Design Branch

The Design Branch consists of six sections dedicated to providing quality full-service design support to a wide range of customers including Operations Division, other Corps Districts, other Federal agencies, and state and local government stakeholders/partners. Design services are provided in the following areas spanning several program areas to include inland navigation, ecosystem restoration, flood risk management, and military facilities: Technical management, civil, environmental,
structural, mechanical, electrical, and architectural.


Project Engineering

The Project Engineering Section provides engineering and coordination of projects from Design Memorandum, through Plans and Specifications development, all the way to completion of construction for authorized civil works projects. The section engineers also serve as the technical team leads on large multi-discipline projects.


Structural Engineering

The Structural Engineering Section provides design and engineering investigations for civil works structures including navigation locks and dams, canal walls, floodwalls, pump stations, water control structures and for a variety of military facilities. The section is also responsible for the districts bridge and hydraulic steel structure inspection programs.


General Engineering

The General Engineering Section provides electrical, and mechanical Design and engineering support for pump stations, navigation lock and dam operating machinery, flood control dam gates,  and for a variety of civil and military facilities rehabilitation and remodeling projects. Service provided includes design for fire protection, plumbing, power distribution, HVAC, gear and motor design, hydraulic systems, lighting, security, CCTV, telecommunications (and other low voltage systems), electric hoist systems, industrial controls, and air compressor systems.  This section also coordinates the FERC hydropower program for requests to modify existing facilities to install hydroelectric power generation and support to the Rock Island Arsenal and the 88th Reserve Readiness Command. 


Civil and Environmental Engineering

The Civil and Environmental Engineering Section provides civil and environmental design and engineering support to a wide range of ecosystem restoration, and flood risk management projects. Section also coordinates compliance with hazardous toxic radioactive waste requirement, environmental compliance reviews, and provides guidance during construction.


Facility Architecture and Engineering

The Facility Architecture and Engineering Section provides architectural, mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering support of vertical construction projects for the District’s Civil Works mission, INDC, Rock Island District and other Corps District facilities, and Military Projects for the 88th Army Reserves and Rock Island Arsenal.


Navigation Section

The Navigation Section provides engineering support and technical management for the Districts and Regional navigation projects, to include direct support to the Inland Navigation Design Center (INDC).

Contact Information

Design Branch
USACE Rock Island District
ATTN: CEMVR-EC-D
PO Box 2004
Rock Island, Illinois 61204

(309) 794-5159
cemvr-ec@usace.army.mil