The Section 408 Program

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Section 408 program allows another party, such as a local government, company, or individual, to alter a USACE Civil Works project. Given the widespread locations of these projects, many embedded within communities, over time there may be a need to either alter or occupy these projects and their associated lands. Reasons for alterations could include improvements to the projects, relocation of part of the project, or installing utilities or other non-project features.

Examples of projects that need USACE Section 408 permission include:

  • Running a water main from one side of a levee to the other.
  • Adding hydropower to a dam.
  • Building a bridge across a navigable waterway maintained and surveyed by USACE.
  • Building a swimming pool in a backyard, within the footprint of the USACE easement for a levee.

The Section 408 program verifies that changes to authorized USACE Civil Works projects will not be injurious to the public interest and will not impair the usefulness of the project. This requirement was established in Section 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, which has since been amended several times, and is codified at 33 U.S.C. 408–the section of U.S. Code that gives the program its name.

Section 408: Resources for Getting Started

If you are looking for information about how to navigate the Section 408 program, these resources are for you. During the program’s Summer 2022 Listening Session Series, stakeholders and Section 408 coordinators from USACE districts across the country asked for tools to help guide them through the ins and outs of seeking permission to alter a USACE Civil Works project—especially for those who are new or unfamiliar with program processes.

The following materials were designed with this feedback in mind:

These materials are a great place to start—and for even more information, please see the section below, “Who can I talk with about a Section 408 request?” to get connected with a Section 408 coordinator.

Who can I talk with about a Section 408 request?

If you are considering making alterations to a USACE Civil Works project, such as a levee, dam, or navigable waterway, we encourage you to check out your USACE district’s webpage for information on their Civil Works projects or contact your USACE district’s Section 408 coordinator as soon as possible. A pre-application meeting can be helpful to understand the requirements.

Your district Section 408 coordinator can confirm whether a Section 408 request is needed and answer any questions you have about the process of submitting a request. Contact information for district Section 408 coordinators can be found via USACE district webpages.

Once your request has been submitted, you may view the status of your Section 408 request and/or Regulatory permit via the USACE Regulatory and Section 408 Publicly Available Data.

Where can I find more information about Section 408?

The links below provide more in-depth information about Section 408 and the Section 408 program:

For more information, or if you have any questions about Section 408, please email HQ-Section408@usace.army.mil.

Subscribe to Section 408 News

Interested in being added to the Section 408 email list? Share your email with us to receive periodic notifications about new Section 408 resources, updates, and guidance.




*

If you are currently subscribed to email updates and wish to unsubscribe, please email HQ-Section408@usace.army.mil with your request.

Announcements

Into to how risk assessments are used in Section 408 requests for dams and levees

 

Webinar on Section 408 Risk Assessments

The Section 408 Program recently held a one-hour webinar on January 27th, 2025 which focused on how risk assessments are used to inform decisions on Section 408 requests to alter USACE levees and dams.

In Case You Missed It…

The webinar answered several key questions about risk assessments for the Section 408 program including:

  • What is a risk assessment?
  • When should a risk assessment be performed?
  • What is USACE’s role in a risk assessment?
  • What assistance or training is available to help?

and much more. You are welcome to view the webinar’s slide presentation here.

Please email us if you are interested in or have ideas for future webinar training topics at HQ-Section408@usace.army.mil.