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  • Old River Control Low Sill Structure: Monitoring and Performance

    Abstract: The Old River Low Sill Structure (ORLSS) is located approximately 25 mi south of Vidalia, LA, and is part of the Old River Control Complex. The structure is founded on steel piles and is a 566-foot-long concrete structure constructed in 1959. The structure resembles a dam with 11, 44-foot-wide gates to prevent migration of the Mississippi River’s current course to a hydraulically shorter course down the Atchafalaya River. A re-analysis was undertaken by the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center to investigate the current level of stability and the potential for adjusting the operating limitations placed on the structure because of damage during the 1973 flood. The investigation was performed by reviewing the design and post-design stability analyses, analyzing performance data, and performing an updated stability analysis. The stability analysis was performed with monitoring data that spanned several decades. Using historic monitoring data in the stability analysis, with a wide range of loading conditions, it was shown that uplift conditions were not as severe as previously considered. Performance data coupled with the stability analysis show that the structural performance supports the current operating conditions.

  • Reading the Ground: Understanding the Response of Bioelectric Microbes to Anthropogenic Compounds in Soil Based Terrestrial Microbial Fuel Cells

    Abstract: Electrogenic bacteria produce power in soil based terrestrial microbial fuel cells (tMFCs) by growing on electrodes and transferring electrons released from the breakdown of substrates. The direction and magnitude of voltage production is hypothesized to be dependent on the available substrates. A sensor technology was developed for compounds indicative of anthropological activity by exposing tMFCs to gasoline, petroleum, 2,4-dinitrotoluene, fertilizer, and urea. A machine learning classifier was trained to identify compounds based on the voltage patterns. After 5 to 10 days, the mean voltage stabilized (+/- 0.5 mV). After the entire incubation, voltage ranged from -59.1 mV to 631.8 mV, with the tMFCs containing urea and gasoline producing the highest (624 mV) and lowest (-9 mV) average voltage, respectively. The machine learning algorithm effectively discerned between gasoline, urea, and fertilizer with greater than 94% accuracy, demonstrating that this technology could be successfully operated as an environmental sensor for change detection.

  • Collaborative Development of Natural and Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal Resiliency in the Arctic and Adjacent Regions: A Workshop

    The workshop “Collaborative Development of Natural and Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal Resiliency in the Arctic and Adjacent Regions” was held in Reston, Virginia, October 24–25, 2023. The objective was to assemble diverse international partners in a hybrid in-person and virtual setting to focus on the viability of applying Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) to solve engineering challenges in the Arctic and similar cold region locations. The goals of the two-day workshop were to share recent efforts implementing NBS to mitigate coastal hazards such as flooding and erosion in northern high latitude settings and identify requirements and develop a robust program of activities to advance this work at national, regional, and local levels. This workshop report documents the presentations and discussion and summarizes key needs and recommendations for future engagement identified by speakers and workshop participants.

  • Single lane closure scheduled for Highway 177 across Norfork Dam

    – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is scheduling a single lane closure of Highway 177 across Norfork Dam starting at 6 a.m. March 26, 2025, and continuing through late July 2025, for routine maintenance.

  • USACE-Albuquerque District to host water forecast open house at Abiquiu Lake, March 17

    USACE-Albuquerque District staff will host its annual open house event, Monday, March 17, 2025, starting at 6:00 p.m. at the Abiquiu Lake Project Office. The event is free and open to the public.

  • Louisville VA Medical Center construction marks last year of work with Red Zone meeting

    While there are many ways to score points on a football field, the ultimate goal of any team is to

  • Corps of Engineers projects prevent an estimated $734 Million in flood damages during February storms

    A preliminary analysis of data from the heavy rain event in mid-February, conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District, indicates that USACE flood risk management projects prevented an estimated $734 million in flood damages across the Cumberland River Basin.

  • Restoring J. Strom Thurmond: USACE Park Volunteers Emphasize Helene Damage

    SAVANNAH, Ga. – It’s pitch black. Al and Tina Carpenter sit huddled in a campground bathhouse; their two dogs nestled between them. The wind howls, and rain hammers against the roof, while the deafening crash of trees echo throughout the park.

  • Road to Government Bay Boat Ramp closing for maintenance

    The road leading to Lake Sakakawea's Government Bay Boat Ramp at the junction with Missouri Drive in Riverdale, North Dakota will be temporarily closed beginning March 17, 2025, for boat ramp and bay maintenance scheduled by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District.

  • Spring Missouri River public meetings to be virtual

    Virtual meetings on Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir system operations are in the process of being scheduled. Meeting dates and times will be announced as the details are finalized. In-person public meetings on Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir system operations, which were scheduled for March 19, 31 and April 2 have been canceled.