• Shenango Soaring: Army Corps invites bird enthusiasts to fifth annual Eagle Fest

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District, in partnership with the Shenango River Watchers, will host the fifth annual Eagle Fest at Shenango River Lake, Jan. 11.
  • Inventory and Evaluation of 12 Miscellaneous Buildings for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) at Custer Hill Area, Fort Riley, Kansas: Volume 1

    Abstract: The US Congress codified the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA), the nation’s most effective cultural resources legislation to date, mostly through establishing the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The NHPA requires federal agencies to address their cultural resources, which are defined as any prehistoric or historic district, site, building, structure, or object. Section 110 of the NHPA requires federal agencies to inventory and evaluate their cultural resources, and Section 106 requires them to determine the effect of federal undertakings on those potentially eligible for the NRHP. This two-volume report documents an architectural survey of 12 miscellaneous buildings and structures constructed from 1960 through 1976 in the Custer Hill area at Fort Riley, Kansas. Volume 1 includes an analysis of the eligibility of these buildings and structures to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and satisfies Section 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. Volume 2 contains individual building inventory forms, and its access is controlled by Fort Riley for security reasons. During the covered period, Fort Riley’s primary mission was training recruits for deployment to South Vietnam. As a result, the relevant theme developed for determining historical significance for these 12 buildings at Fort Riley is Recruit Training for Ground Combat in Vietnam. Of the facilities inventoried, none achieved significance under this theme for Criterion A. These buildings do not embody a distinctive characteristic of a type, period, or method of construction, do not represent the work of a master, and do not possess high artistic value under Criterion C. Therefore, no buildings were determined to be eligible to the NRHP. This work fulfills Section 110 requirements for these buildings.
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issues proposed design refinements for Central Everglades Planning Project North Phase

    JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Jan. 2, 2025) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Jacksonville District pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) issues the Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Proposed Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for construction of proposed design refinements for the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP) North Phase. The specific features of the CEPP Recommended Plan to be implemented in the CEPP North Phase focus on hydropattern restoration in northern Water Conservation Area (WCA) 3A and the backfilling of the Miami Canal that were identified in the 2014 CEPP Final Project Implementation Report and Environmental Impact Statement (PIR/EIS). Construction of the CEPP North Phase will prepare the Everglades system for additional treated water inflows from Lake Okeechobee by providing the conveyance improvements and landscape connectivity necessary to redistribute additional flows to northern WCA 3A. Preliminary hydraulic modeling has found that modifications to CEPP North features are necessary in order to meet the project objectives identified in the 2014 CEPP Final PIR/EIS, including effective and uniformly distributed flow into WCA 3A. The CEPP North SEA and Proposed FONSI address construction of proposed design refinements to the L-4 Levee degrade, a feature of the Recommended Plan in the 2014 CEPP Final PIR/EIS and Chief's Report.
  • The Fort Worth District's Cornerstone of Contracting Success

    As the fiscal year drew to a close, agencies reflected on past achievements while implementing the year’s lessons learned into the next fiscal year. This period can be likened to changing seasons; just as nature transitions from the vibrancy of summer to the introspection of winter, agencies assess their performance and strategize for the upcoming year.
  • ERDC celebrates Army’s first hydrogen-powered nanogrid

    In December 2024, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) has unveiled a cutting-edge hydrogen-powered small microgrid (nanogrid) at the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in New Mexico.
  • Assessing the Validity and Accuracy of Wetland Indicator Status Ratings for Eight Species in Alaska Subregions

    Abstract: Preexisting ecological information and plant species occurrence data were used to determine the accuracy and validity of the present regional and subregional wetland indicator status ratings for eight species: Andromeda polifolia, Arctous rubra, Carex canescens, Rhododendron tomentosum, Rubus arcticus, Salix arctica, Salix pulchra, and Viola palustris. Technical documentation was developed to either (1) support the current National Wetland Plant List (NWPL) subregion boundaries and wetland indicator status ratings for the NWPL Alaska Region or (2) support a proposed change to the subregions or wetland indicator status ratings for the NWPL Alaska Region, for inclusion into the next NWPL update. The project developed repeatable, quantitative methods for assignment of wetland indicator status rating. Analyses included multiple correspondence analysis (MCA), analysis of similarities (ANOSIM), nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS), and principal component analysis (PCA). Prevalence index (PI) was used as a numeric approximation of wetland status for comparing observations across subregions. A pilot study on S. pulchra data evaluated regional assignments by machine learning and assessed the feasibility of correlation network analysis and Louvain clustering for wetland indicator status rating assignment as dictated by co-occurring species. The methods developed for this Alaska-specific study may be applied to any future regional or subregional updates to the NWPL.
  • Eagle Days 2025: Kansas and Missouri lakes play vital role in bald eagle resurgence and conservation

    As efforts to protect the majestic bald eagle continue to evolve, one unexpected ally has emerged in the fight for their survival: man-made lakes. These artificial bodies of water, often created for flood control, agricultural, and recreational purposes, have become vital habitats for bald eagles and other birds of prey, supporting their nesting, feeding and breeding needs. Historically, bald eagle populations in North America have faced serious threats due to habitat destruction, the detrimental effects of pesticides like DDT and other factors. While these stunning birds have made a significant recovery thanks to federal protections and conservation efforts, their future still depends on the availability of suitable habitats.
  • USACE lifts small craft advisory for Arkansas River

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is lifting the small craft advisory for the Arkansas River. Small craft advisories are issued when flows reach 70,000 cubic feet per second. While flows are receding, USACE officials urge boaters to always exercise caution when on the river.
  • Generosity Today Builds a Brighter Tomorrow

    As the 2024 holiday season ends, the spirit of giving is still ongoing. There’s no better way to wrap up your year of charitable donations than to contribute to the Jacksonville District’s Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) drive.
  • Beckman named director of the U.S. Army’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has named Dr. Ivan Beckman director of the Engineer and Research Development Center’s (ERDC) Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL).