FJ Sayers Dam Master Plan Revision / Media / News Stories

  • March

    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

  • 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.

  • October

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, Large Contracts Branch professionals perform a site assessment during a General Instruction Building construction site visit at the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa. The District’s Contracting office is responsible for providing comprehensive acquisition services to ensure timely execution of requirements while upholding best value, quality, ethics, and compliance. (Courtesy photo)

    Government contractors emerge victorious following historic $1.1 billion fiscal year

    Handling contracts that can value up in the millions while under immense pressure and tight deadlines can be a nerve-racking experience for most. But for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District's Contracting team, their financial expertise equips them to surpass challenges like these. They emerged victorious as they ramped up operations to ensure the successful and timely execution of budgetary requirements throughout a historic fiscal year closeout, where they oversaw $1.1 billion in obligations. Not only did the Contracting team race against the clock amid an enduring global pandemic, but they also relied on their innovative contracting approaches to power through regional hurricane impacts from Ida and a high-profile mission to support the in-processing of Afghan evacuees. Providing comprehensive acquisition services to ensure timely execution of requirements while upholding best value, quality, ethics, and compliance under such circumstances wasn't easy, but the team relished in their accomplishments.

  • Hunting Access Opportunities at Raystown for 2021, 2022 Season

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) at Raystown Lake announces the opening of the following
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District’s, Hopper Dredge MURDEN pumps slurry prior to beach replenishment efforts during 24/7 dredge operations in an inlet near Ocean City, Md., Sept. 20, 2021. Ocean City beaches are routinely replenished every four years with periodic emergency projects as needed following storms and other natural events. Beach replenishment in the area has prevented nearly $920 million in damages since its completion in the 1990s. (U.S. Army photo by Greg Nash)

    Army Corps of Engineers districts revitalize Ocean City inlet

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District’s, Hopper Dredge MURDEN conducted 24/7 dredging operations at an inlet near Ocean City, Maryland, during September 2021. The ongoing Ocean City Inlet federal navigation channel and Assateague Bypass dredging efforts enhance safe navigation conditions, boost commercial endeavors, and promote recreational activities for travelers. The USACE Baltimore District routinely receives services from the Wilmington District’s MURDEN or its sister ship CURRITUCK for routine dredging in and around the Inlet. The Baltimore District manages the Ocean City Inlet federal navigation channel and Assateague Bypass project while the Wilmington District staffs, trains and equips these special-purpose dredges that work up and down the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, dredging similar inlets or near-shore coast projects.

  • September

    U.S. Army Sgt. Nathan Holmes, 249th Engineer Battalion Charlie Company Prime Power production specialist, relays facility data to fellow soldiers during Exercise Empire Rising 2021 at the Washington Aqueduct in Washington D.C., July 14, 2021. The 249th EB provides technical expertise and performs assessments to determine generator requirements at facilities as well the connection materials required at critical public facilities during emergencies. (U.S. Army photo by Greg Nash)

    National Capital Region emergency response partners weather the storm

    During a recent emergency exercise, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District; 249th Engineer Battalion Charlie Company Prime Power; and emergency management partners helped enable community restoration efforts in the region by successfully assessing temporary emergency power needs for critical facilities. This opportunity prepared the emergency response agencies to resolve post-storm power outages during their most challenging time – hurricane season.