JACKSONVILLE DISTRICT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency was task to conduct Land Assessments for potential Temporary Housing Units in areas of Florida recently effected by Hurricane Irma. Stephen H. Harris, team lead quality assurance, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District, and Ron Saunders, quality assurance, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District, discuss the mission and how residents are responding. (Video by: Hector Mosley, public affairs, USACE, New York District)

Big Pine Key, Fla. - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Emergency Operations, personnel conduct land assessments for the installation of Temporary Housing in Big Pine Key, Florida, October 22, 2017. This mission is in support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Hurricane Irma recovery efforts.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Emergency Operations, personnel conduct land assessments for the installation of Temporary Housing in Everglades City, Florida October 19, 2017. This mission is in support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Hurricane Irma recovery efforts.

This video is b-roll footage of contractors installing Blue Roof for residents in Big Pine Key, Florida October 13, 2017. The Blue Roof Program is in response to Hurricane Irma which reached Florida September 9, 2017 causing a substantial amount of damage to Florida. (By: Hector Mosley, public affairs, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Emergency Operations)

Mitch Jackson from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kanas City District is currently supporting recovery efforts across the Florida Keys, September 29, 2017

Moe Adams from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District is currently supporting recovery efforts across the Florida Keys, September 29, 2017.

Michael Hill from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District is currently supporting recovery efforts across the Florida Keys, September 29, 2017.

Video about Portugués Dam in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

In 2009, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineering Research and Development Center (ERDC) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District collaborated with Colorado State University to construct a wave overtopping facility as part of CSU’s Engineering Research Center. The facility is the largest in the world, capable of simulating waves from extreme storm conditions.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is making history as the Portugués Dam becomes the first single-centered Roller Compacted Concrete thick arch dam constructed by the Corps in the United States and the Caribbean. The Portugués Dam is the final component of the entire Portugués and Bucana flood risk management project (P&B) in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded a $180 million contract to Dragados USA Inc. to build the Portugués Dam. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2013. Upon completion, Ponce residents will have much needed flood risk management during the intense rainy season. The overall cost of the Portugués Dam is estimated at $375 million. When all work is complete, the overall total investment in the P&B project will have reached over $715 million, with 75 percent federal funding and 25 percent funding from the government of Puerto Rico through the local sponsor, the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources.

The NOVA Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, also known as the NOVA UAV, offers the Corps a low-cost method of obtaining pictures from the air for a variety of applications. The NOVA weighs 11 pounds, which includes its payload of a high-resolution camera, its on-board computer, and a GPS system. A pilot controls the takeoff and landing process. When the plane is in the air, it is guided by computer.

Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Bobber the Water Safety Dog and Major General Todd Semonite, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Deputy Commanding General, joined forces to produce a public service announcement about water safety highlighting importance of wearing a life jacket whenever you are in, on or around the water.

Aerial overview of Lake Okeechobee in Fla. U.S.A., featuring recreational bass fishing boat. Video begins at south end of Lake Okeechobee near South Bay and continues northwest towards Lake Harbor and Clewiston, focusing on a bass fishing boat. The end of the clip travels northwest along Route 2 of the Okeechobee Waterway, which extends across the state from the Atlantic Intracoastal to the Gulf Intracoastal. At left is the Herbert Hoover Dike and the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail on the crown. The Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail (LOST) boasts 110 miles of hiking trail on the service road atop the 35 foot tall Herbert Hoover Dike. Lake Okeechobee is approximately 37 miles long by 30 miles wide, and more than 730 square miles with an average depth of 10 feet. It is the second largest freshwater lake within the continental U.S. To fishermen nationwide, it’s renowned for the number of bass it contains per acre and that it also produces more bass over seven pounds than any lake in Florida and the United States. Also available in high definition.

Aerial overview of Lake Okeechobee in Fla., U.S.A. Video begins at Palm Beach County Glades Airport east of Pahokee, traveling northwest. Flight continues over the toe ditch of the Herbert Hoover Dike, the Herbert Hoover Dike, the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail on the crown of the dike, to the open water of Lake Okeechobee. Channel markers indicate Route 2 of the Okeechobee Waterway, which extends across the state from the Atlantic Intracoastal to the Gulf Intracoastal. On most summer afternoons, a perfect ring of clouds forms around the Lake. The Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail (LOST) boasts 110 miles of hiking trail on the service road atop the 35 foot tall Herbert Hoover Dike. Lake Okeechobee is approximately 37 miles long by 30 miles wide, and more than 730 square miles with an average depth of 10 feet. It is the second largest freshwater lake within the continental U.S. To fishermen nationwide, it’s renowned for the number of bass it contains per acre and that it also produces more bass over seven pounds than any lake in Fla. and the United States. Available in high definition.

B-roll in HD. Aerial overview heading northwest along the southwest end of Lake Okeechobee near Clewiston in Fla., U.S.A. A bass boat travels northwest along Route 2 of the Okeechobee Waterway in Lake Okeechobee. Lake Okeechobee marsh and open water are shown at top and the Herbert Hoover Dike and the toe ditch are below. The Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail (LOST) boasts 110 miles of hiking trail on the service road atop the 35 foot tall Herbert Hoover Dike. Lake Okeechobee is approximately 37 miles long by 30 miles wide, and more than 730 square miles with an average depth of 10 feet. To fishermen nationwide, it’s renowned for the number of bass it contains per acre and that it also produces more bass over seven pounds than any lake in Fla. and the United States.

This video is an introduction to wetland delineation and regional supplements. For detailed information on this topic please visit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' website. How do we identify wetlands, and why is that important? And – why does the Corps of Engineers care about identifying wetlands? One of the laws that governs the Corps’ regulatory program is the Clean Water Act of 1972. Section 404 of the law sets guidelines for protecting the nation’s waters from damage that results from the discharge of dredged or fill material. The Corps of Engineers regulates, through Department of the Army permits, activities that could result in pollutants being placed in the nation’s waters. Such activities may include dredging waterways for navigation, clearing land to prepare for development, and constructing roads, levees, dikes and dams. While waters such as streams, rivers and lakes are easy to identify, wetland characteristics are not always as obvious. That’s right. In fact, wetlands are not always “wet.” A wetland is an area that is inundated, or covered by, water – but it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is soaked all the time. Water may saturate a wetland either on a permanent or periodic basis. But regardless of their degree of wetness, wetlands are a valuable and important part of the ecosystem. Wetlands perform a variety of functions that are important for environmental health. They provide food and habitat where a variety of species nest, reproduce and raise their young and where they hide and rest. They protect from wave action that erodes the shoreline and threatens shoreline stability. They serve as storage areas to hold storm and flood waters, preventing them from spreading, damaging property and potentially taking lives. They work as nature’s filter, purifying water as it passes through them; and as a natural recharge area – where ground water and surface water meet. Because wetlands are so important, and because the Corps administers the program that permits activities in them, we identify them by looking for the characteristics that make a wetland, a wetland! This process is called wetland delineation because we delineate, or identify the boundaries of, wetlands by carefully examining three characteristics. One indicator of a wetland is the type of vegetation that grows in it. Wetland vegetation is called hydrophytic vegetation, because the plants grow in wet conditions. There are nearly 5,000 different wetland plant types in the United States. Another wetland indicator is soil. There are almost 2,000 wetland, or hydric, soils in the nation. Hydric soils may have a dark, dull color below the surface or may consist of sandy soil with streaks that stain when rubbed between the fingers. The soils may consist of decayed plant material and have the odor of rotten eggs. The third indicator is hydrology, or the presence of standing or flowing water at, below or above the surface of the soil. Water may not always be visible – sometimes water marks may be seen on trees, or small piles of debris may be piled against trees, rocks or other objects by the movement of water. Corps regulators identify wetlands by recording the types of plants and hydrology found on the site, and by comparing soil samples against a Munsell color guide – a soil research tool that classifies soil colors based on hue, lightness and color purity. Considering all of these factors together helps the Corps to accurately establish the boundaries of wetlands and determine whether or not they should be regulated under the Clean Water Act. One additional consideration in identifying wetlands is the regional differences in climate, hydrologic and geologic conditions, and plant and animal species across the country. A wetland in Mississippi, for instance, may be vastly different than a wetland in Alaska. For this reason, the Corps has developed a series of regional supplements to the wetland delineation guide, which are used by regulators in the wetland identification process. Regional supplements are available for: Alaska… the Arid West… the Atlantic and Gulf Coast… the Caribbean Islands… the Eastern Mountains and Piedmont Region… the Great Plains… Hawaii and the Pacific Islands… the Mid-West… the Northcentral and Northeastern United States…and the Western Mountains. The Corps developed these regional supplements as part of a nationwide effort to address regional wetland characteristics and improve the accuracy and efficiency of wetland delineation procedures. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers takes great care in accurately identifying wetlands. This is an important step in our decision-making process, which provides opportunities for reasonable economic development while also protecting invaluable natural resources. [Footnote]: Before beginning any project in waters of the United States, be sure to find out if a Department of the Army permit is required. While this video attempts to give a general overview of the regulatory process, viewers should refer to the actual laws, regulations and guidance for complete and current information.

This video is an introduction to Regulatory Process 101. For detailed information on this topic, please visit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' website. The regulatory mission of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is to protect the nation’s aquatic resources while allowing reasonable development through fair, flexible and balanced permit decisions. If a proposed project, big or small, has potential to impact waters of the United States, then a permit must be requested from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 made the Corps responsible for providing protection and maintenance of the nation’s navigable waterways. This act also authorized the Corps with regulatory responsibility for the nation’s navigable waterways. According to the Clean Water Act of 1972, the Corps was authorized to be the regulatory body for dredging and filling of waters of the United States, including many wetlands. Additionally, the Corps was given regulatory authority under Section 103 of the Marine Protection Research and Sanctuaries Act. The regulatory process is by no means a “cookie cutter” approach. Every project is unique. Every permit application is reviewed within the same laws and regulations. The Corps supports a strong partnership with the state in regulating water resource development . The Corps works cooperatively with states in reviewing the environmental impacts of proposed projects. One form of permit authorization used by the Corps is the Individual Permit. There are three distinct steps in the process of reviewing individual, project-specific applications. These are pre-application, or pre-app, a formal review, evaluation and decision. Major project proposals typically include pre-application consultation, with meetings between the applicant, Corps, resource agencies and others. The pre-app gives the applicant a general idea of the feasibility of available alternatives to accomplish the overall project. It also allows discussions about measures to reduce impacts on the aquatic environment. The consultation between the applicant and the Corps informs the applicant about factors the Corps considers in the decision-making process, which enables more efficient processing of the application. A formal review follows submission of a completed application for a permit, during which the Corps determines if it has geographic and activity jurisdiction, or authority, over a proposed project and consults with local, state and federal agencies. Shortly after receiving a complete permit application, the Corps issues a public notice about the proposed project, opening a public comment period. A permit application is considered complete only when all relevant information and documents have been provided by the applicant. Sometimes the Corps must request additional information and hold its evaluation until that information is received. During the public comment period, members of the public may review a project proposal and submit comments to the Corps, either opposing or supporting the project. The Corps considers these comments as it reviews all applicable material during its evaluation of the application. The project manager evaluates the impacts of the project and all comments received, negotiates modifications, if necessary; and drafts the required documentation to support a recommended permit decision. Evaluation may include a discussion of the environmental impacts of the project; findings of the public interest review process, and inclusion of any special evaluation required by the type of proposed activity, such as compliance with ocean dumping criteria or impact on endangered species or historic properties. When all considerations are satisfied and all documentation is completed, the district commander, having responsibility for the geographic area in which the proposed project resides, makes a decision to issue or deny a Department of the Army permit. The Corps makes every effort to process Individual Permits within 120 days of receipt of the complete application. Some controversial projects, or projects dealing with special considerations, such as endangered species, may take longer. Special conditions, such as compensatory mitigation, may be applied to a permit when it is issued. In making its decision, the Corps considers the value of the aquatic ecosystems involved, the views of federal, state and local agencies and interest groups, and 21 public interest factors. Some minor activities in the United States and its territories may be authorized through a General Permit. General Permits are issued on a nationwide or regional basis for projects that are substantially similar in nature and cause only minimal individual or cumulative impacts. These types of permits are reviewed every five years. Some of the types of activities that may be authorized with a General Permit are aids to navigation, bank stabilization, aquatic habitat restoration, boat ramp construction and modifications to existing marinas. The Corps’ professional, well-trained team of specialists, many who have academic degrees in biology and environmental sciences, are dedicated to public service. The Corps’ regulatory mission is their mission, and they all strive to achieve fair and equitable decisions; reasonable use of private property; infrastructure development; economic growth and the offsetting of impacts to the aquatic environment through restoration, enhancement and the creation and preservation of aquatic functions and services. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ regulatory program includes alternative analysis considerations, evaluating individual as well as cumulative impacts and potential impacts to endangered species and cultural resources; and requiring compensatory mitigation when necessary. In its evaluation process, the Corps delineates, or identifies, wetlands, reviews projects relative to 21 public interest factors and follows Clean Water Act guidelines. Each of these topics will be introduced further in a series of companion videos, and I invite you to view each of them and learn more about the Corps’ regulatory program and how the Corps works to serve the public and protect the environment. Before beginning any project in waters of the United States, be sure to find out if a Department of the Army permit is required. While this video attempts to give a general overview of the regulatory process, viewers should refer to the actual laws, regulations and guidance for complete and current information.

Como padres, queremos el mejor y más seguro ambiente para criar a nuestros hijos. A ellos les encanta explorar y se emocionan cuando encuentran algo nuevo con que jugar. Así que me preocupo cuando ocasionalmente escucho en las noticias reportes de niños que encuentran y juegan con viejas municiones militares. La historia de nuestra nación demuestra que grandes terrenos abiertos se usaron como campos de entrenamiento militar por el Departamento de Defensa. Al igual que le enseñamos a nuestros hijos a mirar a ambos lados antes de cruzar la calle y a nunca hablar con extraños, debemos enseñarles a nunca tocar un objeto raro que pudieran encontrar. Y como ellos nos emulan – demos el mejor ejemplo siguiendo las “3 Rs” de seguridad de explosivos. Reconozca: cuando puede haber encontrado una munición, y que las municiones son peligrosas. Retroceda: no toque, mueva o perturbe el objeto. Apártese del área cuidadosamente, recordando su localización. Reporte: el objeto a las autoridades locales llamando al 911. De esto depende la seguridad de nuestros niños. Este mensaje es traído por el Cuerpo de Ingenieros del Ejército de los Estados Unidos.

Yo disfruto buscando tesoros enterrados y siento gratificación cuando de ves en cuando encuentro pedazos de joyas o monedas antiguas. Pero hay un tipo de objeto que solo debe ser manejado por expertos. Viejas municiones militares quedan de los días de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, cuando gran parte de nuestra nación estaba poco desarrollada y fue utilizada por las fuerzas armadas para entrenamiento, pruebas y demostraciones. Aunque estas municiones son viejas, todavía podrían ser peligrosas. Si se encuentra con algún objeto que sospecha sea una munición, por favor siga las tres Rs de seguridad de explosivos: Reconozca: cuando puede haber encontrado una munición, y que las municiones son peligrosas. Retroceda: no toque, mueva o perturbe el objeto. Apártese del área cuidadosamente, recordando su localización. Reporte: el objeto a las autoridades locales llamando al 911. Su seguridad es más importante que cualquier recuerdo. Este mensaje es traído por el Cuerpo de Ingenieros del Ejército de los Estados Unidos.

The military training and testing programs that occurred across America during World War II are an important part of our history that contributed immeasurably to our national defense. This legacy may have also resulted in potentially dangerous munitions being left behind. Most of these are buried underground, but over time, it is possible some may be unearthed and pose a safety hazard. As important as our past military activities were to securing our peace, it is just as important to ensure a safe environment for our future and our children. Should you see something that you suspect may be munitions, please follow the 3Rs of explosives safety: Recognize when you may have encountered a munition, and that munitions are dangerous. Retreat: do not touch, move or disturb it, but carefully leave the area, noting the location. Report: the object to local law enforcement by calling 911. Your safety is important to all of us at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Aerial overview heading east along the southwest end of Lake Okeechobee between Moore Haven and Clewiston, in Fla., U.S.A. Visible from right to left are sugar cane fields with rich black muck soil, the Herbert Hoover Dike toe ditch, the Herbert Hoover Dike and a boat traveling west on Route 1 of the Okeechobee Waterway. On left is Lake Okeechobee marsh with open water area visible at the top of the screen. Also available in high definition.

This video captures a confined blasting event during the Miami Harbor Deepening project in 2005. This technique is also being proposed for the Jacksonville Harbor Deepening Study.