Northwestern Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

News from Around the Northwestern Division

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.
Guarding the Treasure Valley: A history of Lucky Peak Dam

By Hannah Mitchell WALLA WALLA DISTRICT CORPS OF ENGINEERS Published Feb. 8, 2023
Every year, snowmelt from the surrounding mountains flows into creeks and streams that join the Boise River. When flows reach 7,000 cubic feet per second or higher, the river is considered at flood stage.
Kansas City District announces 2022 Ranger of the Year Award

By Christine E. Paul, Public Affairs Specialist Kansas City District Published Feb. 2, 2023
Ask a park ranger with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers what they like most about their job and you will likely get a response about being outdoors in nature and the freedom of not being stuck behind a desk every day. One of the more unique positions within USACE Kansas City District, park rangers, or Natural Resource Specialists as they are officially known, are responsible for developing wildlife conservation activities, managing environmental programs and supporting recreation through public safety, much of which is done in the great outdoors.
250 miles in 24 hours: Lt. Gen. Spellmon visits the Kansas City District

By Reagan Zimmerman, Kansas City District Public Affairs U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District Published Feb. 1, 2023
From Kansas City to St. Louis – Lt. Gen. Scott Spellmon, 55th Chief of Engineers and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers commanding general, covered over 250 miles while he visited the Heartland last week. Lt. Gen. Spellmon visited the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District, to see the district’s projects and the people behind the great work supporting our nation on Jan. 26, 2023.
Annual Natural Resource Workshop: a chance for education and collaboration

By Jessica Schaeffer, Kansas City District Public Affairs U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District Published Jan. 31, 2023
For the first time since 2019, the rangers and natural resource specialists from all 18 Kansas City District lake projects and the Kansas City District Headquarters management were able to gather in person for the annual Natural Resource Management Workshop in Bolivar, Missouri. The Kansas City District has lake and river projects in four states: Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa. With such a widespread area of responsibility, it is not always easy for park managers and rangers to meet one another. This four-day annual workshop allowed for the rangers to have their required continuing education on natural resource management, visitor assistance, visit projects close to the workshop and network with other rangers
Gillette retires from federal career, not from hammer dulcimer

By James F. Lowe, Kansas City District Public Affairs Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Published Jan. 27, 2023
When records manager Don Gillette retired from the Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, at the end of 2022, he did not stop playing his beloved hammer dulcimer.
Life-saving skills taught at Kansas City District

By Jessica Schaeffer, Kansas City District Public Affairs U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District Published Jan. 18, 2023
Safety is the top priority not only at home but also at work. Cynthia Wiederstein, Administrative Officer, Construction Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District, knows just how important safety is and advocated for the Construction Support Division within the District to receive life-saving CPR and first-aid training on Dec. 20, 2022, at the district headquarters. The instructors for the CPR and first-aid training class were none other than her daughters-in-law, Deena Kerschner Johnson and Veronica Carrillo Johnson. Deena owns Heart and Soul LLC and has been training others in CPR since June 2021.
Through fair or foul weather: A history of the Mill Creek Project

By Hannah Mitchell WALLA WALLA DISTRICT CORPS OF ENGINEERS Published Jan. 10, 2023
In 1931, a torrent of brown water roared down Mill Creek, with water levels rising at a rate of one foot per hour. The water escaped the confines of the riverbanks and rushed through the City of Walla Walla, destroying homes, roads and bridges. Born in the wake of this disastrous event, the Mill Creek Project now stands to protect the city from floods like this.
Adaptive in the face of adversity: Matthew Scholten, Human Resource Assistant

By Jessica Schaeffer, Kansas City District Public Affairs U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District Published Jan. 6, 2023
He’s the first person to greet you when you walk into the Civilian Personnel Advisory Center office, but there’s more than meets the eye with Matthew Scholten. While Scholten’s current title is Human Resources Assistant with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District, he is also a retired Army staff sergeant and an adaptive athlete for the Kansas City Chiefs wheelchair football team. His time within the Army shaped how he would live the rest of his life and led to him finding his love for wheelchair football.
Bridging the gap: warrant officers bring unique skills to Mega Projects

By Christine E. Paul, Public Affairs Specialist U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District Published Jan. 6, 2023
In the U.S. Army, warrant officers provide a unique and specialized role to a unit. Warrant officers are the few subject matter experts within their respective fields, with the ability to solve technical problems, provide advice to commanders, and lead troops all while supporting the larger mission. Their numbers are few, making up less than three percent of the force, but their role within an Army unit is invaluable. It might seem like a no-brainer then, to have a skilled warrant officer assigned to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers construction project, but you’d be hard-pressed to find many within USACE. Knowing there are so few of these uniformed technical experts within USACE, it may be surprising to learn that the Kansas City District has not one, but two warrant officers assigned to two of its district Mega Projects.

Latest News Releases

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...

Transformational Investments for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Program

3/9/2023

The Biden-Harris Administration today released the President’s Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. The Budget details a blueprint to grow the economy from the bottom up and middle out, lower costs for...

Upper basin runoff forecast below average; Gavins Point releases to increase for navigation flow support; April public meetings

3/7/2023

The updated 2023 calendar year runoff forecast for the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, continues to be below average. The 2023 calendar year runoff forecast above Sioux City is 21.5...

Below average runoff continues for the upper Missouri River Basin in 2023

2/7/2023

The updated 2023 calendar year runoff forecast for the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, continues to be below average. January runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City was 1.1...

Dry Conditions expected to persist for the Missouri River Basin

1/6/2023

For the 2022 calendar year, Missouri River basin runoff above Sioux City, Iowa totaled 19.3 million acre-feet, 75% of average. This was the 30th lowest annual runoff for the Missouri River Basin in...

Army Corps of Engineers waives day use fees at recreation areas in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

1/4/2023

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced today that it will waive day use fees at its more than 2,850 USACE-operated recreation areas nationwide in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,...

Releases from Gavins Point Dam reduced to winter rates

12/6/2022

Flow support for the 2022 Missouri River navigation season ended Nov. 21 as releases were reduced toward winter rates at Gavins Point Dam. “Releases from Gavins Point Dam are being reduced to the...

Feature Stories

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

3/22/2023

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...

Setting the standard: Kansas City District recommits to delivering quality

3/22/2023

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

3/20/2023

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...

Leading the way: Kansas Citys Levees Program

3/16/2023

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...

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

3/15/2023

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...

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

3/8/2023

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...

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

2/27/2023

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,...

News from Around the Northwestern Division

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

Guarding the Treasure Valley: A history of Lucky Peak Dam

Kansas City District announces 2022 Ranger of the Year Award

250 miles in 24 hours: Lt. Gen. Spellmon visits the Kansas City District

Annual Natural Resource Workshop: a chance for education and collaboration

Gillette retires from federal career, not from hammer dulcimer

Life-saving skills taught at Kansas City District

Through fair or foul weather: A history of the Mill Creek Project

Adaptive in the face of adversity: Matthew Scholten, Human Resource Assistant

Bridging the gap: warrant officers bring unique skills to Mega Projects

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