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  • January

    Design rendering

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

    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.
  • Photo of rivers that swelled in Northwest Washington, due to recent flood events in December 2025.

    USACE Managed Record Flood Response Operations Amid Severe Weather

    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.

  • November

    Seattle District teammates scrape barnacles from one of the large lock culverts at at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, an annual event which prevents injury to migrating fish.

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

    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.

  • August

    Libby Dam Operating Project Manager Rick Spiger and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District Commander Col. Kathryn Sanborn cut a slice of cake, to celebrate Libby Dam's 50th commemoration, Aug. 23, 2025. The event, which included a formal ceremony with Presentation of Colors and a memorial unveiling, included walking across the top of the dam and the Treaty Tower.

    Libby Dam 50th Commemoration: Reflections of Legacy

    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.

  • June

    Enshanè Nomoto-Hill, small business professional, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District speak with small and large industry professionals during the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Northwest Posts Meet the Chiefs 2025 Regional Event on June 17, at the Seattle Airport Marriott. SAME bring together military and civilian professionals to strengthen partnerships, enhance resilience, and support the future of the engineering workforce. SAME is a trusted partner in this mission—bringing industry and government together to support readiness, resilience, and technical excellence. SAME members provide insights, innovation, and expertise that strengthen the district’s capacity to deliver on time and on budget.

    Building together: USACE highlights regional needs, invites business innovation

    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.
  • Side-by-side photos of Libby Dam Natural Resource Manager Tana Wilson and her paternal grandfather Donald “Whitey” Wilson, who joined the Operating Engineers Union in 1967 at 29 years old, and was hired by Morrison-Knudsen as a batch plant operator during the construction of Libby Dam. The dam was constructed in response to annual spring floods that cascaded down from the Rocky Mountains which caused fatalities and destruction to communities in the U.S. and Canada located along the length of the Kootenai and Columbia River watersheds. (Photo courtesy Tana Wilson)

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

    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.
  • Person poses in front of building exterior.

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

    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.
  • Interior of the containment shelter that houses Gate 3 after its return to Albeni Falls Dam, Oldtown, Idaho, May 12, 2025. The gate is currently being outfitted with strain gauges and temperature probes that will help monitor the condition of the gate and repair. Gate 3 is projected to return to service in August 2025.

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

    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.
  • 34th EST-A members inspect the Range 131C awnings to identify solutions to repair damaged roof sections and develop a cost-effective replacement.

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

    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).

  • May

    Map illustration of USACE-owned and managed dams in Seattle District. The district’s inventory of dams has multiple purposes including flood risk management, hydropower, navigation, water supply, river flow augmentation for fish, fish passage and recreation.

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

    “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."
  • Fairchild commander prepares to tear down small piece of perimeter wall at project site.

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

    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.
  • This photo, taken by TCX staff in June 2024, is a view of Kosciusko’s Garden from the 1960s raised path looking east.

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

    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.

  • April

    Photo of Security and Law Enforcement Chief John Landers receiving his Certificate of Retirement from Seattle District Commander Kathryn Sanborn during the April employee potluck. Landers retires April 30, 2025, after 39 years of public service.

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

    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.
  • In a recent site visit on April 2-3, Seattle District’s Commander, Col. Kathryn Sanborn, visited Chief Joseph Dam and met with the district’s Chief Joseph Dam project staff, discussed current operations, and gained firsthand insight into the challenges and opportunities associated with the facility and ongoing project. The dam is undergoing a multi-million-dollar project, which includes rehabilitation of the 16-unit generator rewinds, replacing generator air coolers, and installing a new machine condition monitoring system to produce more efficient and reliable hydropower. This visit provided an invaluable opportunity for USACE leadership to connect directly with staff, helping ensure that the Corps' operations align with both regional needs and national priorities.

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

    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
  • The district is headquartered at Federal Center South Building 1202 in the SoDo neighborhood of Seattle. Our wide range of projects span Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.

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

    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.

  • March

    Leaders from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Seattle District toured the weapons storage and maintenance facility at Malmstrom Airforce Base, Montana, Aug. 20, 2024. Sanborn returned to the project after attending the ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony in March 2024. With the project nearing 100,000 exposure hours with zero loss time, safety has been the top priority for the district and employees of the construction site. That’s a testament to our safety culture.

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

    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.

  • November

    Ribbon cutting ceremony group photo

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

    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.

  • October

    A person uses a net to catch fish in a lock chamber.

    Annual USACE rescue efforts ensure fish survival through Chittenden Locks

    Visitors to Lake Washington Ship Canal and Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, Seattle, on Oct. 1, saw an unusual sight: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employees at the bottom of the small lock chamber using nets to catch fish trapped in the chamber while it was drained for urgent maintenance.

  • September

    Every summer, visitors flock to the cool shores of Rufus Woods Lake, near Chief Joseph Dam, Washington, but within the floating algal mats that appear seasonally throughout the lake, lies a hidden danger.

    Army Corps algal bloom study keeps human,animal recreators safe

    Every summer, visitors flock to the cool shores of Rufus Woods Lake, near Chief Joseph Dam, Washington, but within the floating algal mats that appear seasonally throughout the lake, lies a hidden danger.

  • August

    Groundbreaking picture of all speakers

    Innovating for the future: USACE uses sustainable building materials for JBLM barracks, enhances Army’s climate resiliency goals

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), U.S. Army I Corps, and Assistant Secretary of the Army leadership joined Washington State congressional representatives for an Aug. 7 groundbreaking ceremony on a first-of-its-kind barracks pilot program using sustainable building materials meant to reduce its carbon footprint. Once complete, the new barracks will improve the quality of life for 168 Soldiers at JBLM, Washington.