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Around the Northwestern Division

News Stories and News Releases from the Northwestern Division and the NWD Districts including the Kansas City, Omaha, Portland, Seattle and Walla Walla Districts.

Division - News Releases

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers waives day use fees at recreation areas in observance of America’s 250th birthday celebration

HQ USACE Public Affairs Office

6/24/2026

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today announced that it will waive day use fees at its more than 2,800 USACE-operated recreation areas nationwide in support of America’s 250th birthday celebration,...

USACE Announces Operational Updates for Willamette Valley Dams

Portland District

6/23/2026

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Portland District, has finalized its plan for operating the Willamette Valley’s 13 federal dams by executing a Record of Decision (ROD)...

Garrison Dam spillway flow test scheduled for late June

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

6/22/2026

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will conduct a planned flow test of the Garrison Dam spillway on or around June 24, 2026, as part of ongoing investigations related to the spillway modification...

Step into the fascinating world of Pacific lamprey June 24 at Bonneville Dam for Lampreypalooza

Portland District

6/18/2026

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission invite the public to Lampreypalooza for a day of science, storytelling, and up-close encounters with one of the...

Weekend heat spike could prove deadly

Northwestern Division

6/11/2026

The National Weather Service is predicting a spike in temperatures this weekend, with highs in the mid-to-upper 90s along the Interstate 5 corridor. High heat like this often drives people to seek...

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers waives day use fees at recreation areas in observance of Army Corps of Engineers’ Birthday

HQ USACE Public Affairs Office

6/9/2026

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today announced that it will waive day use fees at its more than 2,800 USACE-operated recreation areas nationwide in observance of its birthday, June 16...

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers waives day use fees at recreation areas in observance of Army Corps of Engineers’ Birthday

HQ USACE Public Affairs Office

6/9/2026

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today announced that it will waive day use fees at its more than 2,800 USACE-operated recreation areas nationwide in observance of its birthday, June 16...

Below average runoff forecasts for upper Missouri River Basin continue

Missouri River Water Management Division

6/4/2026

Runoff continues to be below average in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa. Below-normal precipitation, dry soil conditions in the western portions of the basin, and an overall lack of...

Summer recreational lock schedule now in effect on Columbia River

Portland District

6/3/2026

Recreational boaters navigating the three lower Columbia River dams—Bonneville, The Dalles, and John Day—now have expanded access to pass through the navigation locks for the summer season...

New 20-year plan finalized to manage Columbia River dredged material

Portland District

6/2/2026

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District, has finalized a 20-year plan to maintain the lower Columbia River’s deep-draft navigation channel, a critical artery for the nation’s economy...

Water managers monitor upper-elevation rain that could cause local flooding

Northwestern Division

6/2/2026

Pacific Northwest weather can be a conundrum. In 2026, many parts of the region struggled to build snowpack and saw minimal precipitation. However, even average snowpack combined with storm events can...

Libby Dam Hosts “Birds of Prey” May 31

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS/SEATTLE DISTRICT

5/28/2026

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers celebrates International Migratory Bird Day and National Kids to Parks Day, May 31, at Libby Dam, Libby, Montana. This year’s emphasis will be “Owls: Nature’s Night Shift”...

Record of Decision signed for Dakota Access Pipeline Final Environmental Impact Statement

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

5/21/2026

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed the Record of Decision (ROD) today for the Dakota Access Pipeline Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), selecting Alternative 4, which grants an easement...

A historical overview of the Coos Bay North Jetty

Portland District

5/20/2026

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announces the availability of a new, comprehensive historical manuscript detailing the cultural, maritime, and engineering history of the Coos Bay North Jetty...

High water flows expected during Cherry Creek Dam annual maintenance; officials urge caution

USACE OMAHA DISTRICT

5/18/2026

Higher than normal water flows through Cherry Creek Dam will begin Wednesday, May 20, as part of annual sediment flushing by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District to help ensure proper...

Libby Dam Transitions to Recreation.gov for Campground Reservations and Payments

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS/SEATTLE

5/13/2026

Libby Dam transitions to Recreation.gov for all campground reservations and day-use picnic shelter reservations fee payments, starting May 22. The shift modernizes the visitor experience at all...

Willamette Valley reservoirs face drought, Army Corps to discuss at public meetings

Portland District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

5/12/2026

Army water managers will hold two virtual information sessions on Tuesday, May 19, to discuss severe drought conditions and the summer forecast for the Willamette Valley’s 13 reservoirs. According to...

Water managers to hold meeting as Rogue River Basin faces historically dry year

Portland District, U.S. Army Corps of ENgineers

5/6/2026 UPDATED

Water managers will hold two public information sessions May 18 to discuss historically low water levels in the Rogue River Basin. The experts from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) said the...

Missouri River upper basin runoff forecast lowered due to dry conditions

Missouri River Water Management Division

5/6/2026

The updated 2026 calendar year runoff forecast for the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, continues to be below average. April runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City was 1.5...

USACE-KC District is hosting the Spring Open House at the Mead former Nebraska Ordnance Plant

Kansas City District

5/4/2026

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District, will host an Outdoor Open House from 4:30-5:15 p.m. and a Site bus tour will occur from 5:15 p.m. to approximately 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May...

Public invited to attend Albeni Falls Dam Public Meeting May 7

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS/SEATTLE DISTRICT

4/28/2026

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is hosting its public meeting May 7 in Sandpoint, Idaho, to inform the public on upcoming spring operations, restricted gate operations and other topics pertaining to...

Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee to hold spring plenary session in Nebraska City, Nebraska

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

4/14/2026

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District announced that the Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (MRRIC) will hold a plenary session May 19-20, 2026, in Nebraska City, Nebraska...

Spring fish operations begin on Snake, Columbia rivers

Columbia River Water Management Division

4/8/2026

Spring fish passage operations began April 3 at federal dams on the lower Snake River and will begin April 10 on the lower Columbia River...

USACE begins $3.02 million repair of Rogue River South Jetty

Portland District

4/7/2026

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Portland District, has begun a $3,021,620 repair of the Rogue River South Jetty in Gold Beach, Oregon. The contractor, Suulutaqq Inc., will place...

Dry March leads to reduction in annual basin runoff forecast

Missouri River Water Management Division

4/6/2026

The updated 2026 calendar year runoff forecast for the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, continues to be below average. March runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City was 1.7...

John Day Dam recreation sites transition to cashless fee system

Portland District

4/1/2026

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District, announced it will transition to a fully cashless fee collection system at several recreation sites near the John Day Lock and Dam, effective April...

USACE officials advise boaters to expect earlier high water levels in Lakes Washington and Union

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District

4/1/2026

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials advise private and commercial interests along Lake Washington Ship Canal and in Lakes Washington and Union to expect earlier high water than in previous years...

Second pilot project for innovative Water Injection Dredging set to begin at Tuttle Creek Lake after delay

Kansas City District

3/26/2026

The Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with the Kansas Water Office, is pleased to announce the start of the second demonstration period for the innovative Water...

Experts to explain earthquake risk, lower Hills Creek Reservoir levels at public meeting

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District Public Affairs

3/24/2026

PORTLAND, Ore. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Portland District, will host two virtual public information sessions on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, to discuss proactive safety measures being...

Agencies Recover Fuel Tank, Cleanup Continues at Tuttle Creek Lake

Kansas City District

3/19/2026

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7, and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment announce that the submerged fuel tank at Tuttle Creek Lake was...

News Stories from across the Division

USACE, U.S. Air Force partners fortify Malmstrom national defense with ‘Gateway to Sentinel’ groundbreaking

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District

6/17/2026

U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers leaders celebrated a project groundbreaking May 28, 2026 at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. The project will serve as the “gateway” for future...

A unified front: federal and state agencies partner to secure Hayden Park

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

6/8/2026

William F. Hayden Park is a scenic public park on the side of Green Mountain in Lakewood, Colorado, attracting nearly 500,000 visitors annually.Prior to its existence as a public park, this stretch of...

Beyond the desk: A week aboard a USACE dredging vessel to protect an ancient, elusive fish

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District

6/5/2026

For Jacqui Bergner, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers aquatic biologist, the rumble of a dredging vessel's engine wasn't just noise—it was the sound of her office. For one week, she called the massive...

Tributary dams help provide flood risk reduction, saving millions in damages

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

6/1/2026

Many people will visit popular lakes across the Midwest this summer for recreation without ever knowing the reservoirs provide several other benefits.These benefits include irrigation, water supply...

Fort Peck Interpretive Center director honored for public communication, outreach

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

5/28/2026

Sue Dalbey, director of the Fort Peck Interpretive Center, has been selected as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 2025 Honorary Communicator of the Year for her leadership and outreach efforts in...

District completes Pipestem Dam spillway modification project

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

5/27/2026

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Omaha District has completed the $250 million Pipestem Dam Spillway Modification Project, fulfilling a three-year commitment to residents of Jamestown, North Dakota,...

Albeni Falls Dam: Cutting Red Tape to Rebuild Infrastructure

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS/SEATTLE DISTRICT

5/26/2026

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' $20,395,700 contract award for the 11-gate replacement project at Albeni Falls Dam, in Oldtown, Idaho, signals a shift in how federal infrastructure projects are...

People, Peril and Perseverance: The Enduring Legacy of the Coos Bay North Jetty

5/15/2026

The early 1800s heralded a period of immense change for the Coos Bay area with the arrival of its first non-Indigenous people: fur traders seeking fortune and military expeditions charting the new...

District employee set to retire after 43-year career of safeguarding buildings, people

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

5/11/2026

A longtime U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District employee will retire this summer after more than four decades shaping how military and federal buildings withstand threats and conserve energy...

Libby Dam Volunteer Spotlight: Barbara Grant

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS/SEATTLE DISTRICT

5/4/2026

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Libby Dam spotlight Volunteer Barbara Grant, as part of National Volunteer Week (April 19-25, 2026). In 2025, Libby Dam ranked No. 60 of 322 USACE-managed projects in...

District revives Brainstorm the Castle innovation initiative

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

4/30/2026

Innovation often starts with a simple idea, like an observation from someone doing the work every day who sees a better way to accomplish the mission.A program known as Brainstorm the Castle is giving...

Caring for Those Who Serve: New Hospital Opens at Fort Leonard Wood

Kansas City District

4/24/2026

After six years of construction and much excitement among the community it serves, the opening of the new General Leonard Wood Community Hospital was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony on March...

Secretary Telle, Senator Ricketts tour Missouri River, discuss future of flood protection in Nebraska

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

4/22/2026

Federal leaders toured the Missouri River corridor April 9 to assess power generation and flood protection infrastructure and discuss future risk reduction efforts in Nebraska.Assistant Secretary of...

A Life of Service Earns Top Civilian Scholastic Honor

Kansas City District

4/22/2026

Not all leaders are loud and in your face. They don’t have to demand recognition of their status or demand obedience from their subordinates, and they aren’t motivated by the number of awards they can...

Williston flood preparedness put to the test as agencies, stakeholders rehearse levee emergency response

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

4/21/2026

A tabletop exercise simulating a catastrophic levee failure and flooding emergency affecting the Williston, North Dakota area was held April 7, 2026, at the Williams County Emergency Operations...

EIS underway for proposed Perkins County Canal project

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

4/8/2026

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, is serving as the lead federal agency responsible for preparing an Environmental Impact Statement and evaluating a federal permit application for the...

Gold Beach gets a rockin' repair at the Rogue

4/7/2026

After months of pre-construction planning, last week the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Portland District, began a critical $3,021,620 repair of the Rogue River South Jetty. The project,...

Building science: USACE delivers high-tech greenhouses for crop research capabilities

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District

4/1/2026

In Oregon’s fertile Willamette Valley, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is sowing the seeds of innovative crop and plant conservation with help from the U.S...

Rapid Response team supports Potomac Interceptor collapse remediation efforts

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

3/30/2026

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District’s Rapid Response Technical Center of Expertise recently supported the Baltimore District, March 7-19, 2026, during emergency operations in response to...

A Modern Home for Future Leaders: USAFA Builds New Prep School Dorm

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

3/24/2026

Work is underway at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado to construct a new preparatory school dorm building on campus. The new dorm will consolidate three existing dorms into one building, housing...

Building Infrastructure: Inside the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Hydropower Mission

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District

3/23/2026

Hydropower remains one of the most reliable and cost-effective energy sources in the U.S., and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) continues to lead the nation in its production. As the country’s...

Walla Walla District Engineers among those recognized for innovative digital design of major navigation system

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

3/13/2026

When a barge passes through a navigation lock along the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, few people think about the massive steel gates that quietly make the process possible.Behind...

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

2/18/2026

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...

Ingenuity and innovation bring knife gate back to life

Kansas City District

2/17/2026

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...

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

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

2/11/2026

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...

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

Kansas City District

2/9/2026

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...

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

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS/SEATTLE DISTRICT

2/9/2026

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...

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

2/4/2026

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

USACE Nominee for Federal Engineer of the Year, Credits Team for Success

HQ USACE Public Affairs Office

2/2/2026

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s (USACE) 2026 nominee for the Federal Engineer of the Year is no stranger to leading a team that is tackling large complex projects. Cory Morgan, a navigation mega...

Workshop emphasizes budget-driven design-build project delivery

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

1/30/2026

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...