The city of Wabasha and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, are working under a historic agreement to remove around 135,000 cubic yards of dredged sand removed from the Mississippi River navigation channel to make room for future dredging operations. The Corps of Engineers is paying the city a tipping fee to move the sand from a temporary placement site to to a permanent site about a mile away where the sand will be used to reclaim an old mine.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is actively maintaining the Mississippi River navigation channel ahead of the fall harvest to provide a safe, reliable navigation channel for the navigation industry to move the grains grown in the Upper Midwest to markets across the nation and globe. America’s extensive maritime system supports an estimated $4.6 trillion of economic activity annually and it accounts for the direct employment of more than 23 million Americans. In addition to serving as a supply chain provider through its navigation mission, USACE also relies upon navigation as a critical element in its own supply of construction materials and other goods. The USACE Climate Adaptation Plan identifies priority actions to protect this critical supply line as the climate continues to change. Transportation by barge is much more fuel-efficient than competing modes of transport, making it better for the environment, human health, and the climate. A recent study found that barge transportation emits only 70% of the carbon dioxide on a per-ton-mile basis compared to shipping by rail, and only 11% of the carbon dioxide emitted by shipping the same cargo by truck.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District and the Metro Flood Diversion Authority, to include the city of Fargo, North Dakota; and the city of Moorhead, Minnesota, received the National Academy of Construction Special Achievement Award for the Fargo/Moorhead Metro Area Flood Diversion project Oct. 12, during a ceremony in Boston. According to the NAC, the award highlights creativity, innovation, vision, and accomplishments of practitioners in the engineering, design and construction industries. From concept to construction, USACE and its partners consistently solved challenges on this complex project to include splitting work between the entities to allow simultaneous design and construction which expedites project completion by approximately 10 years when compared to traditional delivery methods. Additionally, as the first USACE project in the nation to leverage a public private partnership delivery model, the St. Paul District, the Cities of Fargo and Moorhead and the Metro Flood Diversion Authority are setting the example of how to deliver projects to the nation more efficiently in a resource-constrained environment. Dozens of consultants and construction firms have participated in the effort, showing the strength of the private commitment to the project.

Natural resources specialist Tammy Frauenshuh talks about the new signage for paddlers on the upper Mississippi River.

Dan Fasching, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, civil engineer, discusses what he does to maintain the Mississippi River 9-foot navigation channel water levels and the importance of navigation to the Upper Midwest.

Dan Fasching, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, civil engineer, discusses his role in managing the Mississippi River 9-foot navigation channel to ensure tow boats can safely navigate and how the locks and dams are used during high water and flood events. For more information on the Corps of Engineers, find us online at www.mvp.usace.army.mil.

St. Paul District Emergency Operations Center Manager Rob Zappia talks about how the district prepares for potential spring flooding and how local communities can submit requests for assistance.

Sandy Lake Dam and Recreation Area Park Ranger Hunter Simonson talks about the Sandy Lake Dam rehabilitation construction completion and the importance of ensuring the dam remains safe while also preparing to reopen the area to camping.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District Park Ranger Dan Williams, discusses the inspiration behind the drawing he created to support the Cross Lake Recreation Area coloring contest as a part of the annual WinterFest tradition in Crosslake, Minnesota. Williams wanted to create a fun drawing that highlighted the region and promoted water safety.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District Park Ranger Ellie Tabako highlights the annual WinterFest tradition that the Cross Lake Dam and Recreation Area team participates in with the community in Cross Lake, Minnesota. The park rangers have participated in the event for 11 years in partnership with the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway Association.

Ever wonder how we manage the water levels at our reservoirs ? U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Engineer Jason Tidwell talks about his role in managing St. Paul District reservoirs to include Lake Traverse, Red Lake and Orwell Lake.

Cross Lake Dam and Recreation Area park rangers teamed up with community members from Cross Lake, Minnesota, to host the 9th annual Holiday at the Dam celebration. The annual event is a grassroots effort that includes the Crosslake Chamber of Commerce, Light Up the Dam committee, PAL Foundation, Crosslake-Ideal Lions Club, city of Crosslake, as well as volunteers and USACE staff. The event included crafts, kettle corn made over a campfire and a visit from Santa Claus.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District reached another milestone in its efforts to reduce flood risk to more than 235,000 people in the greater Fargo, North Dakota / Moorhead, Minnesota metro area. The Corps of Engineers contractor, Ames Construction from Burnsville, Minnesota, is installing the first of two Tainter gates at the Wild Rice Structure near Horace, North Dakota, Sept. 19. The gate was hoisted by a crane and will be welded to control arms that will be used to lift the gate up and down, said Duane Perkins, St. Paul District technical lead engineer for the project.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers used enough blue roof material to cover LSU's Tiger Field 1,000 times during Operation Blue Roof in support of FEMA Hurricane Ida recovery efforts in southern Louisiana. Check out this video to learn more! The goal of the Blue Roof program is to provide homeowners in disaster areas with fiber-reinforced, industrial-strength sheeting to protect storm-damaged roofs until homeowners can make permanent repairs. This program is a no-cost service for homeowners. Operation Blue Roof is designed to protect property, reduces temporary housing costs, and allow survivors to remain in their homes while recovering from the storm. The Blue Roof program is for primary residences or a permanently occupied rental property with less than 50 percent of the roof structure damage to ensure the safe installation of the blue roof. Before installing a blue roof, the resident must certify property ownership and verify someone will occupy it after installation. The home must be structurally sound. Vacation rental properties are not eligible for this program. Flat roofs, roofs made of clay, slate, or asbestos tile do not qualify for the Blue Roof program.

Stettson Smith, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District civil engineer and Hurricane Ida Operation Blue Roof quality assurance specialist, performs a final inspection on two temporary roof installations near Port Sulphur, Louisiana, Oct. 26. Smith said the two homes were unique in the fact that they were only accessible via a boat. He said that while the task was more difficult than a typical temporary roof repair, it was an example of what USACE will do to ensure survivors are taken care as best as possible. To date, USACE has installed more than 33,000 temporary roofs across 25 parishes in Louisiana following Hurricane Ida’s landfall Aug. 29. The mission is more than 98 percent complete.

Dedric Bland, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District civil engineer currently deployed to Louisiana in support of Hurricane Ida recovery efforts as a quality assurance lead, monitors temporary roof repairs in New Orleans Oct. 22. USACE is actively making temporary repairs to homes damaged by the storm via Operation Blue Roof. To date, USACE has completed more than 32,500 temporary roof repairs in 25 parishes and is more than 95 percent complete with the mission.

Richard Fisher, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District occupational health and safety specialist currently supporting Hurricane Ida Operation Blue Roof recovery efforts in Louisiana, discusses what it means to be here and why safety is an important component of emergency operations. USACE has completed more than 32,500 temporary roof repairs in 25 parishes and is more than 95 percent complete with the mission.

Time lapse by Patrick Moes The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the state of Louisiana, recently launched a pilot program to explore temporary roofing options for homes that may otherwise have been disqualified from the USACE Operation Blue Roof program. 18 homes throughout southern Louisiana impacted by Hurricane Ida were selected for the program. These homes were not eligible for the blue roof program due to some types of metal roofs, flat surfaces, tile or slate roofs and if there was more than 50 percent structural damage to the roof. The pilot program, also known as Roof Wrap, focuses on using shrink wrap materials that are installed under the roof via furring strips. The strips are typically nailed to the fascia or soffit depending upon the architectural elements of the house. Once the material is secured to the home, a contractor then uses heat to shrink the material and create a water-tight seal over the roof. The repairs, while temporary in nature, provide a homeowner more time to find permanent repair solutions that can take time following a large disaster. USACE and FEMA remain committed to providing temporary roofing solutions following disasters. Any final decision on including this pilot program as an additional option in future disasters would need to be decided by leadership within USACE and FEMA after all the data is gathered.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District Employees Megan Severson and Amy Heffernan are currently deployed supporting Hurricane Ida recovery efforts in Louisiana. The pair are working together here in Louisiana but also work together at the Pokegama Dam and Recreation Area in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Working side-by-side near the headwaters and the mouth of the Mississippi River have made the pair great teammates and friends.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues its Hurricane Ida support in Louisiana. USACE Local Government Liaison Dereck Wansing wants to remind survivors that the deadline to apply for the free service is Friday, Oct. 15.

William Brigance, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District lock and dam equipment mechanic and mobile command vehicle support specialist, discusses the USACE Blue Roof mission and what it means to him to support the Hurricane Ida response efforts in Louisiana.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers installed its 20,000th Blue Roof installation today, Oct. 8, in Houma, Louisiana, as part of Operation Blue Roof emergency response for Hurricane Ida. The program, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, reduces further damage to property until permanent repairs can be made. This is a free service to homeowners. The deadline to apply is Oct. 15. To learn more, or to apply, visit Blueroof.us or call 888-ROOF-BLU (888-766-3258).

Matt Clark, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District project scheduler currently serving as a USACE housing team technical monitor support Hurricane Ida recovery efforts in Louisiana, reflects on the mission and its importance to survivors within the region.

Paul Machajewski, St. Paul District dredged material manager, discusses a beneficial reuse project in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The city is working with a local contractor to reuse ~200,000 cubic yards of dredged material that the Corps of Engineers removed from the Mississippi River navigation channel. The material, which is free, will help move the future development site out of the floodplain.

Dan DeVaney, St. Paul District channel maintenance coordinator, discusses the importance of maintaining the Mississippi River navigation channel and the river's economic importance.

Time lapse video of the upstream, landside miter gate replacement July 20, 2021, at Lock and Dam 2 in Hastings, Minn. This was the first of four 80-year-old gates that were replaced during a series of 12-hour closures. The original upstream miter gates weigh 164,000 lbs. while the new gates weigh 256,000 lbs. The new downstream gates are 30 feet tall and weigh 266,000 lbs. Due to new criteria in engineering, safety requirements and industry standards, the newly designed gates are more than 50% heavier than the original gates. The increase in weight required newly upgraded anchorages, which serve to provide support of the new gates while also allowing them to pivot.

Dan DeVaney, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District survey technician, measures the ice thickness at Lake Pepin, near Red Wing, Minnesota, Feb. 9. The lake is a part of the Upper Mississippi River. DeVaney is a part of a team that was collecting ice measurements to help the navigation industry determine when it is safe to break the ice and begin the 2021 navigation season. Ice measurements are collected at Lake Pepin because the water flow is slower in this area and the ice is usually the thickest. Navigation officials typically waits until the ice is no more than 12 inches thick before sending barges north to break the ice en route to St. Paul, Minnesota.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, regulatory division is adapting its normal training for new regulators due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. During normal operations, a new regulator would receive in-person training on a variety of topics to better help them delineate wetlands regulated by the Corps of Engineers. Since classroom training opportunities are postponed for the foreseeable future, senior regulators with the St. Paul District developed a 2-day workshop to help its new regulators better understand what it takes to do wetland delineations.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, continues its vital mission to maintain the Mississippi River navigation channel during the COVID-19 pandemic. Corps staff are incorporating CDC recommendations to ensure the safety and welfare of the staff and civilians while also ensuring commodities such as corn and soybeans can safely reach markets around the globe. In doing so, producers save around $1 per bushel by shipping these commodities via the river compared to other transportation methods such as trains or trucks.