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  • Predicting the Impact of Aqueous Ions on Fate and Transport of Munition Compounds

    Abstract: A model framework for natural water has been developed using computational chemistry techniques to elucidate the interactions between solvated munition compounds and eight common ions in naturally occurring water sources. The interaction energies, residence times, coordination statistics, and surface preferences of nine munition related compounds with each ion were evaluated. The propensity of these interactions to increase degradation of the munition compound was predicted using accelerated replica QM/MM simulations. The degradation prediction data qualitatively align with previous quantum mechanical studies. The results suggest that primary ions of interest for fate and transport modeling of munition compounds in natural waters may follow the relative importance of SO₄²⁻, Cl⁻ ≫ HCO₃⁻, Na⁺, Mg²⁺ > Ca²⁺, K⁺, and NH₄⁺.

  • Preparative, Extraction, and Analytical Methods for Simultaneous Determination of Legacy and Insensitive Munition (IM) Constituents in Aqueous, Soil or Sediment, and Tissue Matrices

    Abstract: No standard method exists for determining levels of insensitive munition (IM) compounds in environmental matrices. This project resulted in new methods of extraction, analytical separation and quantitation of 17 legacy and 7 IM compounds, daughter products of IM, and other munition compounds absent from USEPA Method 8330B. Extraction methods were developed for aqueous (direct-injection and solid-phase extraction [SPE]), soil, sediment, and tissue samples using laboratory-spiked samples. Aqueous methods were tested on 5 water sources, with 23 of 24 compounds recovered within DoD QSM Ver5.2 limits. New solvent extraction (SE) methods enabled recovery of all 24 compounds from 6 soils within QSM limits, and a majority of the 24 compounds were recovered at acceptable levels from 4 tissues types. A modified chromatographic treatment method removed analytical interferences from tissue extracts. Two orthogonal high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) separation methods, along with an HPLC–mass spectrometric (HPLC-MS) method, were developed. Implementing these new methods should reduce labor and supply costs by approximately 50%, requiring a single extraction and sample preparation, and 2 analyses rather than 4. These new methods will support environmental monitoring of IM and facilitate execution of risk-related studies to determine long-term effects of IM compounds.

  • Perry Lake to host annual Special Archery Deer Hunt starting in October

    Perry, Kan. - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Perry Lake announce the opening of the application process for the annual Special Archery Hunt at Longview and Rock Creek parks Oct. 1, 2021 – Dec, 31, 2021 and Slough Creek Park Oct. 16, 2021 – Dec. 31, 2021. This is a specially permitted, archery-only hunting event. Hunting is not usually allowed in the park areas at Perry Lake; however, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hosts this annual hunt in areas that are closed to public hunting to prevent overpopulation of deer.

  • ERDC’s Williams to be inducted into ROTC Hall of Fame

    The U.S. Army recently announced that Donna R. Williams, a computer scientist at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), would be inducted into the U.S. Army ROTC Hall of Fame.

  • Kanopolis Lake to host virtual waterfowl blind permit drawing in September

    MARQUETTE, Kan. - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Kanopolis Lake announce the annual waterfowl blind permit drawing. Due to the global pandemic and safety considerations for all, this event will be a virtual application process, completely done online. The random lottery drawing will be held by Kanopolis Lake staff to determine order of site selection and permit application for 12 waterfowl blind locations. The virtual application period will run from Saturday, August 28, 2021 through Sunday, September 12, 2021. Participants must be at least 16 years of age and only one member per household are allowed in the application process. Applications can be submitted by email to Ranger Beckman at Kanopolis@usace.army.mil or mailed to Kanopolis Lake Project Office; 105 Riverside Dr; Marquette, KS 67464. 

  • Corps of Engineers and Friends of Lake O' the Pines Sign Cooperating Association Agreement

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District’s Lake O’ the Pines staff reached a milestone with the Friends of Lake O’ the Pines Association August 5, 2021, with the signing of the long-awaited Cooperating Association Agreement.

  • Cartographer's Innovation Puts SWG on the Map

    There are people who like their jobs. There are even people who love their jobs. Then there are people who got out of their way—and out of their own pockets—to learn a new skill and make their jobs easier for their colleagues.

  • Assessing Resilience: Case Studies and a Path Forward for the Marine and Inland Waterborne Transportation System

    Assessing Resilience: Case Studies and a Path Forward for the Marine and Inland Waterborne

  • Great Lakes water levels below recent years record high levels

    DETROIT- Even with a return to wetter conditions in late June and July, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers officials expect Great Lakes water levels to remain below 2019 and 2020 levels - when many record highs were set across the lakes. Late spring and summer are typically when the lakes reach seasonal peaks before beginning seasonal declines in the late summer or early fall. This year, seasonal rises leading up to peak levels were less than average on all the lakes. This is especially true for Lake Michigan-Huron, which experienced its peak monthly mean level for the year in January. This has only occurred three other times (1931, 1958 and 1987) in the coordinated water level period of record (1918-2020).

  • CANCELED: Corps halts Motor Vessel Mississippi open houses

    ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, has canceled its three open houses that were planned for the Motor Vessel Mississippi due to increased COVID-19 precautions.