The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division, administers a comprehensive Regulatory Program, rooted in one of the federal government’s earliest laws to protect the navigable capacity of the nation’s waters. The Regulatory Program has evolved significantly since inception, gaining scope, complexity, and authority in response to shifting public needs, court rulings, and legislation. Spanning 11 states in the Pacific Northwest, North Central and Central U.S., the Northwestern Division operates through its five districts: Kansas City, Omaha, Portland, Seattle, and Walla Walla.

The division implements Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, and Section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, requiring permits for activities in navigable waters, for the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the U.S., including wetlands, and for the transport and disposal of dredged material in the ocean. The Northwestern Division is the largest division, issuing thousands of permits annually, while balancing the protection of the nation’s aquatic ecosystems with responsible development, providing fair, balanced, and timely decisions while maintaining the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of waters of the United States.