US Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

In September 2024, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District’s Fort Randall Project held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Pickstown, South Dakota, for a newly constructed trail system. Prior to that, in early spring of 2024, they planted a native prairie grass and forb mix around the Sumac Loop of the now named Lisa M. Durham Memorial Trail. This native mix contains plant species that would have been in the area historically. These plants provide benefits animals and insects that inhabit the areas surrounding the nature trail. In the spring and summer months, flowers and forbs provide food. During the winter months, the thick grass stands provide cover birds and other animals. These photos show the progress of this planting so far. It can take up to 5 years to establish a habitat, meaning plant composition will continue to change as different species establish themselves. The Fort Randall Project plans to complete a similar planting on the Yucca Loop later this Spring. Early spring is a great time to hit the trails, so be sure to visit the Omaha District recreational areas once the weather warms back up. #OmahaUSACE #BuildingStrong #FortRandall #Trails

Spring is quickly approaching and so is the risk of flooding. Recently, more than 100 people from the Omaha District, partner agencies and levee sponsors attended flood fight training hosted by the district’s Emergency Operations Center at the Missouri River Project Office. The training included information on flood response, emergency response authorities and levee rehabilitation. If formally requested under Public Law 84-99, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can assist state and local governments by providing emergency technical and direct assistance in support of a flood event. Thank you to all who attended this important readiness training! #OmahaUSACE #BuildingStrong #USACE250

In alignment with Department of Defense (DoD) Instruction 5400.17 and recent Executive Orders issued by the President, the U.S. Army has reviewed and adjusted its social media content to ensure compliance with DoD policies and priorities. As a result, certain posts have been removed, are in a process of being removed, or modified to maintain consistency with federal guidance and uphold the integrity of our official communication channels. Content will be archived in accordance with DA PAM 25–403.

Did you visit our booth at the Omaha International Boat, Sports, and Travel Show recently? Ruth Bentzinger, a natural resources specialist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, was one of the park rangers there to speak with attendees about different types of aquatic life in the Omaha area, water safety and best practices for the upcoming boating season. As part of a community outreach mission, the Omaha rangers took turns at the booth speaking with residents and manning the question wheel, where contestants could win USACE prizes if they answered safety questions correctly. #OmahaUSACE #BuildingStrong #Essayons #USACE250

Spring career fair season is well underway at colleges and universities throughout the district. Omaha District employees recently attended fairs at both South Dakota State University and the University of Wyoming to discuss the variety of different STEM career opportunities available at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. To learn more about opportunities within our area of operations, visit: https://lnkd.in/gwFysFfU #OmahaUSACE #BuildStrongWithUSACE #JoinOurHerd

Last week, USACE Omaha District Commander Col. Robert Newbauer and other district staff met with levee sponsors in Percival, Iowa to provide levee system maintenance updates and to hear any concerns. Levee sponsors are vital to flood risk management. They perform levee inspections and risk assessments to help ensure levees are operational and beneficial to communities during a flood fight. Thank you, levee sponsors, for your support and partnership with the Omaha District! #OmahaUSACE #BuildingStrong #Partnerships #FloodRiskManagement

Last week, more than 150 middle school and high school students got a hands-on introduction to the world of engineering and construction at the 2025 Engineering Workshop, Feb. 13, 2025, hosted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District in partnership with the Society of American Military Engineers Omaha Post STEM Program. Held in Elkhorn, Nebraska, the workshop offered an immersive experience into the diverse world of engineering. Thirteen Omaha District professionals engaged with the students, lending expert firsthand knowledge from across various engineering disciplines, and emphasizing the critical role engineers play in shaping the world. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g4c7a2df #OmahaUSACE #BuildingStrong #STEM #SAME

To wrap up E-Week 2025, our final engineer spotlight is Seth Holloway, an electrical engineer specializing in quality assurance from the Black Hills Area Office in Rapid City, South Dakota. Holloway said he enjoys working for USACE because it allows him to work on unique projects that most engineers probably don’t get to see in their careers. “From the medium and low voltage electrical systems to telecommunications and fire alarm systems; I enjoy the variety of systems that I get to work on as an electrical engineer.” Holloway added that becoming an engineer will give you the tools to succeed in life. “It was the best decision I have ever made, and it changed my family’s life.” Thank you for joining us all week long as we shared just a few of the many talented engineers we have here in the Omaha District for National Engineers Week. If you are interested in learning more about the opportunities available with USACE, visit: https://lnkd.in/gwFysFfU #OmahaUSACE #BuildStrongWithUSACE #USACE250 #USACEPeople #EWeek

Our next E-Week spotlight is Stephen Castellane, supervisory program manager and section chief for the Environmental Remediation Branch in Omaha. As an environmental engineer, Castellane works on some of the largest federal environmental missions, including restoring degraded ecosystems, constructing sustainable facilities, regulating waterways, managing natural resources, and cleaning up contaminated sites from past military activities. “I like the fact that I make a difference in protecting human health and the environment and making the world a better place for future generations. I like working at USACE because there are so many different areas you can work in as an engineer with the opportunity to travel and see the world.” Castellane has both a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and a master’s degree in environmental engineering. His advice for future engineers is to study hard and keep their grades up. “That will open more doors for you in the future. The best decision I ever made was to buckle down and complete my engineering degree.” #OmahaUSACE #BuildStrongWithUSACE #USACE250 #USACEPeople #EWeek

Today’s E-Week spotlight engineer is Katie Seefus, a civil engineer in the Water Control and Water Quality Section under the Hydrologic Engineering Branch in Omaha. Seefus said she enjoyed learning in college how the five disciplines of the civil engineering field are integral to one another, and as a water manager for USACE, she enjoys working with the other disciplines to solve problems. “My job requires close coordination with internal staff in the Geotechnical Engineering Branch and at the Tri-Lakes Project Office as well as local State of Colorado employees. One of the responsibilities that I hold dear to my heart is the flood control regulation around the Denver, Colorado metro with over 3 million in population. Though this region can be fairly arid, flooding does occur. In 2023, the Tri-Lakes reservoirs prevented an estimated $198 million dollars in damages and the decisions I influenced were part of that.” Seefus said she enjoys working for USACE in-part because of the work-life balance she has while her and her husband raise two very active teenagers, in addition to the many working relationships she’s built. “I have had the privilege of being involved in many different projects. These include regulating reservoirs for flood control, planning for extreme flood events that threaten dam safety, studying wildfire impacts, implementing new water supply storage, and working to improve reservoir water quality. Being an engineer allows you to help people in a way you might not think about.” #OmahaUSACE #BuildStrongWithUSACE #USACE250 #USACEPeople #EWeek