News from Around the Northwestern Division

District employee charts final course toward master boat pilot license

By Delanie Stafford USACE OMAHA DISTRICT Published Dec. 8, 2025
Larry Morgan Jr. has worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District since 2000. He has served at the Missouri River Project Office and on the Missouri River most of his career as a deckhand, equipment operator and maintenance supervisor. One title that has eluded him is master towboat pilot. Inspired by an early mentor, and with the help of an accomplished towboat pilot, that will soon change, as he nears completion of an unrestricted master of towing vessel license.
Ad astra per aspera: Kansas a global leader in solving sediment challenges

By Christine E. Reinhardt, Public Affairs Specialist Kansas City District Published Dec. 4, 2025
The year was 1952. The world’s first rock and roll concert was held in Cleveland, Ohio, Mr. Potato Head was the first toy advertised on TV, Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected president and Elizabeth II was proclaimed Queen of England. Post-WWII America was rife with invention and innovation. New technologies and scientific advances included development of the Polio vaccine, the first commercial computer and the first airbag for cars. In the heart of America, however, communities were recovering from devastating flooding from the previous year. The Great Flood of 1951 destroyed thousands of homes, farms and businesses in the Kansas River Basin, causing over $725 million of damage. Despite the destruction it caused, the historic flood set in motion the final piece needed for the construction of one of Kansas’s most vital water resources – Tuttle Creek Dam and Reservoir.
Trot lines, and trammel nets and trawls, oh my! Trying to catch the elusive age-one pallid sturgeon

By Christine E. Reinhardt, Public Affairs Specialist Kansas City District Published Dec. 3, 2025
It’s said beauty is in the eye of the beholder. To some, a long-snouted, murky white, boneless bottom feeder native to the Missouri and Mississippi rivers – known as the pallid sturgeon – might not sound very beautiful. To others, the endangered fish is an essential part of the river ecosystem – making it a beautiful creature worth saving. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, pallid sturgeon can live up to 40 years and weigh upwards of 100 pounds. Once harvested commercially, the pallid sturgeon is now listed as endangered, in part due to alterations to the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. However, efforts aimed at restoring the population like captive breeding, juvenile stocking and habitat restoration, have made meaningful progress over the past few decades. Still, much remains to be learned, and continued research is essential to fully recover this ancient species.
Hydropower helps feed Thanksgiving feasts

By Tom Conning Northwestern Division Published Nov. 24, 2025
This Thursday, people across the Pacific Northwest will use ovens to bake turkeys, air fryers to crisp vegetables, mixers to fluff mashed potatoes and OLED televisions to gawk at parades and sportsball. Likely, many people are grateful for the conveniences that make Thanksgiving preparations and entertainment relatively easy and enjoyable. However, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers humbly recommends giving appreciation for consistent, affordable and easily dispatchable hydropower (of course, USACE would suggest that).
Conservation programs improve outlook of threatened piping plover

By Delanie Stafford USACE OMAHA DISTRICT Published Nov. 14, 2025
The Missouri River Recovery Program’s Emergent Sandbar Habitat Program and Tern and Plover Monitoring Program, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District’s Threatened and Endangered Species Section, continues to improve habitat and reproductive outcomes for the threatened Northern Great Plains piping plover and formerly endangered interior least tern.
Blue-sky day training helps responders prepare for future flood events

By Christine E. Reinhardt, Public Affairs Specialist Kansas City District Published Sept. 26, 2025
Natural disasters don’t care about chain of command or what roles and responsibilities lie with which local, state or federal government agency. The destruction caused by natural disasters can happen anytime and anywhere. So, having coordinated preparedness plans at all levels of government is vital for effective response when these events inevitably occur. On a sunny, temperate day in middle Missouri, dozens of emergency management personnel convened for a two-day event aimed at doing just this – discussing policy, operations, recovery and hands-on training for a variety of disaster scenarios. The Missouri State Emergency Management Agency hosted a regional coordinator meeting on Sept. 23 and 24 in Jefferson City, Missouri, during National Preparedness Month.
Mentorship made simple: New app helps connect employees across Kansas City District

By Lawrence Brooks IV Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Published Sept. 26, 2025
When thinking about professional development within the Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Leadership Development Program is the gold standard. That’s why fiscal year 2024 LDP graduate, security specialist Jason Smith, took his year two LDP project to the next level — developing an internal mentorship application that focuses on leveraging the principles he and other district senior leadership learned in LDP and throughout their careers in federal service.
Construction on second project under Tribal Partnership Program has begun

By Delanie Stafford USACE OMAHA DISTRICT Published Sept. 23, 2025
Construction on a second U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District project under the Tribal Partnership Program has begun. The Lower Brule Sioux Tribe North Ecosystem Restoration Project will help mitigate shoreline erosion along Lake Sharpe in Lower Brule, South Dakota. It is being funded through a cost-sharing agreement between USACE and the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, or LBST, under program requirements.
Vietnam veterans of Bravo Company receive long-overdue Bronze Star Medals

By Andrew Nystrom USACE OMAHA DISTRICT Published Sept. 19, 2025
More than half a century after their service in the jungles of Vietnam, 14 veterans of Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, were formally presented Bronze Star Medals during a ceremony Sept. 18, 2025, at American Legion Post 1 in Omaha.
USACE Omaha District continues modernization mission at U.S. Air Force Academy

By Lisa Crawford U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District Published Sept. 18, 2025
As the U.S. Air Force celebrates its 78th birthday this year on Sept. 18, 2025, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, continues to play a pivotal role in supporting modernization efforts, including expanding facilities at the U.S. Air Force Academy.
‘Like a detective looking for evidence in a crime scene’: How collecting high-water marks helps flood risk reduction efforts

By Christine E. Reinhardt, Public Affairs Specialist Kansas City District Published Sept. 11, 2025
If a tree falls in a forest and no one is there to see it, does it make a sound? Similarly, if a heavy rain event causes flooding overnight and no one is awake to see it, did it happen? Of course it did. But, how do you know how high the water got if no one was there to witness it? This was the scenario facing the City of Merriam, Kansas, after a significant rainfall event occurred overnight and into the early morning of July 17, 2025. Turkey Creek, which runs through the city, is prone to flash flooding during heavy rain events. On July 17, the creek flooded, impacting parts of the city, but it all occurred overnight when most people were asleep. The flood waters receded almost as quickly as they rose, posing the question: how high did the water get?

Latest News Releases

Seattle District Monitors White River as Back-to-Back Atmospheric Rivers Threaten Flooding

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/Seattle District

12/8/2025

Back-to-back atmospheric rivers are forecasted to hit the Puget Sound and White River Basin within 48 hours. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and National Weather Service ramp up their monitoring...

Army Corps of Engineers assists with local flood fight efforts

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District

12/8/2025

USACE's Emergency Operations Center and Reservoir Control Center (RCC) have activated, in response to multiple atmospheric rivers and heavy precipitation impacting the Pacific Northwest...

Gavins Point Dam releases reduced to winter release rate

Missouri River Water Management Division

12/4/2025

Reduced releases from the Gavins Point Dam to the winter release rate on began Nov. 23 with the navigation flow support season ending on Dec. 1 at St. Louis. “Releases from Gavins Point Dam are being...

Open house to be held for the Former Nebraska Ordnance Plant

Kansas City District

12/1/2025

The Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will host an Open House for the Former Nebraska Ordnance Plant on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, from 4:30-6:30 p.m., at the Veterans of Foreign...

UPDATE: Tuttle Creek and Milford lakes Water Control Manual public meeting rescheduled

Kansas City District

12/1/2025

The Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has rescheduled the Tuttle Creek and Milford lakes Water Control Manual joint public meeting scheduled for December 1, 2025, due to inclement...

Public invited to comment on draft study of Detroit Reservoir deep drawdown, potential end to hydropower production

Portland District

11/14/2025

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Portland District is seeking public input on a draft study that considers changes to how the agency operates its Willamette Valley dams. This study – referred...

Public meetings to be held on Water Control Manual updates for Clinton, Milford, Perry and Tuttle Creek lakes

Kansas City District

11/13/2025

The Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers invites the public to attend a series of meetings to discuss updates to the Water Control Manuals for Clinton, Milford, Perry and Tuttle Creek...

Corps of Engineers to explain current reservoir drawdowns at virtual public meeting

Portland District

11/7/2025 UPDATED

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will host a virtual public information session Thursday, Nov. 13, 5:30-6:30 p.m. to discuss plans to lower reservoir levels this fall at Cougar, Green Peter, Lookout...

Gavins Point Dam releases to be reduced to winter release rate

Missouri River Water Management Division

11/6/2025

Releases from Gavins Point Dam will be reduced in late November as flow support to navigation ends. Releases are currently 25,500 cubic feet per second (cfs). “We will continue to make releases from...

Army Corps begins dredging at Everett Harbor, Snohomish River, Nov. 4, 2025

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/Seattle District

11/3/2025

Maintenance dredging of the Everett Harbor and Snohomish River, in Snohomish River, Everett, Washington, begins Nov. 4, 2025. Operations will run 24/7 and are expected to be completed Feb. 14, 2026...

Feature Stories

District employee charts final course toward master boat pilot license

USACE OMAHA DISTRICT

12/8/2025

Larry Morgan Jr. has worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District since 2000. He has served at the Missouri River Project Office and on the Missouri River most of his career as a...

Ad astra per aspera: Kansas a global leader in solving sediment challenges

Kansas City District

12/4/2025

The year was 1952. The world’s first rock and roll concert was held in Cleveland, Ohio, Mr. Potato Head was the first toy advertised on TV, Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected president and Elizabeth II...

Trot lines, and trammel nets and trawls, oh my! Trying to catch the elusive age-one pallid sturgeon

Kansas City District

12/3/2025

It’s said beauty is in the eye of the beholder. To some, a long-snouted, murky white, boneless bottom feeder native to the Missouri and Mississippi rivers – known as the pallid sturgeon – might not...

Hydropower helps feed Thanksgiving feasts

Northwestern Division

11/24/2025

This Thursday, people across the Pacific Northwest will use ovens to bake turkeys, air fryers to crisp vegetables, mixers to fluff mashed potatoes and OLED televisions to gawk at parades and...

Conservation programs improve outlook of threatened piping plover

USACE OMAHA DISTRICT

11/14/2025

The Missouri River Recovery Program’s Emergent Sandbar Habitat Program and Tern and Plover Monitoring Program, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District’s Threatened and Endangered...

Blue-sky day training helps responders prepare for future flood events

Kansas City District

9/26/2025

Natural disasters don’t care about chain of command or what roles and responsibilities lie with which local, state or federal government agency. The destruction caused by natural disasters can happen...

Mentorship made simple: New app helps connect employees across Kansas City District

Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

9/26/2025 UPDATED

When thinking about professional development within the Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Leadership Development Program is the gold standard. That’s why fiscal year 2024 LDP...

News from Around the Northwestern Division

District employee charts final course toward master boat pilot license

Ad astra per aspera: Kansas a global leader in solving sediment challenges

Trot lines, and trammel nets and trawls, oh my! Trying to catch the elusive age-one pallid sturgeon

Hydropower helps feed Thanksgiving feasts

Conservation programs improve outlook of threatened piping plover

Blue-sky day training helps responders prepare for future flood events

Mentorship made simple: New app helps connect employees across Kansas City District

Construction on second project under Tribal Partnership Program has begun

Vietnam veterans of Bravo Company receive long-overdue Bronze Star Medals

USACE Omaha District continues modernization mission at U.S. Air Force Academy

‘Like a detective looking for evidence in a crime scene’: How collecting high-water marks helps flood risk reduction efforts

Top Pages

Related External Links

Latest News Releases

Seattle District Monitors White River as Back-to-Back Atmospheric Rivers Threaten Flooding

Army Corps of Engineers assists with local flood fight efforts

Gavins Point Dam releases reduced to winter release rate

Open house to be held for the Former Nebraska Ordnance Plant

UPDATE: Tuttle Creek and Milford lakes Water Control Manual public meeting rescheduled

Public invited to comment on draft study of Detroit Reservoir deep drawdown, potential end to hydropower production

Public meetings to be held on Water Control Manual updates for Clinton, Milford, Perry and Tuttle Creek lakes

Corps of Engineers to explain current reservoir drawdowns at virtual public meeting

Gavins Point Dam releases to be reduced to winter release rate

Army Corps begins dredging at Everett Harbor, Snohomish River, Nov. 4, 2025

Feature Stories

District employee charts final course toward master boat pilot license

Ad astra per aspera: Kansas a global leader in solving sediment challenges

Trot lines, and trammel nets and trawls, oh my! Trying to catch the elusive age-one pallid sturgeon

Hydropower helps feed Thanksgiving feasts

Conservation programs improve outlook of threatened piping plover

Blue-sky day training helps responders prepare for future flood events

Mentorship made simple: New app helps connect employees across Kansas City District