Walla Walla, Wash. – From Nov. 11 to 15, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Walla Walla District, at the request of the State of Idaho, deployed a four person Advance Measures Technical Assistance Team to the site of two wildfires to assist in post-burn analysis.

The team, comprised of hydraulic and geotechnical engineers along with a geographical information systems specialist, performed field investigations at the sites for the Woodhead and Badger wildfires. Data collected from the investigations will allow the team to model changes in the hydrologic, soil and geologic conditions within the burn area. This data will then be used to assess and recognize areas with an increased risk for flooding and landslides, along with identifying appropriate mitigation efforts. The team’s final report will allow county and state officials to implement mitigation efforts to protect lives and public infrastructure.

The Corps’ Advance Measures Program aids non-federal governments in protecting life and property from the imminent threat of unusual flooding from adverse conditions. This assistance is limited to those actions necessary to prevent or reduce impacts of floods that pose a significant threat to life and property and are beyond the capability of state and local interests to respond to in a timely manner. This assistance may be technical or direct. Technical teams provide hydraulic, hydrologic and geotechnical analysis, advice and recommendations before an anticipated flood event.

The Woodhead fire, located in Washington and Adams counties, burned approximately 96,000 acres from September to October. The Badger fire, located in Twin Falls and Cassia counties, burned approximately 90,000 acres from September to October. Both fires primarily burned on National Forest System lands.

For more information please contact Rob Herres – Natural Disaster Response Manager, USACE Walla Walla District Readiness Office, 509-527-7145