Rock Island District News

Historic Clock Gets Much Needed Preservation Work

Pentagon News — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 17:32:00 GMT

The Rock Island District’s historic clock, which sits atop the Clock Tower in the District’s headquarters building, is undergoing a significant preservation effort, not completed since 1950.

Rock Island District employee named Structural Engineer of the Year

Pentagon News — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 14:13:21 GMT

Eric Johnson of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, has been named the USACE Structural Engineer of the Year. The honor, which was announced by USACE Headquarters June 30, was presented to Johnson August 5 during a virtual award ceremony conducted by Maj. Gen. Diana Holland, Mississippi Valley Division Commanding General.

New Hammock Area Installed at Saylorville Lake

Saylorville Lake Ranger Staff — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 22:06:00 GMT

In the past couple of years, “hammocking” has become a growing trend across the country and now people wishing to “hammock” can do so in a designated area at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, Saylorville Lake project. Typically, use of a hammock on Corps property is strictly prohibited but thanks to the installation of hammock poles, people can now enjoy the activity without breaking rules or damaging trees.

Army to help convert vacant buildings into hospitals as COVID-19 spreads

Thomas Brading — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 21:04:00 GMT

Army leaders announced plans to quickly convert unused buildings into makeshift hospitals in multiple states, starting in New York, as hospitals brace for medical shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This week, construction is set to kick off as the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan will be refitted into a 1,000-bed hospital and an additional 1,800 field medical stations, officials said. Soldiers from the New York National Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and civilian employees will prepare the medical facility, slated to begin operating in a week to 10 days. The race against the virus is “an unbelievably complicated problem” that needs a simple solution, said Lt. Gen. Todd T. Semonite, commanding general of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The Corps Environment February 2020

Pentagon News — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 01:19:00 GMT

This edition highlights partnership and collaboration, in support of Environmental Operating Principle #6. Content includes commentary from Ms. Stacey Brown, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Planning and Policy Division Chief, and highlights a variety of projects and initiatives across the enterprise.

Memo from the Director of Contracting re: COVID-19

Pentagon News — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 18:11:00 GMT

For USACE Contractors, As the Director of Contracting for the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, I wanted to personally reach out to all of you and let you know that we are actively monitoring the situation in regards to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Attached is the guidance we received on planning for potential Novel Coronavirus Contract Impacts.

Veterans Honored During Memorial Day Ceremony at Coralville Lake

Samantha Heilig, Public Affairs Specialist — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 20:15:24 GMT

In communities across the country people gather on Memorial Day to honor those who died while serving in the U.S. military. For the past 28 years the staff from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, along with representatives from several Johnson County, Iowa, veterans’ organizations, have been coming together on Memorial Day to honor living veterans who nearly lost their lives.

District Employees Participate in 2-Day Flood Fight Training Event

Pentagon News — Tue, 02 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT

With the snow melted and the spring rains filling up the rivers, 40 District employees attended a workshop to discuss proven flood fighting techniques and teach the newest team members.

District Wins USACE Excellence in Contracting Award

Pentagon News — Mon, 01 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rock Island District’s contracting Division was awarded top honors by the USACE Excellence in Contracting Awards Program for fiscal year 2016. The District competed against seven other Districts throughout the country and earned the District/Center of the Year Award for outstanding efforts in meeting contracting milestones and metrics requirements.

Mississippi River Lock & Dam 17 Dewatered Enabling Maintenance, Inspections

Pentagon News — Mon, 01 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT

Lock and Dam 17, in New Boston, Illinois, closed this winter to undergo a dewatering as part of several maintenance projects performed at District locks from December to March.

Taking Printing to a Whole New Level

Andrew Goodall, Project Engineer — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 17:36:23 GMT

The idea of taking a two-dimensional drawing and turning it into a three-dimensional object is something engineers have been doing for years. A new project recently completed by the Inland Navigation Design Center (INDC) at the Rock Island District is taking this concept to a new level with the help of a local university and some new computer technology.

Lockport Major Rehabilitation Project Reaching Final Stages of Construction

Samantha Heilig — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 17:20:00 GMT

For more than a decade, members of the Rock Island District have been working to design and implement one of the largest civil works projects ever completed in the District. The project, known as the Lockport Lock and Dam Upper Pool Project, is a multi-stage, multi-year and multi-million dollar rehabilitation effort that is now in its final stages and is nearing completion.

Rock Island District Dive Team Goes in for a Closer Look

Pentagon News — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 17:51:00 GMT

The lower guidewall at Locks and Dam 15 on the Mississippi River was originally constructed in the early 1930s. For more than 80 years this concrete wall has been used by commercial vessels to approach and depart the lock. Now, after many years of standing strong, the wall is showing wear and the Rock Island District dive team was called in for a closer look.

Rock Island District Park Ranger,Tracy Spry, receives 2015 Hiram M. Chittenden Award for Excellence in Interpretation

Pentagon News — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 17:26:00 GMT

Interpretive efforts of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers park rangers are nationally recognized by the presentation of the Hiram M. Chittenden Award for Excellence in Interpretation. This year, park ranger Tracy Spry from Rock Island District’s Lake Red Rock was chosen as the recipient of this prestigious award. This will be the first time, since the award was created, that a member of the Rock Island District has received the award.

Inland Navigation Design Center Taking Shape for Infrastructure Needs

By Andrew Goodall, Civil Engineer — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 18:26:38 GMT

On Jan. 15, 2013, the Chief of Engineers, Lt. Gen. Thomas Bostick, endorsed the creation of an Inland Navigation Design Center Mandatory Center of Expertise (INDC). The purpose of the new organization was to use in-house technical expertise in both the Mississippi Valley Division (MVD) and the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division (LRD) to deliver inland navigation projects. Expert resources from across the Corps could then be engaged if the workload demanded or specialization in specific areas were needed.

USACE Awards New Five-Year Enterprise Information Technology Contract

Pentagon News — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 17:26:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ use of information management and information technology support services continues to evolve to adapt to mission changes. On Aug. 15, 2014, USACE officially announced the award of its $517 million Army Corps of Engineers Information Technology (ACE-IT) Information Management and Information Technology Services (AIES) contract to Vectrus Systems Corporation. After evaluating a protest, the General Accounting Office denied the protest in its entirety on Dec. 11, 2014. This award represents the end of a journey that began more than three years ago, the culmination of the time and effort invested enterprise-wide by many ACE-IT teammates, USACE customers and industry.

Sector Gates Raised After 35 Years

Samantha Heilig — Mon, 22 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT

For the first time in 35 years, the 255,000-pound sector gates at the Thomas J. (T.J.) O’Brien Lock and Dam are being raised and repaired as part of a critical maintenance project designed to rehabilitate the 54-year-old facility. T.J. O’Brien Lock and Dam is a unit of the Illinois Waterway Navigation System and is located at the entrance to Lake Michigan in Chicago, Illinois.

Roller Gate Requires Swift Repair

Allen Marshall — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 21:05:00 GMT

The Rock Island District spends a majority of its annual appropriations operating and maintaining the expansive lock and dam system on the Upper Mississippi River. Much of the maintenance performed on this infrastructure is planned and scheduled while some comes as a surprise. An incident in July brought about some maintenance needs in the form of the latter when a roller gate at Locks and Dam 14 was damaged.

Government Interceptor Sewer Cleanout

Pentagon News — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 18:50:00 GMT

The federally constructed underground interceptor sewer system that collects and drains storm water

Award Winning Project Delivery Team

Samantha Heilig — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 20:52:00 GMT

The Marseilles Dam Emergency Response, Illinois Waterway Project Delivery Team (PDT) was recently