FJ Sayers Dam Master Plan Revision / Media / News Stories

  • March

    Kristina May, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, Biologist and USACE South Atlantic Coastal Study (SACS) Environmental Lead, examines environmental protection efforts near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis, Md., March 25, 2022. As a part of Women’s History Month, May pays tribute to past and current women leaders who’ve courageously reimagined the possible to help women in STEM achieve their goals. (U.S. Army photo by Greg Nash)

    Women Empowerment: Biologist rises above occasion

    Plunging into the ocean and feeling weightless in the deep blue sea ignited an inescapable scuba diving passion for a 12-year-old girl. The aquatic environment surrounding her seemed endless, boosting her adrenaline. Although she routinely encountered elusive, camouflaging frogfish and large barracudas with menacing teeth, it was a familiar face concealing a proud smile behind a snorkel mask that inspired her to lead the charge – her grandmother's. These early adventures helped shape Kristina May's desire to pursue biology and environmental protection to inspire other imaginative little girls and women with similar interests. As a part of Women's History Month, May shares her story and pays tribute to the women who've courageously reimagined the possible to accomplish this goal.

  • Army Corps to receive more than $100 million in President's proposed fiscal 2023 budget for Civil Works projects in Chesapeake Bay region

    The President’s proposed budget for fiscal 2023 released March 28, 2022, includes more than $100
  • Denise Hurt, security specialist, poses for a photo outside of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, Real Property Services Field Office (RSFO) in Annapolis Junction, Maryland, March 24, 2022. Hurt is part of an all-women security team at RSFO. (U.S. Army photo by Thomas I. Deaton)

    All-women security team manages sensitive information, property for key partners in National Capital Region

    Denise Hurt works from her office outside of Fort Meade, Maryland, the home base for her all-women security team. The team, part of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Real Property Services Field Office (RSFO), handles high-level, unique security assignments for high-profile Department of Defense (DOD) agencies. In fact, their work is so specialized that RSFO is one of the only full-service project management shops in the federal government able to provide fully cleared personnel at the Top-Secret level and above.
  • Ryan Miranda, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, survey technician, smiles as he watches a survey vessel advance the Chesapeake Bay in Baltimore, July 23, 2021. Miranda has a lifetime dedication to maritime activities and sports ranging from diving, rowing, and maritime archaeology. Now, he operates as a survey technician to safeguard the one of the largest estuaries in the nation as a federal employee in the National Capital Region. (U.S. Army photo by Greg Nash)

    New Splash: Surveyor continues waterways passion

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, Survey Technician Ryan Miranda endures another chapter pursuing waterway passions, which includes stints as a rower, scuba diver, and naval historian. As one of the newest members of the survey technician team, he incorporates his experiences from swimming as a child to coaching rowers to successfully contribute towards enhancing the Chesapeake Bay and District’s National Capital Region area of responsibility with hydrographic condition surveys of federal channels and topographic surveys on special projects.

  • Army Corps releases draft Alvin R. Bush Dam Master Plan and Environmental Assessment for public comment

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, has released the Draft 2022 Alvin R.

  • Army Corps receives more than $97 million for essential water resources projects in Chesapeake Bay region

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, received more than $97 million from the Fiscal
  • Danielle Szimanski, a dual-role U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, ecologist and project manager, and Engineering With Nature (EWN) Coastal Practice lead, visits the Masonville Cove ecological park in Baltimore, Dec. 21, 2021. As part of Women’s History month, Szimanski serves as a beacon of hope for women pursuing leadership roles. Her trailblazing path helps showcase how women advance, evaluate, and communicate environmental science that informs impactful decisions to protect the environment now and into the future. (U.S. Army photo by Greg Nash)

    Lifelong environmentalist trailblazes leadership path

    Danielle Szimanski continues a lifelong environmental protection passion by uniquely operating as a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineering With Nature (EWN) Coastal Practice lead and USACE Baltimore District project manager and ecologist. As part of Women's History month, Szimanski is a beacon of hope for women pursuing leadership roles. Her trailblazing path helps showcase how women advance, evaluate, and communicate environmental science that informs impactful decisions to protect the environment now and into the future.

  • February

    Army Corps and Maryland Port Administration to hold virtual public meeting on Seagirt Loop Channel Deepening

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District (USACE), in coordination with the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Port Administration (MDOT MPA), is holding a public meeting Feb. 24 from 6 – 8 p.m. to provide information on the Seagirt Loop Channel Deepening Feasibility Study draft Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment (EA) and to solicit input.
  • David Smith, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, crane operator, navigates past construction modifications of the District’s DC Drift field office docks alongside the Anacostia River on Jan 18, 2022. The docks will house the newly arriving NACOTCHTANK Floating Crane in the District of Columbia. The District’s DC Drift Program will continually protect environmental habitat, improve water quality and aesthetics, and expand public access within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. (U.S. Army photo by Greg Nash)

    USACE Anacostia River dock upgrades enhance environmental rehabilitation

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District’s, DC Field office dock will house the newly arriving NACOTCHTANK Floating Crane in the District of Columbia alongside the Anacostia River. The DC Drift Program planned rehabilitation and modification of the mooring piers at the site location to help aid in the offloading of debris collected by the DC Drift Program vessels. Local contractors performed construction modifications to help enable the District’s ability to protect environmental habitat, improve water quality and aesthetics, and expand public access within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Additionally, USACE boat operators conduct routine debris patrols and respond to debris calls received from the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, boat and marina operators, and private citizens. Lastly, the program’s year-round drift removal operations benefit navigation efforts by reducing damages, financial loss, and safety hazards to commercial and recreational vessels, operators, and docking facilities.
  • Ongoing Chesapeake Bay freight transportation services occur on a Maersk container ship in the distance at the Port of Baltimore's Dundalk and Seagirt Marine Terminals in Maryland, Jan. 27, 2022. The port centralizes alongside the tidal basins of the three branches of the Patapsco River in Baltimore, on the upper northwest shore of the Chesapeake Bay. It is the nation's largest port facility for specialized cargo (roll-on/roll-off ships) and passenger facilities. (U.S. Army photo by Greg Nash)

    ASA (CW), Chesapeake Bay restoration and protection partners tour Port of Baltimore

    The Honorable Michael Connor, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, conducted his first port visit since confirming his position in November 2021. He accompanied senior leaders from USACE Headquarters and North Atlantic Division to witness the Baltimore District's Chesapeake Bay restoration and protection operations. Mission partners from the Maryland Port Administration and Ports America Chesapeake showcased how the Baltimore District's Chesapeake Bay protection and restoration efforts help streamline logistics and supply chain improvements for the nation's top e-commerce port destination.

  • January

    Award recipient

    Harvey Johnson retires after 36 years of federal service

    Johnson’s retirement ceremony was held Jan. 13, 2022 where he was pinned by Baltimore District Commander, Col. Estee S. Pinchasin with the Meritorious Civilian Service Medal and presented with his retirement certificate after over 36 years of federal service.

  • Army Corps to receive $62 million for Infrastructure, Disaster Relief projects in Chesapeake Bay region

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, will receive approximately $62 million
  • Security inspection

    Securing the mission, one inspection at a time

    Keeping our workforce and infrastructure safe from threats is essential to mission readiness and ensuring continued vital water resources and engineering services are delivered to the region and Nation — and for this, we can thank the District’s Security team.

  • December

    Award presentation

    Chief, East Campus Integrated Program Office awarded Engineer of the Year

    Daria Van Liew, chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, East Campus Integrated Program Office is the recipient of the 2021 Headquarters Lt. Gen. Elvin “Vald” Heiberg, the third, Engineer of the Year Award.

  • Army Corps Announces Lease Available for Tioga-Hammond and Cowanesque Lakes, Ives Run Camp Store Concession

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, is accepting proposals for the Ives Run Recreation Area Concession lease until Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. The ten-year lease agreement encompasses the operation of the Ives Run camp store and campground laundry facility. In addition, the successful applicant will have the option to offer boat rentals.

  • Army Corps begins dredging of Cape Henry Channel to support Ports of Baltimore, Virginia

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, and San Rafael, California-based contractor, The Dutra Group, recently began work to dredge approximately 2.36 million cubic yards of material from the Cape Henry Federal Navigation Channel. The District awarded the $14.8 million contract on Sept. 24, 2021. This work is part of the larger Baltimore Harbor and Channels Project, supporting the Ports of Baltimore and Virginia. Maintenance dredging of federal channels is necessary to ensure continued safe navigation for vessels and keep the ports open for business.

  • November

    Army Corps announces Mountain Bike Skills Park, Allegrippis Trails seasonal closures

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, will be closing the Raystown Lake's Mountain Bike Skills Park for the winter season on Nov. 26, 2021. The Skills Park is scheduled to reopen in April 2022 for the start of the new recreation season.

  • Army Corps marks completion of remediation, restoration efforts at former WWI chemical weapons testing, disposal site

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, marked the completion of the
  • U.S. Navy Veteran Tina Holmes, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, Equal Employment Opportunity specialist, holds a U.S. flag while a Sentinel performs a Changing of the Guard demonstration at the Arlington National Cemetery’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Va., Oct. 22, 2021. The Army initially dedicated the Tomb on Armistice Day, Nov. 11, 1921, with the burial of an unknown service member from World War I. Over the past century, additional unknowns have been buried at the Tomb, and the site has become a people’s memorial that inspires reflection on service, valor, sacrifice, and mourning. (U.S. Army photo by Greg Nash)

    Unforgotten: Veterans honor Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Centennial

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, employees reflected on their military service and mourned the unidentified service members who perished in war, while visiting the Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier site during a Veteran's Day tribute.
  • Matt Whitbeck, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service supervisory biologist, examines shoreline protection improvements during a coastal resiliency project tour at Smith Island near Ewell, Md., Oct. 7, 2021. Recent hurricane events have emphasized the increasing vulnerability of coastal areas to natural disasters through the combination of changing climate, geological processes, and accelerating sea level rise and shoreline erosion. Improving resilience—the ability to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and adapt to changing conditions and withstand and recover rapidly from disruptions with minimal damage—is a crucial objective of reducing risk. (U.S. Army photo by Greg Nash)

    Multiagency partners enhance Chesapeake Bay coastline under Hurricane Sandy Resiliency program

    Multiagency partners enhanced Chesapeake Bay coastline under the Hurricane Sandy Resiliency program. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District’s Regulatory Program worked with project proponents to protect vulnerable sections of Chesapeake Bay coastline for a Hurricane Sandy Resiliency project post construct. Through the regulatory review process, USACE is responsible for evaluating coastal resilience actions that aim to protect the Nation’s aquatic resources through fair and balanced permitting decisions.