Seattle District News

Libby Dam engineers the next generation of conservationists during Scotchman Peak’s annual “Winter Tracks”

Nicole L. Celestine — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 15:00:00 GMT

U. S. Army Corps of Engineers partnered with Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness to host the 12th annual "Winter Tracks" event, providing 200 students with hands-on environmental education at Libby Dam. The program highlights the District's commitment to stewardship by demonstrating how vital infrastructure and native wildlife coexist within the Kootenai’s snowy landscape.

The human switchboard: how USACE liaisons manage information during flood fight events

Louis R. Velasco — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 21:23:00 GMT

Two weeks of relentless atmospheric rivers inundated western Washington in December 2025. Rivers swelled to historic levels, threatened homes, industrial areas and stressed communities in floodplains. When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Seattle District, ramped up its emergency operations, a small, specialized group of individuals stepped into one of the most critical and least understood roles in disaster response: the liaison.

Second Life: Turning Debris into Critical River and Coastal Habitats

Nicole L. Celestine — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Since 2006, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, and the Port of Seattle have repurposed salvaged large, woody debris to restore vital aquatic ecosystems. This collaborative effort transforms navigational hazards into fish and wildlife habitat, that support shoreline resilience. The collaboration began small ... and has grown over the years.

Rooted in strength: JBLM barracks tap into Pacific Northwest’s timber legacy for new military construction era

Louis R. Velasco — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 19:07:00 GMT

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, JBLM Army Garrison, and 1st Special Forces Group leadership joined together to celebrate the Department of War's largest-to-date construction project using mass timber structural materials during a groundbreaking ceremony, Dec. 12, 2025. The pilot program will evaluate the use of mass timber as the primary construction material in military construction projects and its effect on environmental sustainability, infrastructure resilience, cost-effectiveness, and construction timeliness of similar projects.

USACE Managed Record Flood Response Operations Amid Severe Weather

Shelia L. Fourman, Chief, Seattle District Public Affairs — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 17:02:00 GMT

A series of powerful atmospheric river events struck western Washington in early December 2025, bringing over 10 inches of rainfall in some areas, leading to catastrophic flooding, landslides and widespread infrastructure damage. Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish and King counties, where major rivers like the Skagit, Green and White overflowed, were hardest-hit, triggering extensive evacuations. The widespread flooding, compounded by saturated soils and unusually warm Pacific moisture that further intensified the impacts of the storm series, led to a state of emergency and 24-hour operations by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Seattle District.

Scraping for Safe Passage: Inside the Chittenden Locks’ Annual Barnacle Scraping

Kimberly Lopes — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 00:15:00 GMT

For salmon, migration is already a dangerous, perilous journey. At the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, locally known in Seattle as the Ballard Locks, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Seattle District works to make their journey a little safer.

Libby Dam 50th Commemoration: Reflections of Legacy

Nicole L. Celestine — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 14:30:00 GMT

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District celebrated 50 years of operations at Libby Dam, during its commemoration event at Libby, Montana, Aug. 23, 2025. The event recognized the achievements of former and current USACE employees in building and maintaining the dam, the partnerships that made it possible and to reflect on the impacts the dam has on the region and the nation.

Building together: USACE highlights regional needs, invites business innovation

Shelia Fourman — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 22:16:00 GMT

The Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Northwest Posts hosted the Meet the Chiefs 2025 Regional Event on June 17, at the Seattle Airport Marriott. This gathering brought together leaders from key federal agencies and industry partners for a full day of strategic insights, networking, and future planning.

From Construction to Conservation: One Family’s Legacy of Service at Libby Dam

Tana Wilson, Natural Resource Manager, Libby Dam — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 21:30:00 GMT

As part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District's commemoration of 50 years of operations at Libby Dam, Montana, Natural Resource Manager Tana Wilson shares her family's legacy of service from construction to conservation, today.

‘You either love or hate Pullman’: USACE project engineer, Washington State University alumna, reflects on vital project for alma mater

Louis R. Velasco — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 14:39:00 GMT

For Katlyn Struxness, a project engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Seattle District, Pullman, Washington, isn’t just a place—it’s where innovation, community and agriculture come together in unexpected ways. Her role in the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Plant Sciences Building project on Washington State University has deepened her connection to the Palouse region, a place where she can be part of something larger than a job title.

From delamination to durability: How Fiber-Reinforced Polymer is fortifying Albeni Falls Dam's Gate 3

Nicole L. Celestine — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Discovered in April 2024 during routine maintenance, Gate 3, one of Albeni Falls Dam’s 10 spillway gates revealed defective steel, likely a consequence of the original 1950s fabrication process. While a long-term plan for complete gate replacement is underway, the immediate need was for a robust, interim solution to bring Gate 3 back into service and restore the dam's full operational flexibility. Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) offers a technically superior Band-Aid, providing significant structural enhancement, a glimpse into the future of dam maintenance and a testament to modern engineering ingenuity.

Engineering Readiness for the Indo-Pacific: The 34th Forward Engineer Support Team – Advance Deployment & Certification Training Exercise

1st Lt. Allan Jung — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 18:10:28 GMT

The 34th Forward Engineer Support Team - Advance (FEST-A), from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Seattle District successfully conducted a Certification Exercise (CERTEX), used to validate deployment readiness for engineering support across the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM).

Holding Back the Flow: Seattle District's Dam Safety Program

Nicole L. Celestine — Thu, 29 May 2025 16:00:00 GMT

“One might think that in 21st century America, we’ve put an end to dam failures, but that’s not true,” said Seattle District’s Dam Safety Program Manager Richard Smith. “Dams continue to fail for numerous reasons and all too often with disastrous consequences. Lives are still being lost, and it’s our responsibility as good dam stewards to ensure our dams do not fail."

Breaking ground: New flight base ops facility to supercharge Fairchild AFB's global reach

Louis R. Velasco — Mon, 12 May 2025 19:58:00 GMT

Leadership and representatives across the 92nd Air Refueling Wing, 92nd Operations Group, 141st Air Refueling Wing, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Garco Construction and more, gathered at the future site of Fairchild's new Consolidated Flight Base Operations Facility on May 9 to celebrate its groundbreaking milestone. The $48 million facility will serve as a central hub for more than a dozen Active, Guard and Reserve organizations to support the installation’s aerial refueling mission and operational readiness for years to come.

Historic Structures, Modern Solutions: Seattle District’s Historic Structures and Buildings TCX tackles West Point’s Kosciuszko Garden

Kimberly Lopes — Fri, 02 May 2025 22:16:00 GMT

Cadets, faculty and visitors at the U.S. Military Academy (USMA) in West Point, New York, may stumble upon Kosciuszko’s Garden on the east bank of the Hudson River, but few know its rich history as the personal project of revered Polish general and engineers, Thaddeus Kosciuszko.

A Legacy of Dedication: John Landers Bids Farewell to Public Service

Nicole L. Celestine — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 14:30:00 GMT

As the calendar turns to April 30, 2025, Seattle District Security and Law Enforcement Chief Jon Landers will embark on a new chapter, leaving behind a legacy of commitment, hard work and genuine care for the district he served.

Chief Joseph Dam: A pillar of hydropower and strategic infrastructure in the Pacific Northwest

Shelia Fourman — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 20:31:00 GMT

Chief Joseph Dam, located on the Columbia River in Bridgeport, Washington, stands as a monumental achievement in hydropower and infrastructure development. As the second-largest hydropower dam in the U.S., it plays a critical role in powering the Pacific Northwest and maintaining vital flood control, navigation, and environmental functions

Get to know the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District

Pentagon News — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 15:35:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Seattle District is a key federal agency responsible for providing engineering solutions to support the infrastructure, safety, and land and water conservation of the Pacific Northwest.

USACE Seattle District recommended for prestigious Army Safety and Occupational Health Star

Shelia L. Fourman, Chief, Seattle District Public Affairs — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 20:24:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Seattle District has been recommended for the coveted Army Safety and Occupational Health (SOH) Star March 18, at the district’s headquarters building.

Corps of Engineers, JBLM, celebrate new state-of-the-art Information Systems Facility

Louis R. Velasco — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 23:02:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers joined Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) leaders on Nov. 6 to celebrate the ribbon cutting ceremony for the installation's state-of-the-art Information Systems Facility. The significant upgrade supports the Network Enterprise Center's 24/7 network defense and information technology/management mission.