US Army Corps of Engineers

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recognized excellence in contracting and small business partnerships during an awards ceremony on Nov. 20 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention center in New Orleans, Louisiana. The ceremony took place during USACE’s participation in the Society of American Military Engineers’ annual Small Business Conference. USACE leaders presented 45 individual and team awards for small business contracting accomplishments in Fiscal Year 24? “For the second year in a row, USACE obligated over $10 billion to our small business partners. Those dollars contribute directly to the Army mission and Small Business program, accounting for 41% of the Army’s Small Business Spend, and fulfilling our mission statement to be the Army’s leader in utilizing small businesses for the delivery of the USACE mission,” said Lt. Gen. William H. “Butch” Graham, Jr., 56th Chief of Engineers and commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Learn more and discover the winners here: https://lnkd.in/efrZfb4f

Welcome to Corps Connection! The vlog is back! We retooled it a bit to be more concise. If you like the changes let us know. In this episode we focus on hurricanes Helene and Milton recovery efforts. In Virginia, USACE has launched a comprehensive debris removal mission at Claytor Lake: https://lnkd.in/eYZrfhF5 In North Carolina, USACE is providing potable water to portions of the University of North Carolina Asheville: https://lnkd.in/eGstfpsx USACE is also evaluating waste-water treatment plants in multiple states, many of which were inundated with floodwaters: https://lnkd.in/ecKueuN9 USACE is removing debris in many of the hardest hit counties and evaluating critical infrastructure like bridges: https://lnkd.in/eqg358C9 The largest mission in Florida is the blue roof mission, which is actively installing temporary roofs at a record pace: https://lnkd.in/e-WQ88Y3

There are big things happening in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District, especially when it comes to partnerships! Col. Andrew Baker, L.A. District commander, and Stacy Gorin, Executive Director of the Southern California Mountains Foundation (SCMF), signed a commemorative document acknowledging a Cooperative Agreement between USACE Los Angeles District and SCMF. SCMF is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to missions such as a as youth development through conservation initiatives, environmental education, training, hands-on service projects, interpretive services, outdoor recreation, responsible use, and stewardship of the natural environment. This partnership agreement is the first of its kind in the region and provides opportunities for cross-organizational training, interpretation, education, and environmental stewardship services at Mojave River Dam and Reservoir. SCMF volunteers also gain experience in project planning, development, and implementation on USACE project lands. Currently, USACE and SCMF’s Urban Conservation Corps and OHV crew are working together to protect a sensitive wildlife and wetland area and promote responsible recreation on Corps lands. (Highlight by Dena O’Dell, Los Angeles District Public Affairs) #partnership

Today marks the third anniversary of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s infrastructure. During the last three years, we have awarded more than 475 contracts worth $6 billion, all for important work aimed at addressing the water infrastructure needs of our nation. We are working hard to deliver today for all communities, innovate for tomorrow, and ensure critical infrastructure remains resilient for our partners and future generations. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eakmc4Ei

A project vision has come to fruition at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Patoka Lake in Dubois, Indiana – The Patoka Lake American Chestnut Regeneration Study Orchard. This project not only revives history but also embodies the spirit of community collaboration and environmental stewardship. Together, a multi-agency team of volunteers has planted nearly 300 American Chestnut trees at Patoka Lake with a collective aim to plant blight-resistant American Chestnut trees, allowing all to witness and study the historic return of this native tree species. The project began with a simple yet profound goal – to reintroduce the first stand of American Chestnuts to USACE properties in Indiana. The staff at Patoka Lake partnered with organizations like The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF), the Boy Scouts of America, Northeast Dubois High School, the Dubois Ruritan Club and Dubois Rural Electric Cooperative. “The community has been really excited about working on this project,” said Merkley. “It is a great feeling to help bring a tree that is ‘functionally extinct’ back to its native range for public viewing and future study.” According to the ACF, the American Chestnut was once a dominant species throughout the Eastern United States. The American Chestnut played a vital role in both ecosystems and human livelihoods; however, the devastating effects of the chestnut blight brought it to the brink of extinction. Now, through dedicated research and conservation efforts, Patoka Lake is proud to be part of the historic endeavor to restore this iconic tree. The team reached out to current and future partners to gauge interest in the potential project, including participation in the Partnership Handshake webinar last fall, then subsequently applying for a Handshake Award. The Patoka Lake American Chestnut Regeneration Study Orchard project was one of six selected throughout all USACE to receive the Handshake Award. The award fully funded the supplies and materials needed for the project. Protected by seven-and-a-half-foot tall deer exclusion fences, the plot of land measures half an acre is now home to nearly 300 American Chestnut trees. While expectations are tempered by the experimental nature of the project, the goal is for 50-75 percent of the trees to reach full maturity, paving the way for even more blight resistant trees in the future. For the team at Patoka Lake, the most rewarding aspect of the project is the opportunity to educate and inspire future generations. “Our favorite part of the project has been educating our partners, high school agriculture students and Boy Scouts. Seeing the excitement when people realize how important their work is, not only for today, but for their children and grandchildren in the future. We also look forward to introducing and educating the public through programs, open houses, and tours for years to come.” (Highlight by James Merkley, Natural Resources Specialist, Patoka Lake, Louisville District) #partnership

The latest edition of the Power of R&D is now available online. This quarterly publication highlights the innovative work being done by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) to meet the engineering challenges of today and tomorrow. In this edition’s foreword, Col. Craig S. Baumgartner, Commander of USACE Transatlantic Division, said continued innovation is “essential” to how his division responds to and delivers for its stakeholders, our allies and our Warfighter. “For our division, innovation isn’t just an idea — it’s essential to how we deliver resilient and sustainable solutions. We work closely with partners like ERDC to ensure our designs are effective and adaptable to the challenges we face in the field,” he wrote. “This collaboration allows us to tackle complex problems with cutting-edge solutions that serve immediate needs and long-term stability.” The cover story focuses on USACE’s response to the environmental and ecological threat posed by the Connecticut River Hydrilla, a variant that has proven resistant to traditional mitigation efforts and has become the focus of the USACE R&D community. Other stories include a look at the USACE Paint Technology Center, Technical Center of Expertise and the support it offers USACE projects before, during and even after completion. You can also read about how researchers are deploying new numerical models to project the impacts of a changing climate on critical dune systems and how they are discovering new techniques to quickly determine a levee’s health based on the vegetation growing on it. Download a digital version of this edition: https://lnkd.in/gMTPgVFZ

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) recognized the accomplishments of many of its outstanding Civilians and Soldiers during a Nov. 13 awards ceremony held at USACE Headquarters in Washington D.C. The event was hosted by USACE Commanding General Lt. Gen. William H. “Butch” Graham, Jr., and honored individuals and teams throughout the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “Today’s awards are a testament to the fact that each of you plays a key role in delivering engineering solutions that positively shape our communities and underpins the nation’s entire economy,” Graham said. “Today we have the privilege of thanking some of those people who are out there delivering this huge program.” The event which highlighted employees from all disciplines culminated into the final award, the Gen. John W. Morris Civilian of the Year award, which recognizes the civilian employee who has achieved the highest overall standards of excellence as a USACE employee throughout the previous calendar year. This year’s civilian of the year awardee is Ms. Jacqueline J. Keiser, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Caribbean District’s deputy district engineer for programs and project management, who oversaw the establishment of Task Force Virgin Islands Puerto Rico, the execution of the Puerto Rico Big 3 Mega Projects, and the White House’s Ca?o Martín Pe?a Ecosystem Restoration Project. The full list of awardees can be found in the event brochure here: https://lnkd.in/e6DMgbuE -- This news release is also available on our website here: https://lnkd.in/eFuqAffC

USACE Beaver Lake Rangers, Lucas Wicker and Jay Vanselow, partnered with the Leave No Trace organization to educate the public on a variety of actions and principles to apply while enjoying the outdoors. Leave No Trace is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide education, research, and initiatives to help people respect and preserve the outdoors. Leave No Trace and USACE share the goal of outdoor recreation with minimal negative effects to the environment. Leave No Trace promotes seven principles to be applied by anyone visiting the outdoors. The principles consist of (1) Planning Ahead and Prepare, (2) Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces, (3) Dispose of Waste Properly, (4) Leave What You Find, (5) Minimize Campfire Impacts, (6) Respect Wildlife, (7) Be Considerate of Others. Beaver Lake serves a large and diverse community, with over a million visitors each year. The environmental impacts of the growth of the Northwest Arkansas area and the upsurge of visitation to Beaver Lake can be seen through the increase in litter, vegetation damage, and other environmental issues. Beaver Lake was selected for this Spotlight Event by Leave No Trace to address the changing needs and environmental impacts that such growth has on an area. The three-day partnership event consisted of an outreach event at the University of Arkansas,?outreach/pop-up education event with local partners and a volunteer cleanup and stewardship project at Prairie Creek Park. During the outreach event at the University?of Arkansas, the group spoke to students and educators about the principles of Leave No Trace and how they can be applied to outdoor areas, such as Beaver Lake. The pop-up education and outreach event at Prairie Creek Park included several local agencies including Arkansas Game and Fish, Beaver Watershed Alliance, City of Rogers Parks and Recreation, Hobbs State Park, and Ozark Society. Each group set up educational booths and talked with the public about their various organizations and the need to keep our public lands clean for all to enjoy. During the volunteer cleanup, volunteers and staff collected and properly disposed of litter on the shoreline and throughout the park. The Leave No Trace Spotlight Event at Beaver Lake was a huge success. The lake is cleaner and hopefully stays that way through the implementation of Leave No Trace’s principles by the lake’s visitors. Shown: Leave No Trace crew and USACE staff with litter picked up during the event (Highlight by Lucas Wicker and Jason Vanselow, Park Rangers, Beaver Lake, Little Rock District) #partnership

The Franklin Falls Dam disc golf course is one of the largest disc golf courses in New England. This course was established through a partnership between USACE and the Friends of Franklin Falls Disc Golf Association (FFFDGA) in 2016. The course was successfully established and remains one of Franklin Falls Dam’s highest visitor use attractions. The partnership continues to be a success, with FFFDGA continuing to maintain the course and make improvements when necessary. In the past year they have installed 7 new baskets to replace old ones and 25 new turf tee pads on the course. FFFDGA also began yearly mowing to maintain the course. The course now hosts multiple tournaments a year, and a league night once a week. (Highlight by Cody Symonds, Natural Resources Specialist, Franklin Falls Dam, New England District) #partnership

Have you heard of Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR)? LIDAR is a remote sensing technology that utilizes laser pulses to measure distances and create detailed, high-resolution 3D maps of the Earth's surface. By emitting rapid laser pulses and measuring the time it takes for the light to bounce back, LIDAR generates precise spatial data that is invaluable for a variety of applications, particularly in military contexts. Unlike commercial satellites, which can provide useful imagery, LIDAR offers unparalleled depth perception, allowing for the identification of terrain features, infrastructure, and even vegetation in a three-dimensional context. In the realm of large-scale combat operations, the integration of LIDAR into reconnaissance and planning phases is critical. When deployed on aircraft, the U.S. Army Geospatial Center’s (AGC) LIDAR sensors can conduct broad-area collection missions, capturing extensive geographic areas with remarkable accuracy. This high-resolution geospatial data lays the groundwork for situational awareness, enabling military planners to visualize the terrain and make informed decisions during the competition phase prior to crises or conflict. “Since the inception of the AGC HR3D BuckEye Support Team, (AGC has) satisfied over 185 Requests for Information (RFI), assisted in the mission planning of over 180 operations in the CENTCOM and AFRICOM AORs, and provided support to over 50 JSOC and non-JSOC Special Operations training exercises, to include two operations of national significance. Additionally, the HR3D program provided new CONUS collections for past, present, and future training locations in excess of 20,000 square kilometers. This critical data helped to improve and develop new tactics, techniques and procedures for future operations.” – Brigadier General Terrance G. Taylor, Joint Special Operations Command Deputy Commanding General Continue reading: https://lnkd.in/eKFJ5_7s Shown: U.S. Army Geospatial Center’s (AGC) Buckeye High Resolution 3-Dimensional (HR3D) aerial imagery of the Francis Scott Key Bridge following a March 2024 collapse