Northwestern Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

News from Around the Northwestern Division

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District partners with U.S. Air Force as Sentinel Program purchasing agent

By Sarah Rich USACE Omaha District Published May 11, 2023
The U.S. Air Force is replacing the aging LGM-30 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile with the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM to modernize the land-based leg of the U.S. nuclear triad. The Minuteman III ICBM have been operational since the early 1970s, and upon completion, the new Sentinel ICBM will maintain effective land-leg nuclear capabilities through 2075. The program will replace missile fields at the following air forces bases: F.E. Warren, Wyo., Malmstrom, Mont., and Minot, N.D.
Juvenile salmon benefit from spring spill

Northwestern Division Published May 8, 2023
In April, the Northwestern Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started spilling water on the Snake and Columbia rivers to help juvenile salmon migrate downstream. We met up with Julie Ammann, Reservoir Control Center chief at Bonneville Lock & Dam to check it out.
'We’ll cross that bridge…': A history of Lower Monumental Lock and Dam

By Hannah Mitchell WALLA WALLA DISTRICT CORPS OF ENGINEERS Published May 3, 2023
Lower Monumental Lock and Dam sits on a remote stretch of the Snake River, in a landscape of wheat fields and rolling hills. The only town within a 20-minute drive is Kahlotus, Washington, six miles north, with a population of less than 200. The only major road is State Highway 261, which crosses the river at Lyons Ferry, 18 miles upriver.
Stopping the Breach: Kansas City District Engineers work to prevent a future levee breach at Sherman Army Airfield, Fort Leavenworth

By Abigail Voegeli, Public Affairs Specialist U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District Published May 3, 2023
Known to many as both “the best hometown in the Army” and “the intellectual center of the Army,” Fort Leavenworth is famous for being the home of the U.S. Army’s Combined Arms Center, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, also known as the CGSC, and many other prestigious tenants. While possibly lesser-known than some of the other notable tenants at Fort Leavenworth, the installation’s own Sherman Army Airfield is no less significant. As a joint-use facility, the airfield is an important feature to civilians and military alike. Unfortunately, after the historic 2019 Missouri River flood, the airfield was devastated. In response, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District has been working to make repairs and design mitigation measures to prevent future flood damage to the airfield.
USACE Omaha District’s real estate team participates in a national recruiting inleasing event

By Nyime J. Gilchrist USACE Omaha District Published May 1, 2023
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District Real Estate Division representatives recently participated in a national recruiting inleasing event in Pheonix, Arizona. The conference provides a platform for service representatives to review real estate portfolios and managing leasing actions for the 2022, 2023 and 2024 fiscal-year productions. Participants included USACE representatives as well as others from the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.
Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with Phanna Cea

By James F. Lowe, Kansas City District Public Affairs Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Published May 1, 2023
In the span of the first six years of Phanna Cea’s life, she had experienced life in a refugee camp and immigrated twice to flee from unrest in the southeast region of Asia during the Vietnam War. For Cea, a native Cambodian, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District hydraulic engineer, these years didn’t define her but grew her strength and appreciation for her home country’s heritage.
As unique as they come: Big Piney Weir Project at Fort Leonard Wood

By Reagan Zimmerman, Kansas City District Public Affairs U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District Published April 26, 2023
What do hellbenders, water supply and construction all have in common? It’s the Piney Weir Project at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri! The $5.8 million project in the woods of Fort Leonard Wood will repair a roughly 80-year-old weir in the Big Piney River. A weir is a low dam built across a river to raise water levels upstream. At Fort Leonard Wood, the weir does just that, but serves a special purpose to the military community living and working on the installation.
Lasting Impressions: Kansas City District establishes district-wide Summer Student Intern Program

By Christine E. Paul, Public Affairs Specialist Kansas City District Published April 14, 2023
As the school year winds down, many college students will be focused on finals and making plans for the summer. For those looking for professional experience in the form of a summer internship, there are seemingly endless options available. The difficult choice may not be if they should do a summer internship, but where and with whom. The Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hopes to attract some of these students with its newly established Summer Student Intern Program. There are separate intern programs within the Kansas City District, and although there have been summer interns in the past, 2023 will be the first year the program is district-wide. Previously, each division or section in the district oversaw their own summer intern program. Now, the program will be standardized so that all student interns have a similar experience.
First Bipartisan Infrastructure Law project is a story of success for the Walla Walla District

By Hannah Mitchell WALLA WALLA DISTRICT CORPS OF ENGINEERS Published April 12, 2023
The Walla Walla District recently completed dredging work at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers near Lewiston, Idaho and downstream of Ice Harbor Dam. This is the first project the district has completed using Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds.
From water to watts: A history of Ice Harbor Lock and Dam

By Hannah Mitchell WALLA WALLA DISTRICT CORPS OF ENGINEERS Published April 10, 2023
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam boasts some of the most cutting-edge hydropower technology in the world. Two advanced technology turbines currently sit in the powerhouse, with a third one on the way. These new turbines were designed to improve fish passage and generate electricity more efficiently.
Creating the foundation for lasting change

By Jessica Schaeffer, Kansas City District Public Affairs U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District Published April 3, 2023
In 2006, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Natural Resource Section gained a new partner, the Corps Foundation. The Corps Foundation was founded by retired USACE employees and partners who volunteer their time to support recreation at USACE lake and river projects. During their time as employees or contractors, the foundation’s board of directors were able to see the needs within the organization and created the non-profit foundation. The Corps Foundation has provided over $2.93 million in support of recreation, education and advocacy at USACE lake and river projects across the nation.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District selected to partner in innovative project delivery pilot program

By Nyime J. Gilchrist USACE Omaha District Published March 31, 2023
The South Platte River and Tributaries Project of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District was recently selected to participate in a civil works Public-Private Partnership pilot program.
Technology Management Office: improving USACE partnerships through innovation

By Christine E. Paul, Public Affairs Specialist Kansas City District Published March 31, 2023
Imagine if you were told that a new software platform could save you 40% of the time you currently spend on administrative tasks at work. What could you do with that extra time? That is the exciting question that many within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers might be asking themselves when a new construction management platform is released to the enterprise. The Technology Management Office, or TMO, a branch of the Construction Management Innovation Office within USACE Headquarters, is working hard to develop and deliver a new construction management platform. The new platform will be designed to foster a more efficient, collaborative working environment by streamlining and modernizing current construction management processes.
Life Lessons & Learning: A celebration of women in the Kansas City District, Part 4

By Abigail Voegeli, Christine Paul, Jessica Schaeffer and Reagan Zimmerman, Kansas City District Public Affairs U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District Published March 30, 2023
Over this past month, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District has highlighted the unique stories of five women, offering their experience, mentorship and advice to inspire the next generation of USACE employees. The lessons these women have shared bring a spirit of determination, motivation and passion to the district. This final installation of the Women’s History Month series is dedicated to words of advice from these women to current and future USACE employees.
Life Lessons & Learning: A celebration of women in the Kansas City District, Part 3

By Christine Paul, Jessica Schaeffer and Reagan Zimmerman, Kansas City District Public Affairs Kansas City District Published March 22, 2023
While the path to success has led each of these five women to different places within USACE, they have all had the benefit of accumulating important lessons throughout the course of their careers and their lives. The lessons vary among the women, but one thing they all have in common is the value these lessons bring to each new opportunity.
Setting the standard: Kansas City District recommits to delivering quality

By Christine E. Paul, Public Affairs Specialist Kansas City District Published March 22, 2023
Since its inception, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, or USACE, has worked hard to solidify itself as a trusted federal partner who engineers quality projects for the nation. Within the organization, a select few districts have taken the commitment to quality a step further. The Kansas City District is one district that puts quality above all else. One way the Kansas City District ensures quality remains at the forefront is by providing district-wide training. Leadership at the district required all Kansas City District employees to attend the Project Delivery Business Program, or PDBP, training during the first quarter of 2023.
A step towards navigable waters: A history of McNary Lock and Dam

By Hannah Mitchell WALLA WALLA DISTRICT CORPS OF ENGINEERS Published March 20, 2023
As people moved into the Pacific Northwest, communities grew around the rivers, especially the Columbia and Snake. Back then, the rivers were temperamental and hard to navigate. However, there was a vision to create a river highway, one that would allow barges to carry cargo from the Pacific Ocean to the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers, 465 miles inland.
Leading the way: Kansas Citys Levees Program

By : Jessica Schaeffer, Kansas City District Public Affairs Specialist U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District Published March 16, 2023
Unless you work or live near the Missouri and Kansas Rivers, the significance of the rivers may not be at the forefront of your mind. It is, however, at the forefront of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District’s mind. The Kansas City District supports flood risk reduction on the Missouri and Kansas Rivers by delivering sustainable solutions to meet the ever-growing water resource needs of the Heartland and the nation.
Life Lessons & Learning: A celebration of women in the Kansas City District, Part 2

By Christine Paul, Jessica Schaeffer and Reagan Zimmerman, Kansas City District Public Affairs Kansas City District Published March 15, 2023
The path to present day looks drastically different for all five of these women. Although each of their paths took them in different directions, all were fortunate enough to have had mentors that guided them along the way. Mentorship, coupled with lifetimes of experiences, has helped propel these women to success.
Life Lessons & Learning: A celebration of women in the Kansas City District, Part 1

By Christine Paul, Jessica Schaeffer & Reagan Zimmerman, Kansas City District Public Affairs U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District Published March 8, 2023
When walking down the road to success, not every path looks the same. People choose different paths of that road to discover who they are and where they belong. For Women’s History Month 2023, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District is highlighting the unique stories of six women to celebrate their varied contributions from across the district and inspire the next generation of USACE women.
Coming full circle: three Kansas City District employees awarded at 2023 BEYA Conference

By Christine E. Paul, Public Affairs Specialist Kansas City District Published Feb. 27, 2023
Every year the Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Conference is held and honors professionals for their excellence in the STEM field. This year, the Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers celebrated three employees who were awarded at the conference, held on Feb. 9 to Feb. 11, 2023, in Washington, D.C. The winners from the Kansas City District were Beatrice Nwafor, LyTreese Lee and Arthur Saulsberry. Although all three winners are at different stages in their careers, being recognized and awarded at the 2023 BEYA STEM Conference was a full circle experience for each of them.

Latest News Releases

Fort Peck releases to decline during maintenance

5/5/2023

Releases from Fort Peck Dam will be reduced from 9,000 cubic feet per second to 6,000 cfs on May 22. Releases will be increased back to 9,000 cfs on June 2. If the maintenance work is completed...

Spring precipitation improves Missouri River Basin runoff forecast

5/4/2023

Late season plains snowpack accumulation and subsequent melting led to increased runoff throughout the upper Missouri River Basin during April. For the month, runoff was 4.7 million acre-feet, 159% of...

Missouri River Spring Virtual Public Meeting - Make Up - April 20

4/13/2023

A virtual make up meeting has been scheduled for April 20 at 1 p.m. after two in-person meetings were canceled due to weather on April 4. The virtual meeting can be accessed at the QR code and the url...

Upper basin runoff forecast improves with spring precipitation

4/7/2023

The latest 2023 calendar year runoff forecast for the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa is showing improvement. The 2023 calendar year runoff forecast above Sioux City is 26.4 million...

Missouri River Spring Public Meetings in South Dakota CANCELED

4/3/2023

Missouri River Public Meetings scheduled for April 4, in Fort Pierre and Lower Brule, South Dakota have been canceled due to the forecast blizzard...

Water managers begin spring spill to benefit juvenile salmon

4/3/2023

Federal water managers will begin spilling hundreds of thousands of gallons of water over spillways instead of through turbines during annual “spring spill” operations at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’...

Frigid temps increase power demand while Army dams balance needs

3/15/2023

With frigid temperatures and near record-setting snow accumulation in some areas of the Pacific Northwest, Army dams responded by producing power to keep the lights and heat on. The U.S. Army Corps of...

Feature Stories

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District partners with U.S. Air Force as Sentinel Program purchasing agent

5/11/2023

The U.S. Air Force is replacing the aging LGM-30 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile with the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM to modernize the land-based leg of the U.S. nuclear triad. The...

Juvenile salmon benefit from spring spill

5/8/2023

In April, the Northwestern Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started spilling water on the Snake and Columbia rivers to help juvenile salmon migrate downstream. We met up with Julie Ammann,...

'We’ll cross that bridge…': A history of Lower Monumental Lock and Dam

5/3/2023

Lower Monumental Lock and Dam sits on a remote stretch of the Snake River, in a landscape of wheat fields and rolling hills. The only town within a 20-minute drive is Kahlotus, Washington, six miles...

Stopping the Breach: Kansas City District Engineers work to prevent a future levee breach at Sherman Army Airfield, Fort Leavenworth

5/3/2023

Known to many as both “the best hometown in the Army” and “the intellectual center of the Army,” Fort Leavenworth is famous for being the home of the U.S. Army’s Combined Arms Center, the U.S. Army...

News from Around the Northwestern Division

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District partners with U.S. Air Force as Sentinel Program purchasing agent

Juvenile salmon benefit from spring spill

'We’ll cross that bridge…': A history of Lower Monumental Lock and Dam

Stopping the Breach: Kansas City District Engineers work to prevent a future levee breach at Sherman Army Airfield, Fort Leavenworth

USACE Omaha District’s real estate team participates in a national recruiting inleasing event

Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with Phanna Cea

As unique as they come: Big Piney Weir Project at Fort Leonard Wood

Lasting Impressions: Kansas City District establishes district-wide Summer Student Intern Program

First Bipartisan Infrastructure Law project is a story of success for the Walla Walla District

From water to watts: A history of Ice Harbor Lock and Dam

Creating the foundation for lasting change

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District selected to partner in innovative project delivery pilot program

Technology Management Office: improving USACE partnerships through innovation

Life Lessons & Learning: A celebration of women in the Kansas City District, Part 4

Life Lessons & Learning: A celebration of women in the Kansas City District, Part 3

Setting the standard: Kansas City District recommits to delivering quality

A step towards navigable waters: A history of McNary Lock and Dam

Leading the way: Kansas Citys Levees Program

Life Lessons & Learning: A celebration of women in the Kansas City District, Part 2

Life Lessons & Learning: A celebration of women in the Kansas City District, Part 1

Coming full circle: three Kansas City District employees awarded at 2023 BEYA Conference

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