News from Around the Northwestern Division

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

By Louis R. Velasco U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District Published June 5, 2026
For Jacqui Bergner, an aquatic biologist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, the rumble of a dredge engine off the Grays Harbor coast isn't just noise—it’s the sound of her office. For one week, she called the massive hopper dredge Essayons home, working 12-hour shifts sifting through thousands of pounds of sand and mud. Her mission: to monitor for the accidental “take” of threatened green sturgeon.
Tributary dams help provide flood risk reduction, saving millions in damages

By Delanie Stafford U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District Published June 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 for domestic use, and habitats for fish and wildlife. One of their primary purposes, however, is to provide critical flood risk reduction. Each year, the reservoir systems help save downstream communities from the potential loss of life and millions of dollars in flood damage. The reservoirs work together to collect and store water during high-water events and then release it once downstream flood risks have subsided. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, currently manages 35 tributary reservoirs with federally authorized flood control storage across several Upper Midwest and western states, including projects owned by USACE, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and local authorities.
Fort Peck Interpretive Center director honored for public communication, outreach

By Delanie Stafford U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District Published May 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 communicating USACE missions and programs.
District completes Pipestem Dam spillway modification project

By Makenzie Leonard U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District Published May 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, and communities downstream of the dam. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held May 19 to celebrate the milestone.
Albeni Falls Dam: Cutting Red Tape to Rebuild Infrastructure

By Nicole L. Celestine U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS/SEATTLE DISTRICT Published May 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 delivered: prioritizing efficiency and community transparency over bureaucratic hurdles, working as a regional team to efficiently deliver the design, hosting Industry Day events to incorporate input from industry experts and delivering a 'Hybrid contract,' a unique type of contract.
People, Peril and Perseverance: The Enduring Legacy of the Coos Bay North Jetty

Published May 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 frontier. The discovery of gold and coal along Oregon’s southern coast in the 1850s intensified the rush of land speculation that followed.
District employee set to retire after 43-year career of safeguarding buildings, people

By Delanie Stafford U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District Published May 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

By Nicole L. Celestine U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS/SEATTLE DISTRICT Published May 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 the nation for volunteer contributions; the cadre of 28 volunteers contributed 3,741 hours of service.
District revives Brainstorm the Castle innovation initiative

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District Published April 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 employees across the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District a platform to turn those ideas into real improvements that strengthen operations, streamline processes and support the district’s mission.
Caring for Those Who Serve: New Hospital Opens at Fort Leonard Wood

By Diana McCoy Kansas City District Published April 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 31, 2026, bringing partners from across the region together to mark the important event. Drawing a large and enthusiastic crowd to the event, the ceremony marked off a milestone for the project, which provides a much needed and highly anticipated modern healthcare facility for the military community in and around Fort Leonard Wood, in Pulsaki County, Missouri.
Secretary Telle, Senator Ricketts tour Missouri River, discuss future of flood protection in Nebraska

By Andrew Nystrom U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District Published April 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 the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle joined Nebraska Sen. Pete Ricketts and Maj. Gen. Jason E. Kelly, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers deputy commanding general for civil and emergency operations, during the visit, which included project briefings, a river tour and meetings with regional stakeholders hosted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District.
A Life of Service Earns Top Civilian Scholastic Honor

By Diana McCoy Kansas City District Published April 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 hang on their walls. Occasionally, a leader is simply recognized and respected because of their calm and quiet way of offering advice and providing mentorship or direction. They look for opportunities to help. They ask the right questions and make those around them feel heard and seen by listening. Luckily for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Kansas City District, these leadership qualities are found in Eric Shumate, the Deputy District Engineer and the chief of Planning, Programs and Project Management Division.
Williston flood preparedness put to the test as agencies, stakeholders rehearse levee emergency response

By Andrew Nystrom U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District Published April 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 Center. The exercise, planned and hosted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District's Dam and Levee Safety Branch, brought together local, state and federal emergency managers along with law enforcement, public works officials, and stakeholders from the Williston area, to meet critical goals in emergency preparedness and flood response.
EIS underway for proposed Perkins County Canal project

By Delanie Stafford U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District Published April 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 proposed Perkins County Canal project. A Section 404 permit application was submitted by the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment and was determined complete by USACE, along with a formal determination that an EIS is required due to the project’s potential to significantly affect the environment.
Gold Beach gets a rockin' repair at the Rogue

Published April 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, awarded to contractor Suulutaqq Inc., will ensure the long-term reliability of the vital navigation channel at Gold Beach.
Building science: USACE delivers high-tech greenhouses for crop research capabilities

By Louis R. Velasco U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District Published April 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. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Through interagency work between ARS and USACE Seattle District, new greenhouses with climate control systems and screenhouse facilities are now complete at ARS’ National Clonal Germplasm Repository (NCGR) in Corvallis, Ore.
Rapid Response team supports Potomac Interceptor collapse remediation efforts

By Lisa Crawford U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District Published March 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 the collapse of the Potomac Interceptor in Washington, D.C.
A Modern Home for Future Leaders: USAFA Builds New Prep School Dorm

By Makenzie Leonard U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District Published March 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 all three squadrons of preparatory school cadet candidates in one location.
Building Infrastructure: Inside the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Hydropower Mission

By Shelia L. Fourman U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District Published March 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 largest operator of hydropower, USACE manages 75 facilities with a combined installed capacity of more than 20,000 megawatts (MW), generating nearly 100 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, almost one-third of the nation’s total hydropower output. That energy supports approximately 10 million households each year while strengthening grid reliability and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
Walla Walla District Engineers among those recognized for innovative digital design of major navigation system

By Elijah Wittum U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Published March 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 those gates is a team of engineers and technical specialists from across the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, including experts from the Walla Walla District, using advanced digital modeling tools to design the next generation of infrastructure that keeps commerce moving along the nation’s inland waterways. Recently, the team’s work was recognized in the agency’s 2025 national awards program. Engineers and technicians supporting the project received the Computer-Aided Design/ Building Information Modeling Team Award of Excellence for their innovative design work supporting the navigation system. Personnel from the Walla Walla, Philadelphia, Mobile, Louisville, Little Rock, Tulsa and Rock Island districts collaborated to design replacement miter gates for 18 locks and dams on the navigation system.

Latest News Releases

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...

Feature Stories

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, an aquatic biologist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, the rumble of a dredge engine off the Grays Harbor coast isn't just noise—it’s the sound of her...

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...

News from Around the Northwestern Division

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

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

Fort Peck Interpretive Center director honored for public communication, outreach

District completes Pipestem Dam spillway modification project

Albeni Falls Dam: Cutting Red Tape to Rebuild Infrastructure

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

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

Libby Dam Volunteer Spotlight: Barbara Grant

District revives Brainstorm the Castle innovation initiative

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

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

A Life of Service Earns Top Civilian Scholastic Honor

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

EIS underway for proposed Perkins County Canal project

Gold Beach gets a rockin' repair at the Rogue

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

Rapid Response team supports Potomac Interceptor collapse remediation efforts

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

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

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

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Latest News Releases

Below average runoff forecasts for upper Missouri River Basin continue

Summer recreational lock schedule now in effect on Columbia River

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

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

Libby Dam Hosts “Birds of Prey” May 31

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

A historical overview of the Coos Bay North Jetty

Feature Stories

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

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

Fort Peck Interpretive Center director honored for public communication, outreach

District completes Pipestem Dam spillway modification project

Albeni Falls Dam: Cutting Red Tape to Rebuild Infrastructure

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

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