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Author: Nicole L. Celestine
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  • May

    Aerial photo of a dam with 11 spillway gates, a hydropower generating unit, and a lake in front of it.

    Albeni Falls Dam: Cutting Red Tape to Rebuild Infrastructure

    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.
  • A woman standing in the Treaty Towers above Libby Dam, in Libby Montana.

    Libby Dam Volunteer Spotlight: Barbara Grant

    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.

  • February

    Photo of Montana State Fish, Wildlife and Parks Bear Biologist Garrett Tovey teaching a group of elementary school-aged students how to track and identify other animal signs, one of the various activity stations students rotated through during the Friends of Scotchman Peak’s 12th annual “Winter Tracks” event, Jan. 23, 2026 and Jan 29, 2026. Libby Dam, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' operating project in Libby, Montana, hosted this year's event.

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

    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.

  • January

    A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-owned barge is stacked with large woody debris, recovered by Seattle District's Motor Vessel (MV) Puget.

    Second Life: Turning Debris into Critical River and Coastal Habitats

    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.

  • 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

    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.

  • 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."

  • 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.

  • December

    Corps of Engineers employees volunteer to scrape barnacle buildup along the filling tunnels.

    Scraping barnacles gives salmon a fighting chance

    Army Corps employees scrape barnacle buildup along the filling tunnels at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, Seattle, fulfilling a federal law requirement to help improve endangered salmon’s chances of survival, by reducing their potential for injury or death.

  • September

    Group photo of Army officers and civilians standing in front of the Administration building of the Lake Washington Ship Canal and Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, Seattle, Washington.

    USACE debris recovery vessel crew earns Army Risk Management Award

    U.S. Army Corps debris recovery vessel wins Army Risk Management Award for keeping team safety and risk management practices at the forefront of everything they do.

  • July

    Photo collage of team members.

    Developing long-term mitigation climate change impacts secures Team Award

    The Northwestern Division Columbia River Treaty Vulnerability Assessment Team earned the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Engineering and Construction Climate Champion Team Award for its substantial contributions to district, regional, and national climate product development, to help advance understanding of and preparation for future climate change in the Pacific Northwest.

  • December

    Aerial photo of Shoalwater Bay Dune, on the Tokeland Peninsula, Washington.

    Commitment to tribal partners restores Shoalwater Bay Dune, protects Shoalwater Bay Tribe

    A partnership between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with the Shoalwater Bay Tribe restores the Shoalwater Bay Dune on the Tokeland Peninsula, Washington, in time before the first major storm of 2022.

  • January

    Photo of Army Corps of Engineers Seattle District Commander Col. Alexander ‘Xander’ Bullock and Robert “Rob” Frazier, during the district’s Corps Day awards ceremony, at its headquarters in Seattle, July 29, 2021.

    Former Resource Management Chief Bids Farewell to Army Corps and Federal Service

    Robert Frazier, Seattle District’s former resource management division chief, officially retired from federal government service Dec. 31, 2021.