26 Nov 2019

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Smithville Lake celebrates 30th managed deer hunt

Nearly 150 people filled a maintenance facility with excitement at Smithville Lake around 4 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019. They were all there for one reason, to get out into the wild and seek a big buck this weekend. For the 30th year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Smithville Lake hosted what’s known as the world’s largest managed deer hunt for mobility-impaired hunters. During this two-day event, 60 hunting blinds are set up across 3,800 acres of prime ground, not available for public hunting. Along with a volunteer, these hunters seek out the best spot near daybreak and wait out their target.

21 May 2018

Natural resource management benefits spill over into recreation

The Kansas City District has a large Natural Resource Management Program which provides many

16 May 2018

New trending recreation opportunities at Corps lakes

Do you boat at a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake? Do you bike on a nearby trail? What else can you

14 May 2018

Engaging with communities at water safety events

To help share the importance of water safety, we rely on the public, our water safety rangers and

11 May 2018

The fight against invasive species and how you can help

Invasive species can be an animal, plant or fungus. Typically, it’s a species that has been brought

1 May 2018

Recognizing the importance of water safety

As we recognize May as National Water Safety Month, it’s important to understand water safety is

27 Feb 2018

Silver Jackets working to communicate risks

“We’re connecting the dots. I love being part of a team which brings people together and contributes little parts to make a whole project,” said Brian Rast, Kansas City District Lead Silver Jackets Coordinator for Kansas and Missouri. Through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Institute for Water Resources, program funding is provided to Corps of Engineers districts enabling them to partner with agencies in reducing risks from natural hazards. This program is called Silver Jackets.

17 Feb 2018

Navigating and maintaining the river

Navigation is one of the eight authorized purposes of the Missouri River that mandates the Corps of Engineers to manage the navigation channel between Sioux City, Iowa and St. Louis, Missouri. The Rivers and Harbors Act of 1945 calls for a 9-foot deep and minimum 300-foot wide channel. Today, the focus of the Corps of Engineers navigation mission is to provide safe, reliable, efficient and environmentally sustainable waterborne transportation system for movement of commerce, national security needs and recreation. In order to meet this mission, the Corps focuses on repairs to river structures from damage such as ice, debris, scouring and high water velocity.

15 Feb 2018

River outreach underway

Communication is key, and the Kansas City District understands that concept and strives to implement it. “We have more stakeholders than we know,” said John Grothaus, Kansas City District’s chief of planning. “We are actively searching for them, working to communicate with them to learn their needs while informing what the Corps of Engineers does and how we can best serve the public.”

7 Dec 2016

Finding a pathway to natural resource management opportunities

How does a college student find a career with the government? In 2010, an Executive Order was signed by President Obama to implement a program titled Pathways, this authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District to hire students two different ways. The first authority allows the hiring of temporary park rangers and maintenance workers to fulfill a seasonal work program at lake projects. The second authority allows students to enter the Natural Resource Management or Maintenance Training programs in which students are provided employment while they are trained for these specialized careers.