News Releases

USACE seeks comment on supplemental environmental assessment for Mud Mountain Dam Water Control Manual update

Press Operations — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 22:54:00 GMT

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) officials are seeking public comments on the draft supplemental environmental assessment for the proposed update to Mud Mountain Dam’s Water Control Manual. USACE is poised to finalize the water control manual in October 2026, ahead of the 2026-2027 winter flood season.

USACE closes swim beach at Prairie Creek until further notice

Press Operations — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 21:34:45 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is closing the swim beach at Prairie Creek on Beaver Lake until further notice because of higher than acceptable E. coli levels that were found during routine testing.

Corps of Engineers hosts sehr gut Lock and Dam 10 open house

Press Operations — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 20:30:56 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, will host a public open house in Guttenberg, Iowa, Sept. 26. Held in conjunction with Germanfest, the event offers the public a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how the Corps maintains the lock, as well as the Mississippi River navigation channel.

USACE Chicago District announces the beginning of releases from the Upper Wabash Projects

Press Operations — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 20:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Chicago District, is adjusting operations at JE Roush, Salamonie, and Mississinewa Lakes due to the decrease in downstream stages. Downstream stages on the Wabash River crested on Sunday, following the heavy rainfall last week, and have continued to decline.

Lake Sidney Lanier Selected as a 2026 Leave No Trace Spotlight, Chosen for Community Conservation Initiative

Press Operations — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 19:45:00 GMT

The Leave No Trace organization has selected Lake Sidney Lanier as a 2026 Spotlight. As outdoor areas nationwide are being impacted by record use, this initiative from Leave No Trace shines a light on communities rising to meet this challenge with multi-day, onsite education and restoration initiatives.

USACE Vicksburg District’s Arkabutla Lake accepting applications for Physically Challenged Hunt

Press Operations — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 17:40:00 GMT

VICKSBURG, Miss. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District announces dates for the 37th annual Arkabutla Lake Physically Challenged Deer Hunt in December 2026.

MKARNS Nav Notice SWL 26-29 Lock 10 Early Closure

Press Operations — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 16:54:34 GMT

Mariners are advised that due to a critical construction activity related to the 110 ft. stoplog conversions, the daytime closure at Dardanelle Lock (No. 10) NM 205.5 will begin at 3:00 a.m. on Thursday August 20th, 2026, and end at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday August 20th, 2026. To offset the early closure start, the lock will open early to traffic at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday August 19th, 2026.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Recognizes National Hydropower Day

Press Operations — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 15:19:14 GMT

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is proud to recognize its 356 individual generating units at 75 multi-purpose power-producing projects across five USACE Divisions and 16 Districts on National Hydropower Day, Aug. 24, 2026.

Temporary Closure of General De Gaulle Drive Supports Ongoing SELA Drainage Improvements

Press Operations — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 14:15:41 GMT

Early this afternoon, August 18, 2026, westbound General De Gaulle Drive approximately 250 feet past the western entrance to Sandra Drive will be reduced to one lane traffic to accommodate drainage infrastructure improvements by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Motorists and residents are encouraged to plan alternate routes and allow additional travel time while construction is underway. Normal traffic conditions along this section of General De Gaulle Drive are expected to be restored by this evening.

Trump Administration Streamlining Accelerates Guajataca Dam Permanent Repairs, Saving Years and Taxpayer Dollars

Press Operations — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 13:22:00 GMT

When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Latin America & Caribbean District elevated concerns

Charleston District completes $72 million Grand Strand renourishment project

Press Operations — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 12:13:12 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District, completed its Grand Strand Renourishment project along the South Carolina coast Aug. 15. This $72 million project strengthens coastal storm protection for the region and helps preserve the infrastructure and $12.5 billion tourism-driven economy.

Play safe at Illia Dunes and Granite Point: Quick rules for your next visit

Press Operations — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 23:05:00 GMT

POMEROY, Wash. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District reminds visitors at Illia Dunes and Granite Point of posted rules and to recreate responsibly during the busy end-of-summer season.

USACE Chicago District announces continuation of minimum water releases at JE Roush, Salamonie, and Mississinewa Lakes

Press Operations — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 20:06:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Chicago District, has adjusted operations at JE Roush, Salamonie, and Mississinewa Lakes due to heavy rainfall causing high river stages downstream.

Improving the Design of Large Wood for Streambank Stabilization

Press Operations — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 19:32:00 GMT

Abstract: The Engineering With Nature® (EWN®) program provided research and development funding to develop a module within the Hydrologic Engineering Center’s River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) hydraulic design tool that can calculate the stability of large wood for river restoration designs. To properly scope the tool, expert opinions were gathered from a group of highly experienced engineers who regularly use large wood in streambank stabilization projects. A premeeting survey was distributed in preparation for a one-day workshop that was held on 21 February 2023 at the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)–Seattle District. This EWN technical note summarizes the feedback that was received and the outcome of the workshop.

Habitat Classification of the St. Marys River Near the Soo Locks, Michigan

Press Operations — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 19:30:00 GMT

Abstract: In June and October 2019, the US Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, collected over 130 linear miles (215+ km) of side-scan sonar data on the St. Marys River—from the northern lock region to the Lower Little Rapids—to map benthic habitats. In 2020, 56 bottom samples and 24 remotely operated vehicle (ROV) videos were collected to validate the sonar data. Although mapping the same regions twice to assess seasonal variability was mostly unachievable due to environmental and operational factors, four regions were successfully repeated. Crucially, the dataset includes the newly restored Little Rapids and a previously unmapped area downstream of the main rapids. Results revealed abundant submerged aquatic vegetation across the St. Marys River, likely driven by a highly variable sediment matrix ranging from clay to boulders. These data will be invaluable for planning and assessing habitat diversity and health in this vital ecological system.

Evaluation of the Modulus of Subgrade Reaction on a Cement Treated Base

Press Operations — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 19:28:00 GMT

Abstract: The objective of this experiment was to (1) investigate the vertical pressures within a subgrade during plate load testing; (2) evaluate the sensitivity of the plate load test on stabilized base layers; and (3) generate field-measured effective k curves to bridge the gap between stabilized and unbound base course design processes. A total of 36 plate load tests were performed on three test sections of various subgrade strengths. Each test section included a cement-stabilized limestone base layer. The test sections and plate load testing were designed to obtain field-measured k-values on each lift of stabilized base and generate effective k plots for stabilized limestone bases. The vertical stresses within the subgrade were measured during each plate load test. Results showed that when a 6 in. stabilized base is included, less than 20% of the surface pressure is applied 24 in. into the subgrade. Field-measured cement-stabilized effective k curves were generated in this study.

Minors Canal Ship Simulation Results

Press Operations — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 19:25:00 GMT

Abstract: This Coastal and Hydraulics Engineering Technical Note (CHETN) details the results of a small-scale ship simulation study performed for the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), New Orleans District, at Minors Canal, located on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) 5 mi* west of Houma, Louisiana (Figure 1). These simulations were conducted at the Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Watercraft and Ship Simulation facility (WaSS) for the New Orleans District on 2 April 2025, to determine if vessels that regularly transit the area would have sufficient room to safely maneuver out of the GIWW currents before passing through a proposed flood-protection structure on Minors Canal.

Modeling Snow Optical Properties from Single Wavelength Airborne Lidar in Steep Forested Terrain

Press Operations — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 19:23:00 GMT

Abstract: Airborne lidar is a powerful tool used by water resource managers to map snow depth and aid in producing spatially distributed snow water equivalent (SWE) when combined with modeled density. However, limited research so far has focused on retrieving optical snow properties from lidar. Optical snow surface properties directly impact albedo, which has a major control on snowmelt timing, which is especially useful for water management applications. Airborne lidar instruments typically emit energy at a wavelength of 1,064 nm, which can be informative in mapping optical snow surface properties since grain size modulates reflectance at this wavelength. In this paper we present and validate an approach using airborne lidar for estimating snow reflectance and optical grain size at high spatial resolution. We utilize three lidar flights over the Boise National Forest, United States, during a winter season from December 2022 to March 2023. We discuss sensitivities to beam incidence angles, compare results to in situ measurements snow grain size, and perform spatial analyses to ensure reflectance and optical grain size varies across space and time as anticipated. Modeled optical grain size from lidar performed well (Root mean squared difference = 49 μm; percent mean absolute difference = 31%; n = 28), suggesting that aerial lidar surveys can be useful in mapping snow reflectance and optical grain size for dry snow, and may support development of other remote sensing technologies and aid water resources management.

Dredging projects, large and small, help maintain the nation’s waterways

Press Operations — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 18:31:18 GMT

Across the country, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains what our nation’s leaders describe as America’s “underwater infrastructure,” a network of thousands of miles of federal navigation channels that keep maritime commerce flowing and people and cargo moving.

USACE announces youth archery deer hunt at Table Rock Lake

Press Operations — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 17:45:13 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Table Rock Lake, will host a youth archery hunt Oct. 16 through 18, 2026. The hunt will take place on USACE property below Table Rock Dam.