Northwestern Division News

USACE joins OMSI event commemorating 30th anniversary of ’96 floods

Pentagon News — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 01:12:47 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Portland District, is proud to announce its participation in the Oregon Chapter of the American Meteorological Society's (AMS) event, "30th Anniversary of the February '96 Floods."

Ingenuity and innovation bring knife gate back to life

Christine E. Reinhardt, Public Affairs Specialist — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 17:49:00 GMT

In the face of a challenge, there are the doers and the dawdlers. The staff at Blue Springs Lake in Blue Springs, Missouri, are doers. When the knife gate in the dam’s outlet tower was facing a full replacement, the lake project staff suggested they attempt to rebuild it instead. Despite the obstacles they faced, the team’s ingenuity and innovation prevailed – not only improving the functionality of the knife gate but also saving taxpayers an estimated $200,000. A knife gate is a specialized low-flow valve inside of a dam’s outlet tower, which features a sharp-edged blade designed to cut through debris so water can flow freely. The knife gate at Blue Springs Lake had not been serviced since its installation, more than 30 years ago. In desperate need of attention, engineers suggested it be replaced. However, due to the conditions in the outlet tower, the cost of a replacement would have been significant.

Blast from the past: Omaha District supports emergency response in Blizzard of 1949

Delanie Stafford — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 16:36:08 GMT

The winter of 1948-49 brought a series of powerful storms that blanketed much of Nebraska, Wyoming and the Dakotas with heavy snow, extreme cold and blinding winds. Snowdrifts reached as high as 30 feet in places, isolating towns, ranches and farms. Millions of livestock were at risk of being lost to starvation and dangerously cold temperatures. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, alongside the Fifth Army and 10th Air Force, led a massive disaster response known as Operation Snowbound, mobilizing more than 6,200 personnel and 1,665 pieces of heavy equipment, including bulldozers, snowplows, graders and Army M-29 cargo carriers, known as Weasels.

Borrowing lessons from Mother Nature, outlet channel gets first major repair in over 70 years

Christine E. Reinhardt, Public Affairs Specialist — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 20:31:12 GMT

If your roof had a leak, most homeowners would be quick to repair it. But if there was an underlying issue with the roof itself, most people would probably agree it would be wise to address the larger issue instead of continuing to make short-term fixes. Only making small repairs would likely add up to a significant cost over time without fixing the root problem. This is the analogy Ben Johnson, hydraulic engineer and technical lead with the Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, used to describe the outlet channel repair project at Kanopolis Lake. During both regular water releases and flood events, water from Kanopolis Lake is released through the outlet channel where it flows downstream into the Smoky Hill River. However, due to the geology of the area and the force of the released water, erosion has occurred in the outlet channel since the Great Flood of 1951.

Libby Dam engineers the next generation of conservationists during Scotchman Peak’s annual “Winter Tracks”

Nicole L. Celestine — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 15:00:00 GMT

U. S. Army Corps of Engineers partnered with Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness to host the 12th annual "Winter Tracks" event, providing 200 students with hands-on environmental education at Libby Dam. The program highlights the District's commitment to stewardship by demonstrating how vital infrastructure and native wildlife coexist within the Kootenai’s snowy landscape.

Corps of Engineers vs. Pineapple Express: Looking back on the 1996 Oregon Floods

Pentagon News — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 23:17:00 GMT

In early February 1996, a jet stream steered a warm pineapple express into a snow-covered Pacific Northwest.

The human switchboard: how USACE liaisons manage information during flood fight events

Louis R. Velasco — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 21:23:00 GMT

Two weeks of relentless atmospheric rivers inundated western Washington in December 2025. Rivers swelled to historic levels, threatened homes, industrial areas and stressed communities in floodplains. When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Seattle District, ramped up its emergency operations, a small, specialized group of individuals stepped into one of the most critical and least understood roles in disaster response: the liaison.

Workshop emphasizes budget-driven design-build project delivery

Delanie Stafford — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 18:14:00 GMT

A three-day workshop was held at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District headquarters building, Jan. 21–23, that brought together more than 40 professionals from across the USACE Northwestern Division to strengthen collaboration and understanding of the design-build to budget project delivery method.

Charting the course: Completed mega project maps out lessons in partnership

Christine E. Reinhardt, Public Affairs Specialist — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 19:43:23 GMT

Group projects are almost never easy. Getting all parties to agree on everything, all the time can be a challenging feat, if not downright impossible. Now imagine trying to complete a group project on a mega scale, while still delivering it on time, within budget and safely. Mega projects within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are no small task, and certainly not for the faint of heart. As their name suggests, these are projects of an incredibly large scale – in budget, complexity or a combination of the two. Despite their challenging nature, the Kansas City District has become a leader in USACE with mega project success. In September 2025, the district celebrated the completion of one of its first military construction mega projects, setting the standard for future mega projects and leaving a lasting impact across the nation.

Hunting in the heartland: Harlan County Lake an ‘oasis’ for outdoor enthusiasts

Christine E. Reinhardt, Public Affairs Specialist — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 19:01:59 GMT

To those unfamiliar with the sport of hunting, it might seem cruel or violent. While there are certainly gray areas, for those who hunt responsibly and legally, hunting is more than just a sport. In an increasingly online world, hunting offers recreators a unique and often profound way to connect to nature. Fred Bear, a famous American bowhunter and considered by many as the pioneer of modern archery, once said, “To hunt is to understand the delicate balance of life and death and our role within it.” The U.S. offers a plethora of hunting options. From marshes and inland woods on the east coast to the mountainous terrain of the west coast, there are seemingly endless environments and species to hunt across the country. In the heartland, there is one spot that is home to some of the best and most diverse hunting in the nation: Harlan County Lake in Republican City, Nebraska.

Fort Peck breathes new life into two butterfly valves

Lisa Crawford — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 20:10:42 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, is overseeing the rehabilitation of two 65-year-old, 216-inch diameter, 135,000-pound butterfly valves inside Powerhouse 2 at the Fort Peck Dam in Montana.

Herd Highlight: Scott Sterling, natural resources specialist and piping plover preservationist

Delanie Stafford — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 19:15:00 GMT

Meet Scott Sterling, a natural resources specialist at the Garrison Project in North Dakota, and one of only two Omaha District specialists trained to capture and relocate piping plover chicks and their adult parents from flood-prone islands to higher ground during adverse environmental conditions.

Second Life: Turning Debris into Critical River and Coastal Habitats

Nicole L. Celestine — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Since 2006, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, and the Port of Seattle have repurposed salvaged large, woody debris to restore vital aquatic ecosystems. This collaborative effort transforms navigational hazards into fish and wildlife habitat, that support shoreline resilience. The collaboration began small ... and has grown over the years.

Hydraulic models guide design of Garrison Dam spillway, mega dam safety project

Delanie Stafford — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Engineers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Omaha and Huntington districts and Risk Management Center are advancing the Garrison Dam Spillway Modification Project using scale models to enhance safety and improve the performance of the dam’s spillway near Riverdale, North Dakota.

Rooted in strength: JBLM barracks tap into Pacific Northwest’s timber legacy for new military construction era

Louis R. Velasco — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 19:07:00 GMT

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, JBLM Army Garrison, and 1st Special Forces Group leadership joined together to celebrate the Department of War's largest-to-date construction project using mass timber structural materials during a groundbreaking ceremony, Dec. 12, 2025. The pilot program will evaluate the use of mass timber as the primary construction material in military construction projects and its effect on environmental sustainability, infrastructure resilience, cost-effectiveness, and construction timeliness of similar projects.

USACE Managed Record Flood Response Operations Amid Severe Weather

Shelia L. Fourman, Chief, Seattle District Public Affairs — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 17:02:00 GMT

A series of powerful atmospheric river events struck western Washington in early December 2025, bringing over 10 inches of rainfall in some areas, leading to catastrophic flooding, landslides and widespread infrastructure damage. Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish and King counties, where major rivers like the Skagit, Green and White overflowed, were hardest-hit, triggering extensive evacuations. The widespread flooding, compounded by saturated soils and unusually warm Pacific moisture that further intensified the impacts of the storm series, led to a state of emergency and 24-hour operations by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Seattle District.

Cold War-era rolling pin barracks undergo vital renovation

Christine E. Reinhardt, Public Affairs Specialist — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 20:47:04 GMT

Soldiers marching in uniform, drill sergeants yelling, muddy obstacle courses – these are often the images the words “basic training” evoke. Hollywood and pop culture have helped ingrain the military’s grueling boot camp experience in the minds of the average person. Whether Hollywood’s depictions of basic training are based in truth or not, one thing is for sure: the soldiers who complete Army basic combat training are some of the toughest in the world. Tucked away amongst the dense forests and scenic lakes of central Missouri lies Fort Leonard Wood, one of four installations home to the Army’s basic combat training course. Originally built in 1940 as a small World War II training site, Fort Leonard Wood is now a premier training installation within the Army, the U.S. military and the world.

Walking the line: USACE team ensures safe terrain for future soldiers

Makenzie Leonard — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 14:45:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Military Munition Response Program is working to clear a 416-acre swath of property for the Oregon National Guard at the former Umatilla Army Ammunition Depot that had been identified in 2023 as potentially containing unexploded ordnance derived from the destruction of stockpiled munitions at the adjacent demolition range.

Kanopolis Lake: Go for the water, stay for the land

Christine E. Reinhardt, Public Affairs Specialist — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 15:09:50 GMT

This is a story about a lake. But before you read any further, you should know this won’t be a story about water. Sure, I could tell you Kanopolis Lake has a normal pool surface of 3,460 acres and has prevented an estimated $100 million in flood damages since its construction. I could also tell you nearly 400,000 people visit the lake annually, many of whom fish, swim, boat and partake in other water-based recreation. But if I only told you about the water, you’d be missing out on what makes Kanopolis Lake truly special: the land. Stick your finger in the center of a map of the U.S. and chances are you will come within a few centimeters, or map miles, of Kanopolis Lake. Located in central Kansas, it’s about as close to the middle of the lower 48 states as you can get. Despite its location in the center of the country, Kanopolis Lake feels quite remote.

Omaha District towboats set to power up with new engines for 2026

Delanie Stafford — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 13:59:00 GMT

Two Missouri River towboats operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, are undergoing major engine overhauls to ensure reliable navigation and river maintenance operations ahead of the 2026 season.