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  • January

    Six species of pitcher plants (Sarracenia) are found in Florida’s wetlands, with the greatest concentration found from Franklin County to Escambia County. The unique plant is carnivorous, attracting and trapping insects that decompose in the plant’s liquid, creating a nitrogen-rich “fertilizer.” England and Japan both have gardens that feature North American pitcher plants, and they are a major attraction. According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, pitcher plant habitat in Florida is “at risk, primarily from lack of fire management and from drainage by ditching.” All wild pitcher plants are protected by state and federal laws.

    Busy year for nation’s largest regulatory permitting program

    Jacksonville District’s regulatory permitting program, the largest in the Corps, exceeded all national performance standards in Fiscal Year 2012. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that 94 percent of general permit decisions were completed within 60 days of receipt of a complete application and 82 percent of individual permit decisions were completed within 120 days of receipt of a complete application.
  • Water flows through the gates of the St. Lucie Lock in late September, as Jacksonville District started discharges from Lake Okeechobee to stem the rapid rise in lake levels after Tropical Storm Isaac. The releases began Sept. 19 and continued until early November.

    Milestones reached at Herbert Hoover Dike as dedication to water management balance continues

    The past year saw both low water and high water at Lake Okeechobee, as well as completion of one project and the start of others on Herbert Hoover Dike (HHD). The best news occurred in October, when the last section of cutoff wall in the dike between Port Mayaca and Belle Glade was accepted by Jacksonville District construction representatives. The action meant 21.4 miles of cutoff wall that had been under construction since 2007 was in place, reducing the risk of failure for the southeast portion of the dike.
  • A warmer than normal winter and heavy early season rains contributed to the highest levels of water hyacinth on the St. Johns River and Lake Okeechobee since 1986.

    Invasive Species biologists combat explosion of aquatic plant growth

    The year 2012 brought many challenges for the Invasive Species Management (ISM) Branch to tackle. Multiple factors led to the highest levels of water hyacinth on Lake Okeechobee since 1986. Water hyacinth invades lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes and other types of wetland habitats. According to the Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System website, water hyacinth can reproduce and quickly form dense floating mats of vegetation, sometimes doubling in size over a two week period. These dense mats reduce light and deplete oxygen levels for submerged plants and aquatic invertebrates.
  • The Jacksonville Harbor Deepening Study, included in President Obama’s “We Can’t Wait” initiative, is being conducted on an expedited schedule. The Jacksonville Harbor (Mile Point) Navigational Study achieved a signed Chief of Engineers’ Report and Project Design Agreement, critical steps in moving the project to Congressional authorization and appropriation.

    Ports are focus of national spotlight in 2012

    Ports were thrust into the national spotlight in 2012 after President Obama announced the “We Can’t Wait” Initiative, which placed several of Jacksonville District’s port projects and studies onto the fast track for implementation. As a part of the initiative, President Obama identified seven nationally and regionally significant infrastructure projects to be expedited to help modernize and expand five major ports in the United States, including the port of Jacksonville and the port of Miami.
  • Approximately 11,000 lineal feet of pipeline and 10 underground storage tanks were removed from the former Arecibo Airdrome in Puerto Rico.

    From state-of-the-art school to complex environmental projects, IIS sets the standard

    Innovation and outside-of-the-box thinking were some of the keys to success for the Interagency and International Support (IIS) Branch in 2012. Jacksonville District has begun work on the Antilles Elementary School at Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico. The $51 million project is being constructed for the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) under a design-build contract awarded in June 2012 to Gilbane Building Company.
  • Jacksonville District Electrical Engineer Gerald Deloach assesses damage to a building in Moonachie, N.J. that was damaged by Hurricane Sandy. Deloach was one of a dozen people from Jacksonville District that deployed to the impact zone.

    When the call comes, Jacksonville District team members respond

    Jacksonville District’s Emergency Management Branch has been working with nearly 50 district employees on deployment missions at home and abroad during 2012. At the end of November, 32 district team members had deployed to Afghanistan, while 16 others had responded to three tropical systems that impacted Florida and the north Atlantic – 12 were sent to New Jersey and New York to assist with emergency response following Hurricane Sandy, while seven others had earlier assisted with damage assessment following Tropical Storms Debby and Isaac.
  • Vice President Joe Biden visited the Everglades in April, 2012 to discuss the administration’s ecosystem restoration priorities and efforts.

    Everglades restoration takes several leaps forward

    For Everglades restoration, the year started off with lots of excitement and momentum as the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP) accelerated, with the ambitious goal of delivering – within two years – finalized plans for congressional authorization for a suite of restoration projects in the central Everglades.
  • Sand was placed at Fort Clinch State Park following the dredging of Kings Bay Entrance Channel at Fernandina Harbor.

    Dredging and beach programs experience active year

    Florida’s shorelines saw a flurry of activity during 2012. The state experienced several storm systems that caused erosion impacts to a host of federal beach projects. In addition, a few beaches saw new sand placed on their shores as a result of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ dredging projects.

  • December

    Lt. Col. Thomas Greco presented St. Lucie Lock Leader Michael L. Carter (center) with the Steel de Fleury Medal Dec. 19 at the St. Lucie Lock in Stuart, Fla. Also present was South Florida Operations Office Chief, Steve Dunham (right).

    Corps lock leader receives Steel de Fleury Medal

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District employee Michael L. Carter received the prestigious military engineer award, the Steel de Fleury Medal, Dec. 19 for his significant contributions to the district over the course of his 32-year career with the Corps.
  • Matt Morrison (left), South Florida Water Management District project manager for the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP) and Gretchen Ehlinger(second from right), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers environmental lead for CEPP, explain the proposed final array of alternatives for CEPP at the Dec. 13 public meeting in Stuart, Fla. An open house was held at each of the five public meetings conducted throughout south Florida Dec. 10-13 and Dec. 18.

    Series of public meetings held for Central Everglades Planning Project

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Jacksonville District hosted a series of public meetings to present the proposed final array of alternatives for the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP) and give all interested individuals, groups and agencies an opportunity to comment and ask questions.
  • During an informal signing ceremony, Jacksonville District Commander Col. Alan Dodd added his name to a cooperative agreement along with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Florida field office supervisors to help manatees and insure the Corps' navigation mission moves forward.

    Cooperative agreement promises to aid both manatees and navigation

    During an informal signing ceremony, Jacksonville District Commander Col. Alan Dodd added his name to a cooperative agreement along with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Florida field office supervisors to help manatees and insure the Corps' navigation mission moves forward. The group used the authority provided in the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to develop a cooperative agreement which provides both agencies flexibility when developing real world solutions to help the manatee in the face of growing pressure.
  • Chief of Engineers Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick, right, visited the New Jersey Recovery Field Office, where he was briefed by Tim Brown, mission manager for the Housing Planning Response Team.

    Jacksonville District’s Housing Planning Response Team on the scene in New Jersey

    Within days of Hurricane Sandy’s landfall, which reaped devastating effects across the northeastern seaboard, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District team was among the many national Corps responders to arrive on the scene to provide welcomed relief and assistance.
  • The helicopter magnetometer detects magnetic anomalies on the ground or in shallow surfaces. The device flies six feet above ground at speeds of 30 to 40 mph.

    Jacksonville District uses unique technology to search for munitions debris

    A large munitions response site, coupled with heavy vegetation and hazardous wildlife, provided ideal conditions for Jacksonville District to use a helicopter magnetometer for initial fieldwork at the Avon Park Formerly Used Defense Site Sept. 28.
  • Alberto Gonzalez, Portugues Dam project manager, makes a point while speaking about the transition to a Roller Compacted Concrete Dam during a presentation at a conference in Zaragoza, Spain. Gonzalez was one of three Jacksonville District representatives who participated. Photo courtesy Alberto Gonzalez.

    Portugues Dam subject of international conference

    From Argentina to Vietnam, 350 representatives from 39 countries gathered in Zaragoza, Spain in late October to discuss dams, and included in the discussion was Jacksonville District’s Portugues Dam. The meeting was billed as the Sixth International Symposium on Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) Dams. Three representatives of Jacksonville District spoke at the event: Portugues Dam Project Manager Alberto Gonzalez, Portugues Dam Resident Engineer Pablo Vázquez-Ruiz and Portugues Dam Project Geologist John Conway.
  • Lilly Chavis and Rosalind Smith from Human Resources provided information on employment to many veterans who visited the Corps’ booth.

    Week of Valor event aims to connect

    U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown kicked off the city of Jacksonville’s Veterans Jobs Fair Nov. 9. More than 90 companies and universities participated in the event, which attracted nearly 1,000 job-seeking veterans.
  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers worked rapidly to repair a levee breach caused by Hurricane Sandy in Mantoloking, N.J. The breach occurred at the end of the only bridge onto the barrier island, effectively cuting it off from the rest of the state. At the peak of the response effort, the Corps had nearly 4,000 employees from across the nation engaged in more than 38 FEMA mission assignments, exceeding a total of $134 million.

    Corps responds to Superstorm Sandy

    Hurricane Sandy was the biggest storm yet of an active tropical storm season. It formed south of Jamaica on Oct. 22, smashed through Cuba Oct. 24-25 and began affecting beaches in Florida by Oct. 26. As it moved further north, concern heighted as it merged with another storm, prior to making landfall near Atlantic City, N.J. Oct. 29. Jacksonville District engineers were on alert from the beginning. The district activated its emergency operations center (EOC) Oct. 24 and closely monitored the storm as it moved through the Bahamas. Once reports started circulating about the full range of impacts in New York and New Jersey, several Jacksonville District team members were tapped for duties in a variety of locations.

  • November

    Lowering of water levels in Water Conservation Area 3A will directly benefit tree islands, marsh vegetation and the Everglade Snail Kite.

    Record of Decision signed for Everglades Restoration Transition Plan

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Jacksonville District received a signed Record of Decision for the Everglades Restoration Transition Plan (ERTP) Oct. 19. The Record of Decision, signed by Col. Donald E. Jackson Jr., South Atlantic Division commander, provides the authority for ERTP to replace the current Interim Operational Plan for Protection of the Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow (IOP), modifying current water management operations of the Central and Southern Florida (C&SF) project in the area.

  • October

    Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick, commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, took an airboat ride through Everglades National Park after visiting the Tamiami Trail Modifications project in Miami-Dade County Oct. 10, 2012

    Lt. Gen. Bostick visits the Everglades

    JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick, commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), visited the Everglades October 10, 2012 to see the restoration work being performed by the Jacksonville District and their partnering agencies. "USACE has one of the largest environmental restoration and sustainability roles in the federal government, and the Everglades restoration is our largest project of this kind," said Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick, commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. "After viewing first-hand the enormous challenges facing Everglades restoration and meeting with our partners in this effort, I am absolutely convinced that working together, we can achieve restoration goals and improve this ecological treasure for future generations."
  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently launched a newly designed and updated website on a new, cloud-based system. The system allows the Corps to create a consistent look and feel on its many Web pages, streamline content management and deliver a richer end-user experience.

    Jacksonville District Receives a Facelift

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, is proud to join the Corps nationwide as we

  • UAV Program Conducts Successful Demonstration

    Nearly 40 people from Jacksonville District and other federal agencies were able to witness the award-winning Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) system during a demonstration on September 5 near St. Augustine.