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  • May

    aerial image of Guajataca dam and spillway in Isabela, Puerto Rico.

    Los trabajos a la Represa Guajataca, ejemplo de multiples agencias trabajando en equipo

    En Septiembre del 2017, el Huracán María azotó a todo Puerto Rico causando destrucción y daños significativos a través de la Isla. Tras su paso devastador, la Agencia Federal de Manejo de Emergencias (FEMA por sus siglas en inglés) activó de inmediato al Cuerpo de Ingenieros del Ejército de los Estados Unidos (USACE por sus siglas en inglés) para iniciar sus funciones establecidas por ley como coordinador de FEMA para el sector de Obras Públicas e Ingeniería. "Más de diez agencias locales y federales, así como personal militar, apoyaron la misión de emergencia para estabilizar el aliviadero, el éxito de la operación se debió a su rápida respuesta y su voluntad de colaborar para lograr el objetivo en común", dijo la Ingeniera de Área de USACE para las Antillas, Ing. Maricarmen Crespo. “La rápida acción de USACE al solicitar apoyo de las Fuerzas Armadas de los Estados Unidos y la respuesta inmediata de ellos para entregar material a la represa evitó una posible catástrofe".
  • Chinook helicopter places a large sand bag on the spillway

    Guajataca Dam repairs, a successful interagency team effort

    The devastating path of Hurricane Maria in 2017 affected all of Puerto Rico in one way or another. As a result the Federal Emergency Management Agency immediately activated the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to serve as part of the post-Hurricane María Response Team. Only four days after the hurricane overwhelmed the island, a team of over 40 USACE volunteers from different parts of the United States arrived in Puerto Rico to respond to this emergency. The team augmented the local USACE Antilles Area Office staff in the efforts to visually inspect 17 dams determined to be high hazard, or thought to have incurred damage during the hurricane.

  • March

    Photo of crowd addressing USACE personnel in Ciales, PR.

    Public meeting held for Rio Grande de Manatí flood risk management study

    San Juan, Puerto Rico – Close to a hundred citizens of the Ciales area attended a Rio Grande de Manatí flood risk feasibility study public scoping meeting Sunday, hosted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The meeting organized by Puerto Rico’s District 13 Representative Gabriel Rodriguez-Aguiló was an opportunity for the community to not only learn about the scope and process of the study being conducted by the Corps, but to express their concerns, ask questions and provide input on the considered flood risk management alternatives that were presented.

  • February

    Local and federal agencies representatives listen to a presentation during a Corps of Engineers' regulatory program monthly meeting, held in San Juan Puerto Rico Feb. 6, 2019. The Corps host the meetings in order to assist applicants navigate the permitting process. The ultimate goal of each permitting action is to prevent aquatic resources from being negatively impacted by the proposed projects.

    With interagency meetings, Antilles regulatory office aims to accelerate permitting process

    Every year the Antilles office receives dozens of requests for permits from individuals and businesses intending to either build infrastructure or implement innovations for issues affecting the islands’ ecosystems. In order to assist applicants navigate the permitting process, Regulatory Section Chief Sindulfo Castillo hosts inter-agency meetings which allows applicants the opportunity to present their proposals and interact with federal and local representatives.

  • August

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Commander Col. Jason Kirk talks about rehabilitation of the Herbert Hoover Dike during an event on Oct. 8, 2017. USACE has invested more than $1 billion in rehabilitation activities to reduce risk near the 143-mile earthen dam that surrounds Lake Okeechobee in south Florida.

    Progress through working together

    The nation is at its best when we work together to tackle challenges that we face. We understand the frustration that many feel but do not lose sight of the fact that we are making tangible progress. With your continued valuable input, we will maintain the increasing momentum towards success. Working together, we can restore America’s Everglades and build an improved water management system that better meets the multiple water needs of Floridians in the 21st Century and beyond.

  • June

    Colonel Jason A. Kirk is the Commander and District Engineer of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District. Colonel Kirk assumed command on July 17, 2015.

    Why we release water

    One of the primary reasons we release water is to reduce flood risk for people living and working around the lake, in which the potential for inflows far exceeds (six times greater) our capacity for outflow.

  • April

    Corps of Engineers: Protecting and preserving the environment on numerous fronts

    On April 22, we celebrate Earth Day. The Army’s theme for Earth Day 2018 is “Sustain the Mission/Secure the Future.” This theme is emboldened by Jacksonville District's on-the-ground efforts to protect and preserve our environment on numerous fronts.

  • February

    Diana Jordan-Burks assists Small Businesses

    Small Business in Action

    Small Business in Action Slideshow

  • January

    “We need to address the entire Everglades ecosystem as a whole and I look forward to working alongside our partnering agencies to continue these efforts,” said Col. Jason Kirk, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District Commander at the Everglades Coalition Conference Jan. 6, 2017 in Fort Myers, Fla.

    Additional progress on Everglades restoration expected in 2018

    Jacksonville District Commander Col. Jason Kirk provides an update on ecosystem restoration activities in south Florida.

  • December

    A vibratory soil compactor helps prepare the base of a new levee being constructed in Yauco, Puerto Rico, following Hurricane Maria floods that destroyed the previous one.

    It hit its peak “… well above the 30,000 cfs max.”

    When an unprecedented flood destroyed a levee and isolated a small town in southwestern Puerto Rico, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers devised a plan and hired local businesses to build a new one.

  • October

    CLEWISTON, Fla. – Jacksonville District Commander, Col. Jason Kirk welcomed Florida Gov. Rick Scott to the Herbert Hoover Dike at Lake Okeechobee on Oct. 9, 2017.

    Governor Scott tours Herbert Hoover Dike at Lake Okeechobee

    CLEWISTON, Fla. (Oct. 9, 2017) – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District commander, Col. Jason Kirk welcomed Florida Governor Rick Scott to the Herbert Hoover Dike at Lake Okeechobee today for an update on current water levels and to see the project at the dike.

  • September

    (Left to Right) Ismael J. De la Paz, Genaro Perez, Andrew Farris, Gary Russ, Bill Neimes, Matt Taylor, members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville team who are inspecting the Herbert Hoover Dike, September 11, 2017.

    USACE South Florida Operations staff inspects Herbert Hoover Dike and Okeechobee Waterway

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District’s South Florida Operations staff has the monumental task or inspecting the Herbert Hoover Dike and reopening Okeechobee Waterway post Hurricane Irma, a task that is essential to recovery operations across Southern Florida.

  • July

    Corps continues to advance efforts in south Florida

    JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- This time last year the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District was managing a challenging scenario fueled by heavy rains during the dry season and early part of the wet season, forcing us to release billions of gallons of water from Lake Okeechobee to protect the Herbert Hoover Dike. One year later, I‘d like to highlight the progress we have made and how we intend to address challenges that remain.

  • June

    Corps constructs artificial reef in Brevard County

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and its contractor, Shoreline Foundation, Inc., started constructing artificial mitigation reef mats for placement at ten nearshore sites from Satellite Beach to Indialantic in Brevard County. The first placement may occur as soon as next week east of Pelican Beach Park.

  • May

    Water flows through the spillway gates at Moore Haven Lock & Dam in early 2016. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has seen water levels in Lake Okeechobee go from one extreme to the other over the past year.

    Lake O water levels fall to start 2017

    An extended period of dry weather since Hurricane Matthew in October has caused the water level in Lake Okeechobee to steadily recede over the past six months. This, in sharp comparison to last year’s dry season that contained some of the wettest months ever recorded in the region.

  • Industry Days connect businesses large and small

    Industry Day events hosted by the Jacksonville District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provide networking and partnering opportunities for businesses small and large.

  • February

    Colonel Jason A. Kirk is the Commander and District Engineer of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District. Colonel Kirk assumed command on July 17, 2015.

    Focus on STEM during National Engineers Week

    As the commander and District Engineer of the Jacksonville District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and its 800-strong team of scientists, engineers and other professionals, I encourage everyone to celebrate and recognize the important contributions of science, technology, engineering and mathematics professionals during this year’s National Engineers Week — February 19-25. This is also a great week to encourage young people from all walks of life to consider a career in one of these vital “STEM” fields.

  • January

    “I implore all of you to continue to advocate for, and continue to share the Everglades story. A story of hope,” said Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy at the Everglades Coalition Conference Jan. 6 in Fort Myers, Fla.

    Corps emphasizes momentum, collaboration at annual Everglades conference

    JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The importance of aligning priorities and maintaining momentum were key discussion points for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers leadership who spoke about ongoing efforts to restore America’s Everglades during the 32nd Annual Everglades Coalition Conference in Fort Myers, Florida Jan. 5-8, 2017.
  • Herbert Hoover Dike rehabilitation program manager Mike Rogalski pauses for a question while observing work at the Culvert 12 job site near Pahokee. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is replacing more than two dozen water control structures, commonly known as “culverts” to reduce risk of failure of the 143-mile earthen dike that surrounds Lake Okeechobee in south Florida.

    Corps continues rehabilitation efforts at Herbert Hoover Dike

    As 2016 turns into 2017, staff at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District continue the monumental task of rehabilitating the Herbert Hoover Dike surrounding Lake Okeechobee in south Florida.

  • December

    A view of the Big Fishweir Creek project area.

    Big Fishweir Creek project shows signs of progress

    The Big Fishweir Creek project is moving forward after the City of Jacksonville recently approved funding for the Corps to execute a project partnership agreement and initiate the design and implementation phase of the project.