Serving Local Communities Through Technical Service Programs

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provides strong technical services through a variety of programs to address an array of water resources issues, large and small, in the Chesapeake Bay region. The Floodplain Management Services (FPMS) program, Planning Assistance to States (PAS) program, Silver Jackets teams, Continuing Authorities Program (CAP), Rehabilitation and Inspection Program (RIP), and National Hurricane Program grant the Corps the ability to provide technical water resources services through federal funding or a combination of federal and non-federal funding. Baltimore District serves communities in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, New York, Delaware and the District of Columbia. View our Serving Local Communities booklet that showcases one unique project for each state and the District of Columbia in the Chesapeake Bay watershed; a comparison table of the Corps' PAS and FPMS programs that contains helpful links on partnering with the Corps through these programs; and a two-sided informational graphic and map, highlighting technical services projects across the country. 

Floodplain Management Services

The Floodplain Management Services (FPMS) Program authorizes the Corps to provide planning-level technical assistance and analyses to federal, state and local agencies on flooding and floodplain management related issues. Products may be completed with all federal funding or in combination with voluntary contributions from a non-federal partner. Detailed plans and specifications as well as construction would have to be accomplished under other Civil Works authorities or by the non-federal sponsor. View the FPMS Program Fact Sheet and the FPMS Projects Fact Sheet that is updated annually for current projects. 

Types of FPMS projects include:

A project manager taking a photo.
  • Flood modeling (hydrologic and hydraulic)

  • Floodplain mapping

  • Flood emergency access studies

  • Flood/Hurricane preparedness and response

  • Flood hazard vulnerability analysis

  • Flood risk management studies

  • Flood-proofing studies

  • Flood warning systems

  • Stormwater-related flood studies and mapping

  • Dam break analyses

  • Outreach materials

  • Anything related to flooding!

For example, Howard County and the Corps signed a Letter of Agreement in September 2016 to initiate a flood proofing study for Historic Ellicott City after they experienced devastating flooding in July 2016. As part of this FPMS study, the Corps surveyed buildings in the floodplain and evaluated and developed non-structural measures for flood proofing individual sample structures to reduce future damages. Examples of nonstructural flood proofing measures include elevation of buildings, moving valuables to higher locations, raising utilities and waterproofing buildings by applying sealant and installing closures on doors and windows. The study wrapped up in 2018, and a report was delivered to Howard County. 

In addition, Baltimore District is working with the District of Columbia to investigate the Oxon Run watershed, which comprises 14 square miles of highly urbanized land. The investigation will evaluate the impact of flooding along Oxon Run when environmental restoration alternatives are implemented such as: channel modifications; removal of sanitary sewer lines; modification of existing federally-authorized flood risk management systems, and stormwater management. A related objective of this project is to remove homes within the 100-year floodplain. The DC Department of Energy and Environment is voluntarily contributing funds for this study. 

Projects compete for limited funding across the county. A municipality/state must contact the Corps to request a study, and the study area must be an area and not one individual property. 

Sample letter to request FPMS assistance from Baltimore District

Sample Letter of Agreement to partner with Baltimore District under FPMS

For more information regarding FPMS, please contact Stacey Underwood at 410-962-4977, or Stacey.M.Underwood@usace.army.mil.

 

Planning Assistance to States

The Planning Assistance to States Program authorizes the Corps to assist states, local governments, Native American Tribes and other non-federal entities with planning-level technical guidance and analyses, in the preparation of comprehensive plans for the development and conservation of water and related land resources. The needed planning assistance is determined by the non-federal sponsor. The studies generally involve the analysis of existing data for planning purposes using standard engineering techniques although some data collection is often necessary. The cost share is 50 percent federal and 50 percent non-federal. In fiscal 2016, PAS authority expanded to include regional comprehensive studies that allow the non-federal sponsor to contribute work-in-kind and also a provision for the non-federal sponsor to voluntarily contribute above the 50/50 cost-share requirement. Like FPMS, PAS projects do not lead to construction; implementation is the responsibility of the non-federal sponsor.  View the PAS Program Fact Sheet and the PAS Project Fact Sheet that is updated annually for current projects. 

Types of PAS projects include:

  • All flood-related studies

  • Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping

    A planner makes a note while evaluating a site.
  • Stormwater assessments, stormwater BMP and outfall inventories and assessments

  • Stream assessments

  • Sanitary sewer (wastewater) studies

  • Water supply and demand

  • Water system vulnerability assessments

  • Surface and groundwater quality

  • Environmental restoration

  • Wetland delineations

  • Watershed planning

  • TMDL-related analysis

  • Anything related to water!

Baltimore District worked with Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, to initiate the “Greater Muncy Resiliency Plan.” Flooding is the preeminent natural disaster threatening this area. The purpose of this project is to deliver a holistic study resulting in a plan of action that includes specific details for implementation of best practices for community resiliency. 

The District also worked with Susquehanna River Basin Commission to update and improve their Abandoned Mine Drainage Portal. The ultimate purpose of this portal is to help identify and prioritize candidate sites for forest restoration. 

Projects compete for limited funding across the county. A municipality/state must contact the Corps to request a study, and the study area must be an area and not one individual property.  

Sample Letter of Agreement to partner with Baltimore District for a Comprehensive Water Resources Plan under PAS
 
For more information regarding PAS, please contact Karl Kerr at 410-962-4417, or Karl.Kerr​@usace.army.mil.  

 

Silver Jackets

The Corps runs a program that establishes interagency flood risk management teams for states, known as the Silver Jackets.Silver Jackets Logo The teams meet routinely to collaborate to reduce flood risk and increase resiliency within their states. Many of the teams have 10-15 active federal, regional, state and local agency members. Baltimore District leads the Pennsylvania, Maryland and District of Columbia Silver Jackets teams and supports the Virginia, West Virginia and New York teams that are led by other Corps districts. In addition to coordination, the state teams have an opportunity to submit proposals to receive federal  funding for interagency projects that will help reduce flood risk. The funds come from the Corps Floodplain Management Services program; however, projects must also leverage funds from other agencies.

View the Baltimore District Silver Jackets program fact sheet that is updated annually for current projects, as well as the Silver Jackets web site for more in-depth information on the projects.  
 
For example, in 2016, the Washington, DC Silver Jackets Team developed an online flood inundation mapping tool project that will help government leaders, emergency managers, and the public better predict flood impacts during high-water events in the D.C. metropolitan area. 
 
For more information, please contact Stacey Underwood at 410-962-4977, or Stacey.M.Underwood@usace.army.mil.

 

National Hurricane Program

Baltimore District is home to the National Hurricane Program Office, which centrally manages all Corps technical support as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Hurricane Program. Within this program, the Corps and FEMA work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to conduct hurricane evacuation studies with the ultimate goal of helping local communities understand their evacuation timeline. 

For example, the Corps teaches an annual HURREVAC training refresher class for state and local emergency managers. HURREVAC is a web-based computer software program that allows emergency managers to track hurricanes, view official forecast information, analyze potential risks and receive evacuation-timing guidance. It is a product of the National Hurricane Program. The Corps is responsible for executing the operation and maintenance of the software, as well as administering the training program.  

In 2019, Baltimore District will wrap up a Hurricane Evacuation Study for Maryland. This update is based on the ‘Sea, Lake, and Overland Surge from Hurricanes’ model, which the National Hurricane Center uses to predict storm surge for an approaching hurricane. The areas at risk from storm surge flooding were identified using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software and placed on risk maps. State and local officials will use these maps to understand where hurricane evacuations may need to occur, in order to be better prepared for the next storm. 

For more information on the National Hurricane Program, please contact Tom Laczo at 410-962-6773, or Thomas.D.Laczo@usace.army.mil