Baltimore District operates and maintains more than 290 miles of federal navigable channels within the Susquehanna River watershed.  This work includes dredging, employing cutting-edge technology to conduct underwater surveys, and applying its fleet of debris removal vessels to clear floating hazards out of the federal channels in the Baltimore Harbor and Potomac and Anacostia rivers. 

Projects

Navigation Maps

Debris Removal and Surveying

Dredged Material Management Plan (DMMP)

Baltimore Harbor & Channels Maintenance Dredging Fact Sheet

Baltimore Harbor and Channels Limited Reevaluation Report

Wicomico River Maintenance Dredging and Deal Island Wetland Restoration

Ocean City Navigation (& other) Projects

Baltimore District regulates 16 multi-purpose reservoirs in the States of Maryland, West Virginia, and New York as well as the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  The dams at each reservoir were designed and constructed by Baltimore District, and all are currently operated and maintained by the District with the exception of Savage River Dam (operated by the Upper Potomac River Commission).

All 16 dams were built primarily for flood risk management. Other project purposes include recreation, water supply, water quality, hydroelectric power, and low-flow augmentation for downstream environmental benefits. View additional information on recreation opportunities at each reservoir.

Baltimore District hydraulic engineers monitor water levels in the region’s major rivers and regulate Corps-managed dams and reservoirs to minimize downstream impacts. Data from satellite imagery and river gages, as well as real-time reports from its field personnel on the ground, help to make decisions on when to open and close the gates at the dams. District dam operators are on site inspecting and monitoring the performance of the dams, and taking the necessary actions to ensure the safety of the surrounding communities.

Projects

Jennings Randolph Lake

Raystown Lake

Tioga-Hammond Lake

Reservoir Data

Ecosystem restoration is the process of returning damaged ecological systems to a stable, healthy and sustainable state. In Baltimore District, our team of dedicated professionals are protecting and restoring portions of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, including the Anacostia, Potomac, and Susquehanna rivers. Ecosystem restoration projects play a pivotal role in protecting endangered species, preserving shorelines affected by erosion and building new habitat for our region's wildlife.  

• 219 Program
• 510 Program
• 571 Program
• Anacostia Watershed Restoration
• Chesapeake Bay Comprehensive Water Resource and Restoration Plan
• Mid-Bay Island
• Oyster Restoration
• Poplar Island

Baltimore District is authorized to investigate and perform studies related to core mission areas including navigation, flood risk management and ecosystem restoration, to determine if Congressional authorization and implementation are warranted. Civil Works Planning is the start of the “pipeline” for addressing water resources needs. All projects start with Baltimore District planners answering the questions of federal interest, engineering feasibility, economic justification and environmental acceptability. 

Planners work with multi-disciplinary study teams to identify water resources problems, conceive solutions, resolve conflicting interests and shape recommendations. The team also assesses the likelihood that a non-federal sponsor can be identified and willing to pay their share of the project cost per federal cost-sharing requirements.

The District conducts a broad range of studies, including studies leading to new projects that require Congressional authorization; studies involving evaluation and design of projects under the Continuing Authorities Program; and re-examinations of existing projects.

The Corps provides strong technical services through a variety of programs to address an array of water resources issues in the Chesapeake Bay region. The National Hurricane, Continuing Authorities, Rehabilitation and Inspection, Floodplain Management Services, Planning Assistance to States, and Silver Jackets programs grant the Corps the ability to provide technical water resources services through federal funding or a combination of federal and local funding without the need for Congressional authorization. 

For more information pertaining to policies, guidance, processes and tools that are used every day by the District in project planning, please visit our Planning Toolbox.

Projects

Lower Susquehanna River
Watershed Assessment

Anacostia Watershed
Restoration

Chesapeake Bay Program

 Technical Service Programs

Chesapeake Bay Comprehensive Plan

Baltimore District provides construction oversight and management for a variety of Civil Works projects. We handle all matters relating to construction, including contract advertisement and award, construction execution and contract close out. Typically, a private contractor is hired to perform the actual construction with District oversight. 

Prior to award, the plans and specifications are reviewed from a construction quality management perspective. The awarded project is administered to ensure contract compliance and quality and, after completion, the District handles warranty inspections.  We preserve a close relationship with the local sponsor for each project to ensure that their interests are understood and appropriately addressed.

With a multi-disciplinary staff located at our District Headquarters, as well as field offices throughout Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia, providing on-site representation, the District has the capability and experience in administering various types of contract procurement methods. This includes traditional formal bid, negotiated proposal, design-build, indefinite quantity, incentive type and cost-reimbursable contracts.

Projects

Poplar Island

Oyster Restoration

Dyke Marsh

Rhodes Point (Smith Island)

Codorus Creek Flood Risk Management Project Repairs