• Huntsville Center’s small business program takes Army award

    The win recognizes Huntsville Center as a leader within the Army and USACE in removing barriers faced by underserved individuals and communities as prime awards to Small Disadvantaged Businesses exceeded $358 million for fiscal year 2021.
  • Soil and Vegetation Responses to Amendment with Pulverized Classified Paper Waste

    Abstract: The United States Army produces a significant amount of classified paper waste that is pulverized to a fine consistency unsuitable for recycling. However, cheap, high quality organic materials such as classified paper waste are useful as soil amendments. The objective of this research was to evaluate the utilization of pulverized classified paper waste as a soil amendment to improve soil health and increase establishment of desirable native grasses on degraded Army training lands. Paper was applied at rates of 9 to 72 Mg ha-1 to two soil types at Fort Polk, LA: an alfisol (very fine sandy loam - Fine, smectitic, thermic Chromic Vertic Hapludalfs) and an ultisol (loamy fine sandy - Loamy, siliceous, semiactive, thermic Arenic Paleudults). These are common soil orders found on military training lands nationwide and represent fertile (alfisol) and unfertile (ulitsol) soils. Vegetation and soils were monitored over 2 growing seasons. No increase in heavy metals were observed in soils. Extensive analysis showed very low levels of regulated contaminants in the paper, but most were below detection limits. The ultisol site showed improved soil physical and chemical properties, while desirable vegetation benefitted from nutrient immobilization at the alfisol site. Based on the results of this study, applying pulverized paper waste to soil at a rate of 35.9 Mg ha-1 is recommended. Application of paper waste to soils had no adverse environmental effects, improved soil physiochemical properties, and facilitated establishment of desirable native vegetation.
  • Dredge Hurley kicks off 2022 season

    “We dredge to maintain these waterways and keep it open for commerce,” Dredge Hurley First Mate Kyle Collins said. “Millions of dollars’ worth of various commodities are transported up and down, and east to west, along these routes, and dredging keeps these lanes open and prevents closures along these trade routes.” On Apr. 26, the Dredge Hurley and crew (currently 37 people total) departed its home port, Ensley Engineer Yard, for the 2022 dredging season. Their mission: To maintain navigable shipping lanes along the western rivers and inland waterways. 
  • A look back: Norman “Chip” Newman’s 42 years of service

    It all began in February of 1980, when the Memphis District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hired a young, energetic Memphis State University graduate. After spending some time as an intern, followed by a few years in the Inspections Section, this civil engineering major had decided to officially begin his 42-year-long career in the Geotechnical Engineering Branch. Fast forward to May of 2022, and that young man is now a newly retired (and already sorely missed) Geotechnical Design Section Supervisor, Mr.  Norman ‘Chip’ Newman!
  • USACE, officials mark start of Flossmoor storm sewer improvement project

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02), and Flossmoor Mayor Michelle Nelson held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the beginning of a storm sewer improvement project in Flossmoor, Illinois.
  • Tonawanda Landfill Vicinity Property Site Closeout Report Available

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Buffalo District has completed the Site Closeout Report for the Tonawanda Landfill Vicinity Property, Town of Tonawanda, New York. It is available in the Reports section of the project website at: http://www.lrb.usace.army.mil/Missions/HTRW/FUSRAP/Tonawanda-Landfill/. The report provides a consolidated record of all removal and remedial activities conducted at the Tonawanda Landfill Vicinity Property and documents compliance with all regulations and requirements. The site is a vicinity property of the Linde FUSRAP Site, also located in Tonawanda, New York. Prepared under the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP), this report indicates the completion of response actions at the vicinity property in accordance with the 2008 record of decision for the Mudflats Operable Unit (OU) and the 2017 record of decision for the Landfill OU.
  • RD22 workshop addresses R&D challenges, emphasizes strategic collaboration

    Scientists and engineers from across the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) participated in the organization’s Research and Development 2022 (RD22) workshop and symposium, April 26-28. The event was held at the Vicksburg, Mississippi, main campus and was broadcast virtually over eight time zones with more than 600 attendees.
  • Drought conditions persist throughout the Missouri River Basin

    Dry conditions in April resulted in well-below average runoff in the upper Missouri River Basin. April runoff was 1.5 million acre-feet, which is 51% of average. The updated 2022 upper Basin runoff forecast is 17.8 MAF, 69% of average, which, if realized, would rank as the 23rd lowest calendar year runoff volume.
  • Waterborne Geophysical Investigation to Assess Condition of Grouted Foundation: Old River Control Complex – Low Sill Structure, Concordia Parish, Louisiana

    Abstract: The Old River Low Sill Structure (ORLSS) at the Old River Control Complex (ORCC) in Concordia Parish, LA, is a steel pile-founded, gated reinforced-concrete structure that regulates the flow of water into the Atchafalaya River to prevent an avulsion between the Mississippi River and the Atchafalaya River. A scour hole that formed on the southeast wall of ORLSS during the Mississippi River flood of 1973 was remediated with riprap placement and varied mixtures of self-leveling, highly pumpable grout. Non-invasive waterborne geophysical surveys were used to evaluate the distribution and condition of the grout within the remediated scour area. Highly conductive areas were identified from the surveys that were interpreted to consist mostly of grout. Resistive responses, likely representing mostly riprap and/or sediment, were encountered near the remediated scour area periphery. A complex mixture of materials in the remediated scour area is interpreted by the more gradual transitions in the geophysical response. Survey measurements immediately beneath ORLSS were impeded by the abundance of steel along with the structure itself. The survey results and interpretation provide a better understanding of the subsurface properties of ORLSS.
  • USACE Construction Division Chief promoted to Brigadier General in U.S. Army Reserve

    Kirk Dailey, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District construction division chief was promoted to brigadier general in the U.S. Army Reserve during a ceremony held at the Romano Mazzoli Federal Building in Louisville, Ky., April 22, 2022.