The shimmering waters of the Great Lakes and their connecting channels are iconic, providing recreation, commerce, and vital ecosystems. But beneath the surface, an aggressive invader threatens this beauty: Hydrilla. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District, is leading a multi-faceted effort to control this invasive aquatic plant and protect the health of the Great Lakes Basin ecosystem and the communities that depend on it.
  • Army Corps Renovates West Point’s Cullum Hall Preserving School History

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, is making major renovations to Cullum Hall at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, serving as the new home for hundreds of historical items and the school’s archive collection.