Northwestern Division News

Walla Walla District visits Gavins Point for operations collaboration, zebra mussel education

Lisa Crawford — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 17:08:17 GMT

A dozen U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District operations managers traveled to the corner of Nebraska and South Dakota to visit the Gavins Point Dam, Aug. 25-26, 2026, to collaborate and network with counterparts from the Omaha District as part of their quarterly operations management meeting.

Guarding the graveyard, Part 1: Coast Guard calls for USACE support

Andria Allmond — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 21:33:15 GMT

While the American West may be considered largely tamed, the Pacific Ocean and the rivers that feed into it remain feral, unpredictable, and an opportunistic scavenger for even highly trained mariners. No other location in the Pacific Northwest boasts a more brutal body of water than the aptly named Cape Disappointment.

Looking Back at Ground Zero, Part 3

Delanie Stafford — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Third and final part of a series highlighting the firsthand experiences of Omaha District employees who supported search and recovery efforts at Ground Zero following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. The series is in recognition of the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks.

Looking Back at Ground Zero, Part 2

Delanie Stafford — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Part two of a three-part series highlighting the firsthand experiences of Omaha District employees who supported search and recovery efforts at Ground Zero following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. The series is in recognition of the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks.

Looking Back at Ground Zero, Part 1

Delanie Stafford — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 13:06:00 GMT

Part one of a three-part series highlighting the firsthand experiences of Omaha District employees who supported search and recovery efforts at Ground Zero following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. The series is in recognition of the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks.

From herbicides to herbivores: Harlan County’s new plan to tackle pesky plants

Pentagon News — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:00:00 GMT

Trying to control noxious weeds or suffocating invasive plant species on tens of thousands of acres of federal land is an arduous and costly task for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers park rangers and natural resource specialists. Following the Kansas City District’s motto — “Do more with less” — Harlan County Project Office staff in south central Nebraska and a local partner kick-started a new program this spring that exploits the iron stomachs of ruminant mammals instead of dousing their land’s in potentially hazardous herbicides.

From flood fight to recovery: Seattle District continues restoring flood protection across the Pacific Northwest

Shelia Fourman — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 15:04:55 GMT

The December 2025 flood event tested communities, infrastructure and emergency response organizations throughout the Pacific Northwest. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District responded by operating around the clock, managing reservoirs, providing technical expertise, delivering critical flood-fighting supplies and coordinating directly with government partners. But the response did not end when the floodwaters receded. That work represents the next phase of the flood response, moving from emergency action to infrastructure recovery and ultimately, to greater resilience.

Kansas lake records state’s second successful osprey nesting three years after the first

Christine E. Reinhardt, Public Affairs Specialist — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 14:16:21 GMT

Prior to 2023, Kansas had never recorded a successful osprey nesting and fledging. As more of these predatory birds were seen in the state, it was just a matter of time before history was made. Perry Lake, located in northeast Kansas, did just that when it recorded the first successful osprey nesting in the state’s history. Beginning in 2019, and over the next few years, state and federal officials at Perry Lake worked together to protect an active osprey nest from storms, rising water levels and other environmental threats. After years of trial and error, the ospreys were finally successful, and the summer of 2023 marked the state’s first-ever recorded osprey nesting and fledging.

Memorial bench dedicated in honor of Bruce Dvoracek at Gavins Point Dam

Delanie Stafford — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 14:04:00 GMT

A memorial bench was recently dedicated at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District’s Gavins Point Dam in honor of Bruce Dvoracek, who dedicated more than two decades of service to the project before his tragic passing in an automobile accident Aug. 5, 2022, shortly before his planned retirement.

USACE, Air Force open modernized helicopter, tactical response force facility supporting nuclear security

Makenzie Leonard — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 20:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Air Force marked a significant milestone in national nuclear defense infrastructure with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 14, 2026, for the new 37th Helicopter Squadron and 90th Missile Security Operations Squadron Tactical Response Force building.

St. Vrain Creek flood risk reduction project nears completion in Longmont

Ryan Hansen — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 12:16:00 GMT

A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District flood risk reduction project along the St. Vrain Creek in Longmont, Colorado, is substantially complete, marking another milestone in the community’s ongoing effort to improve flood resilience following the catastrophic flooding of 2013.

Where the Apache’s future takes flight

Lawrence Brooks IV, Public Affairs Specialist — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 21:05:00 GMT

The Boeing AH-64 — better known as the “Apache” — has been the U.S. Army’s premier attack helicopter since entering service in the mid-1980s. Today, 18 U.S. allies and partners operate the iconic aircraft in missions ranging from combat to rescue. At Fort Riley, Kansas, the Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is helping shape the Apache’s future, building a state-of-the-art facility designed to train the next generation of Army aviators to master one of the military’s most recognizable aircraft.

The city so nice they named it twice: How the Kansas Citys Levees mega project exceeded all expectations to reduce flood risk in the heartland

Christine E. Reinhardt, Public Affairs Specialist — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 19:43:30 GMT

Vertical construction is hard to miss. Say, a brand-new hospital or a four-story facility to house a national security and defense agency. Drive by and you are likely to notice as construction progresses skyward. But what about horizontal construction – that is, construction happening low to the ground and stretching several miles? It might not be as noticeable to passersby or be as visually impressive, but horizontal construction on a mega scale is no less of an engineering feat than its vertical counterpart. That is especially true when the construction reduces flood risk for 30,000 people and more than $10 billion in economic infrastructure, which is exactly what the Kansas Citys Levees project accomplished.

Ensure, maintain and prepare: Kansas City District holds continuity of operations exercise

Christine E. Reinhardt, Public Affairs Specialist — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 13:06:34 GMT

It’s said that failing to plan is planning to fail. Having a plan, whether in your personal or professional life, in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency situation is sometimes easier said than done. With September being National Preparedness Month, there is no better time than the present to make a plan for the worst-case scenario. All federal agencies are required by a Presidential Policy Directive to have a continuity of operations program. These programs ensure agencies can continue to operate mission essential functions in the event normal operations are disrupted. Practicing continuity of operations is an essential part of the program, allowing agencies to prepare before a real emergency.

Omaha employees honored for saving taxpayers’ dollars

Lisa Crawford — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 21:37:00 GMT

Three U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District employees received the Department of the Army Civilian Service Achievement Medal for their outstanding service and stewardship of taxpayers’ dollars, July 16, 2026, at the Edward Zorinsky Federal Building in Omaha, Nebraska.

Omaha District under new leadership following change of command

Ryan Hansen — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 13:22:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, held a change of command ceremony July 28, 2026, at the Holland Performing Arts Center in Omaha, Nebraska, welcoming Col. Joe Sahl and thanking outgoing commander Col. Robert Newbauer.

The Walla Walla District welcomes Lt. Col. Douglas Droesch

Joshua Glenn — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 21:41:00 GMT

On July 15, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District held its change of command ceremony at the Marcus Whitman Hotel, where Lt. Col. Kathryn Werback relinquished command to Lt. Col. Douglas Droesch.

Partnership strengthens waterfowl conservation through annual goose banding effort

Delanie Stafford — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 18:58:25 GMT

Natural resources specialists from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District’s Garrison Project recently joined the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, North Dakota Game and Fish Department, and other partners for a two-day Canada goose banding operation at Audubon National Wildlife Refuge, highlighting the importance of interagency collaboration in conserving North America's migratory bird populations.

Bigger than a pit stop: How USACE at Napoleon supports the MR340 race

Lawrence Brooks IV — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 18:15:00 GMT

Starting at the confluence of the Missouri and Kansas rivers, the Missouri American Water MR340 is one of the world's longest nonstop river races. But behind the curtain, the Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has played a vital role in making sure the river is ready for racers and commercial navigators alike. This story highlights the decades-long partnership with race organizers and the unique perspective of district employees who have experienced the Missouri River both as stewards of its navigation system and as MR340 competitors.

“Get up, dress up and show up”: The veterans value to the USACE workforce

Lawrence Brooks IV, Public Affairs Specialist — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 18:00:00 GMT

National “Hire a Veteran Day” was founded in 2017 by U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Dan Caporale. Celebrated annually on July 25, it’s a subtle nudge to challenge domestic employers to tap into an already professionally trained and ethically sound subset of the American workforce. So, to emphasize the value veterans bring to the workforce, the Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers seeks to highlight some of the veterans who made the successful transition from service uniforms to polo shirts.