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  • Technical Regional Execution Center No Effect Table (TREC NET)

    Abstract: The purpose of this document is to specify the software requirements, architecture, and design for the Technical Regional Execution Center (TREC) No Effect Table (NET) macro suite, a collection of automated software routines and functions developed to manage and operate the NET. This document is designed for the software engineers and developers maintaining the macro suite and is intended to aid them in understanding its architecture and underlying functionality.

  • Considerations for Potential Use of an Agent-Based Model in a Petri Network Framework to Model Roost Tree Dynamics of Bats

    Purpose: The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is responsible for numerous projects that involve altering or removing wildlife habitat, including habitat of species listed as threatened, endangered, or sensitive (TES). Before initiating a project that may affect TES species, USACE must determine the project’s impact to these species. Understanding the degree of impact, both positive and negative, allows USACE to compare alternatives to reduce negative effects. Because of this, USACE planners need tools to provide accurate assessments of project impacts. Conservation efforts for bats have focused on protecting habitat, especially diurnal roosting trees. Roost trees serve not only as daytime shelter for bats but also for rearing pups until they are able to fly (Barbour and Davis 1969). Determining the impact of habitat change by empirically testing the response of bats to habitat modification has proved difficult because of the effects it may have on TES bats as well as its cost. Simulating the effects of habitat change using computer models provides an excellent data alternative for USACE planners. This technical note explains how agent-based models within a petri network framework can provide USACE planners with information on how habitat modification will affect bat presence or absence.

  • Considerations for Potential Use of an Agent-Based Model in a Petri Network Framework to Model Roost Tree Dynamics of Bats

    Purpose: The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is responsible for numerous projects that involve altering or removing wildlife habitat, including habitat of species listed as threatened, endangered, or sensitive (TES). Before initiating a project that may affect TES species, USACE must determine the project’s impact to these species. Understanding the degree of impact, both positive and negative, allows USACE to compare alternatives to reduce negative effects. Because of this, USACE planners need tools to provide accurate assessments of project impacts. Conservation efforts for bats have focused on protecting habitat, especially diurnal roosting trees. Roost trees serve not only as daytime shelter for bats but also for rearing pups until they are able to fly (Barbour and Davis 1969). Determining the impact of habitat change by empirically testing the response of bats to habitat modification has proved difficult because of the effects it may have on TES bats as well as its cost. Simulating the effects of habitat change using computer models provides an excellent data alternative for USACE planners. This technical note explains how agent-based models within a petri network framework can provide USACE planners with information on how habitat modification will affect bat presence or absence.

  • Review of Hydroacoustic Data Associated with Small-Diameter Vinyl and Timber Pile Driving Operations

    This review investigates root-mean-square sound levels, peak sound levels, and single-strike sound exposure levels resulting from small-diameter vinyl and timber pile driving operations with sufficient supporting information to assess potential impact on endangered species identified in the NOAA acoustic impact calculator. We identify 49 relevant records associated with installing timber pilings 14 in. in diameter and smaller and one record associated with vinyl piling. While acceptable for use as proxy data within the NOAA tool, the records exhibit significant unexplainable scatter of as much as +20 dB. Example calculations show that well intentioned hypothetical proposals coordinated in the permit application process could project vastly different impacts to endangered species. We therefore conclude that, within the framework of current practices and tools, these data cannot support informed decision-making by US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) regulators as to whether small-scale timber or vinyl pile driving operations will jeopardize the continued existence of protected species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat to comply with the Endangered Species Act. We recommend supplementing existing data with targeted collections as well as developing pile-specific coordination and assessment guidance for use by USACE regulators during the permitting process.

  • Conservation programs improve outlook of threatened piping plover

    The Missouri River Recovery Program’s Emergent Sandbar Habitat Program and Tern and Plover Monitoring Program, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District’s Threatened and Endangered Species Section, continues to improve habitat and reproductive outcomes for the threatened Northern Great Plains piping plover and formerly endangered interior least tern.

  • Corps of Engineers to explain current reservoir drawdowns at virtual public meeting

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will host a virtual public information session Thursday, Nov. 13, 5:30-6:30 p.m. to discuss plans to lower reservoir levels this fall at Cougar, Green Peter, Lookout Point, and Fall Creek reservoirs. The session will provide an overview of the reservoir drawdowns, the anticipated drawdown schedule, and how this year's operations differ from previous years. USACE experts will be on hand to answer questions and address community concerns.

  • USACE announces dune restoration plan at Hollywood Beach

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is announcing a dune restoration plan at Hollywood Beach designed to offset impacts of maintenance dredging activities in Ventura County. Restoration efforts are slated for implementation in fiscal year 2026.

  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issues scoping letter for comments on the Central and Southern Florida Flood Resiliency Section 203 Study – Broward Basins

    JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Dec. 6, 2024) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Jacksonville District is beginning preparation of a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document for the Central and Southern Florida (C&SF) Flood Resiliency (Section 203) Study for Broward Basins on behalf of the non-federal interest, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). The purpose of the study is to develop strategies for managing inland flood risks in Broward County, Florida, which is critical for enhancing the community's resilience against flood risks. USACE is currently gathering information to define issues and concerns that will be addressed in an analysis to be prepared in compliance with the NEPA.

  • Impacts of Invasive Species on Populations of Federally Listed Species on US Army Corps of Engineers Project Lands

    Abstract: The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is mandated to meet federal, state, and local environmental laws and organizational regulations pertaining to the protection and conservation of ESA (Endangered Species Act 1973)-listed species and associated critical habitats. USACE is also mandated under Executive Order 13112 to document the presence and status of invasive species on their lands. We examine the status of 50 ESA–listed species prioritized by USACE expenditures for ESA compliance from 2014 to 2018. We review the status of invasive species and assess any evidence from published US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) or National Marine Fisheries Service recovery plans or other government documents that indicate whether invasive species are negatively impacting the status of ESA–listed species on USACE lands. We found that 18 of 50 (36%) USFWS recovery plans for these 50 listed species specifically mention invasive species as a primary factor leading to the species’ decline and listing, or they note the need for management and control of invasive species to meet proposed recovery goals. USACE will need to work collaboratively with other federal and state agencies, universities, and nongovernmental organizations to improve control of invasive species and management and recovery of ESA–listed species.

  • Comparing Ecological Models for Assessing Rio Grande Silvery Minnow Response to Environmental Flows

    Abstract: The proliferation of continuous streamflow monitoring and spatial data suitable for hydraulic modeling is increasing opportunities to use hydraulic habitat analysis to inform ecological models. However, species population and streamflow data exhibit high variability, making it challenging to identify hydrologic and hydraulic metrics that effectively correlate with ecological outcomes. Metric selection presents a challenge for informing environmental flow decisions and adaptive management of water infrastructure. This study applies models to characterize environmental flows with in-creasing model complexity, including the use of hydraulic models to estimate suitable habitat areas at a given flow. The results are compared to field-measured fish outcomes over the same period using functional data analysis. The variance in model correlation with ecological outcomes aids in identifying the most effective environmental flow parameters while also indicating potential pitfalls from increasing model complexity. This analysis demonstrates techniques that synthesize environmental flows with available habitat analysis and validates the approach. The case study is based on the Rio Grande silvery minnow (Hybognathus amarus, minnow), an endangered fish species in the Middle Rio Grande. Analysis focused on different methods to quantify spring runoff coinciding with the inundation of floodplain nursery habitat necessary for the minnow’s larval and juvenile life stages.