US Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District, Vol.6, Iss. 2, Spring 2015
Return to Mosquito Creek Lake
page 14
Headwaters Update is a quarterly publication of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District. It is produced for electronic distribution by the Public Affairs Office. Views and opinions expressed in the Headwaters Update are not necessarily those of the Department of the Army or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Submissions may be sent to CELRP-PA@usace.army. mil for consideration in upcoming editions. Stories submitted should be in a Word document format. All photographs should include a caption and be high resolution (at least 4x6 inches and 300 dpi). US Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District Col. Bernard R. Lindstrom District Commander Public Affairs Chief Jeff Hawk Editor Carol Davis Layout & Design Dan Jones Margie Luzier Public Affairs Office 412-395-7500 www.lrp.usace.army.mil
On the Cover Osprey are seen landing at Mosquito Creek lake. (Photo by Craig Fritz.)
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Loehlein sits down with PBS
By Public Affairs Office Werner Loehlein, U.S. Army Corps Engineers Pittsburgh District’s Water Management chief, sat down for an interview with the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), April 29, for its upcoming documentary about the 50th anniversary of Kinzua Dam. The documentary is expected to air in late 2015 or early 2016. Authorized by the Flood Control Acts of 1936 and 1938, Kinzua Dam and Allegheny Reservoir is one of 16 flood control projects in the Pittsburgh District. The project provides protection for Warren, Pa., from Allegheny River flooding, and in conjunction with other projects in the District, substantially reduced flooding in the Allegheny and upper Ohio River Valleys. The project’s flood control capabilities were dramatically demonstrated during the June 1972 floods
resulting from Tropical Storm Agnes when an estimated $247 million in flood damages were prevented. Since its completion in 1965, Kinzua has prevented flood damages estimated to be in excess of $1.2 billion. The reservoir also provides water to be released during dry periods. These releases have the effect of reducing pollution and improving the quality and quantity of water for domestic, industrial and recreation uses. Flow regulation also helps to maintain navigable depths for commercial traffic on the Allegheny and Ohio rivers. Another benefit of the Kinzua project is hydroelectric power. A power plant is operated by the First Energy Corporation. Its peak capacity is 400,000 kilowatts per hour. The Big Bend Visitor Center contains displays which illustrate the hydroelectric process.
In this Issue Page 5 - Pittsburgh District hosts political VIPs Page 10 - East Branch hosts first responders exercise Page 13 - Corps partners with local company, outgrants campground Page 16 - Unmanned survey boat assists with bridge project
Security fence to be installed at Braddock By Brian Grogan, Engineering
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineer Pittsburgh District started accepting bids for a security fence installation at Locks and Dam 2 on the Monongahela River in Braddock, Pa., May 29. The district requires the installation of security fencing to prevent unauthorized access to critical government facilities. Working with Braddock staff and the district Security Officer, the Engineering and Construction Division Civil Design Section developed a scope of work that involves installing more than 2,100 feet More than 2100 feet of chainlink fencing will be installed at Braddock Lock and Dam. of chain-link fence, 10 personnel gates, six vehicular gates including a motor-operated Four bids were received and the work is expected to main access gate, window security guards, and probegin in mid-July and last 120 days, according to the curement of security camera equipment. contract.
Braddock to receive dam gate control system upgrade By Ron Gadomski, Engineering The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District is advertising a contract that will upgrade an obsolete gate control system and help ensure reliable operations at Monongahela River Locks and Dam 2 at Braddock. The existing control system was installed as part of the original construction of the dam more than 15 years ago. Some of the control system communications components are now obsolete and if they fail, could result in dam gates being inoperable for a long period of time. A contract is expected to be awarded by the end of fiscal year 2015, and construction completed within six months after the Notice to Proceed has been issued. In the Pittsburgh District, more than 90 percent of the navigation facilities and more than 30 percent of flood control projects have Programmable Logic Controller based
Typical dam gate controls shown in photo.
control systems. PLCs are a highly reliable, proven technology that provides safe and reliable operation and oversight of control systems. The Braddock Dam Gate Control System Upgrade Project focuses on the migration from a
Rockwell Automation SLC 500 based control system to an open architecture Rockwell Automation Logix based control system utilizing Ethernet communications. Upgrades are necessary to comply with OPORD 2012-14 Federal Information Security Management Act Compliance for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Systems, Industrial/Electronic Control Systems, Data Acquisition and Monitoring Systems. Once complete, Braddock Dam will once again be able to be controlled from the land wall in the event of a flood that would require site personnel to vacate the middle wall Operations Building. If necessary, Braddock Dam could be remotely controlled from virtually any location within the Pittsburgh District via CorpsNet. Also included in this contract is the installation of a fiber optic network backbone between the land wall and middle wall buildings for high speed communications.
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Brockway flood protection project inspected By Kristen Hoesch, Engineering
including its levees, floodwall, channel improvement and drainage structures. Members of the The routine inspecU.S. Army Corps tion assesses the condiof Engineers Pittstion of the project and burgh District’s provides recommendaCivil Design Section tions for maintenance to inspected the Brockthe project sponsor. way Borough Local The Pennsylvania Flood Protection Department of EnviProject, May 11. ronmental Protection Currently, provided a state grant to the project is rehabilitate the 26 deteundergoing riorated drainage pipes. construction to The Brockway, PA local flood protection project is being constructed to reConstruction is expected replace damaged and place damaged and deficient culverts. to be completed within deficient culverts several pipes were failing or near one year. in the levee. The failure. The project is one of the 67 flood original corrugated metal pipes John Rusnak, Kristen Hoesch protection projects that are active in were put into service in the late and a local sponsor’s representative the PL 84-99 Program and is inspect1950s. During a levee conduit examined the non-federal project ed every two years by the district. inspection, it was determined that
Montgomery lock and dam staff finds the fountain of youth during ‘Bring Your Child to Work Day’ By Mark Ivanisin, Locks and Dams Branch The staff at Montgomery Locks and Dam participated in the national “Bring Your Child to Work Day” by hosting eight youngsters for a day of seeing what daddy does at work, April 23.The day started with a safety meeting, complete with donuts and milk, followed by a tour of the facility. Later in the day, they helped with maintenance tasks including touch-up painting and yard work. After working up an appetite, the kids were treated to a pizza party lunch with soda and ice cream with all of the toppings. All of the children had a great time and expressed their desire to come back next year -- if not for the work, then certainly for the food.
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Workers and their children wave to a vessel locking through at Montgomery Locks and Dam.
Chairman Mike Simpson (middle), House Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee, and Congressman Tim Murphy (left) receive a overview of Locks and Dam 4 on the Monongahela River at Charleroi, Pa., from Project Manager Steve Fritz (far right).
District hosts political VIPs, By Carol E Davis, PAO Photos by Mitch Mosler, CPAC
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District leadership hosted several political figures and representatives from the navigation industry a tour of Locks and Dam 4 on the Monongahela River at Charleroi, Pa., June 5. Chairman Mike Simpson, House Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee, and Congressman Tim Murphy attended the tour that offered a backdrop for the district to show Chairman Simpson how Pittsburgh’s waterways fit into national transportation system and
Chairman Simpson (right) and Congressman Tim Murphy (left) share a laugh with Col. Bernard Linstrom, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District commander, during a tour of Locks and Dam 4 on the Monongahela River at Charleroi, Pennsylvania, June 5.
to explain the importance of the inland navigation. Additionally, the district provided updates on the Capital Business Model, the Lower Monongahela Project, Charleroi construction, Inland Marine
Transportation System’s levels of service, and public-private partnerships contributed funds for navigation lockages. “Having him [Chairman Simpson] here and giving him a picture of our proj-
ects and challenges was big for us,” Col. Bernard Lindstrom, district commander, said. This was Simpson’s first visit to the district. His committee provides funding for the Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. Other guests included, House Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee, Donna Shahbaz and Angelina Giancarlo; Lt. Cmdr. Patrick Burkett, U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit; Dr. Grace Bochenek, National Technology Laboratory director; and representatives for the navigation industry.
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Pittsburgh District team delivers large navigation design By Steve Stoltz, Engineering
team along with regional and national teams comprised of employees from Huntington, Louisville, The Pittsburgh District’s Engineering and Construction Division Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Nashcelebrated a major milestone April ville, St. Louis, Rock Island and Vicksburg districts.” 23, when it transmitted its largest The primary purpose of this inland navigation design packcontract is to construct a fully age for construction in the district operational 84-foot by 720-foot since the historic Braddock Dam new river chamber, one of two lock construction contract, awarded in chambers authorized for construc1999. tion at Charleroi by Water ReThe river chamber complesource Development Act 1992. tion construction contract design The scope of work includes conpackage for the Lower Mononstruction of middle wall monoliths, gahela River Locks and Dam 4 through-the-sill filling and empat Charleroi is comprised of aptying system, chamber features, proximately 700 drawings, 3,000 completion of river wall, control specification pages, and 5,500 design report pages, which includes tower, and shelter buildings as well calculations. The construction work as heavy demolition of the original river wall and footbridge. The associated with this portion of the Corps will use an onsite govern$2.7-billion Lower Monongahela ment-furnished concrete batch River Project is estimated to cost plant for production and delivery between $250 million and $500 of concrete and install governmentmillion. “What’s unique about this pack- furnished miter gates, valves, age is that it was all designed using bulkheads and mooring bits. Other features include the conin-house technical competency,” struction of secant pile walls and said Steve Stoltz, Navigation cofferdam cells and installation of Design Branch chief. “It’s a great effort by the Pittsburgh engineering electrical and mechanical features,
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operating machinery, and lighting and control works. The contract includes work to complete the connections to the upper and lower guard walls which were constructed under a separate contract; to stabilize the lower guide wall; and, to close the existing land chamber which will be unusable under the pool changes associated with the overall Lower Mon Project. The district’s contracting team received approval on the acquisition plan in April 2015 and expects to have the contract documents out for bid in June 2015. The district expects to award this contract, comprised of a base contract and five awardable options, to the lowest responsible bidder in fiscal year 2015. If efficiently funded, this contract, including the base contract and all awardable options, could be completed as early as 2022. A crucial part of the Lower Mon Project, the Charleroi facility passes approximately 12-million tons of cargo each year, providing
See Design on page 7
Fishing groups beautify Stonewall By Scott Hannah, Stonewall Jackson Lake
filled three pickup trucks which consisted of 16 The Stonewall Jackson 55-gallon bags full of garbage, 10 Lake staff partnered with vehicle tires, five a local fishing group to beautify and make the lake large containers, a door, a crate, and safe for visitors, June 6. old fence material. Fishing Report West Stonewall Virginia contacted the lake staff to volunteer their ser- Jackson Lake, like many lakes vices to remove garbage in our beautiful and hazard from the lake. Eight members met at the state, fall victim Jacksonville Access Ramp to litter and illegal dumping. Not at Stonewall Jackson to only does garbage start the task. on the lake ruin They supplied trash Local fishing groups helped beautify Stonewall Jackson Lake on June 6. the aesthetics, grabbers, gloves, and but it becomes a heavy duty bags. The would like to be a volunJackson Lake is grateful hazard to water vessels crew set out on kayaks teer at Stonewall Jackson for Fishing Report West and bass boats to scour the and dangerous for aquatic Virginia’s hard work and Lake, please contact the life. shoreline of garbage. In commitment to keeping volunteer coordinator at The staff of Stonewall our lake beautiful. If you one day, the organization 304-269-4588.
Design from page 7 annual benefits of approximately $100 million per year in the transport of bulk commodities. The new lock chambers will replace the current Depression Era-lock facility which has far exceeded its 50-year design life. The river chamber contract package is only one feature of the overall Lower Mon Project.
In 2004, the district completed the construction of the Braddock gated dam which replaced the nearly 100-year-old, fixed-crest dam at that navigation facility. With the completion of the Charleroi River Chamber contract in combination with future project features including: dredging, removal of Locks and Dam 3, and several facility relocations, the Lower Mon project is poised to begin reaping well over
90 percent of the estimated $220 million per year in regional and national benefits as early as 2023. Recent schedules had these benefits delayed until 2028, five years later than the current estimate, which translates into about $1 billion in benefits. The overall Lower Mon project will secure reliable navigation on the Lower Monongahela River for many decades to come.
For more information about the Pittsburgh Distict or to volunteer at one of our lakes, visit:
www.lrp.usace.army.mil
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Conemaugh Dam passes periodic inspection By Ben Sakmar, Engineering As a part of the Dam Safety Program, members of the Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Huntington districts and Great Lakes and Ohio River Division conducted a periodic inspection of Conemaugh Dam, May 5 - 7. All project features were inspected including the concrete structure, galleries, sluice tunnels, and all operating equipment. The team used a boat to inspect the sluice tunnels, upstream face of the dam, and the reservoir rim. The results of the inspection were presented to project personnel, May 7. The inspection found that Conemaugh Dam is generally in
good condition with no significant Dam Safety concerns observed. Sedimentation continues to be of issue in the reservoir; but does not presently affect project operations. All structural, geotechnical, hydraulic and hydrology, mechanical, and electrical systems are in good condition. Periodic inspections of flood control and navigation projects are conducted on five-year intervals to document the project’s condition and to be used as a budgeting tool. Conemaugh Dam has the second largest drainage basin within the Pittsburgh District and has prevented an estimated $2.2 billion in flood damage since its completion in 1952.
Beau Gaddie inspects an electrical panel.
Inspection team (from left to right): Sara Wioda, Larry Brotherton, Dave Buccini, Frank Morone, Jenna Cunningham, Alan Fregoso, Ben Sakmar, Eric Palmer, Beau Gaddie, Don Bucco, Vince Lovullo, Paul Toman, and Dave Johnson.
Think before you sink... visit bobber.info 8
Volunteers clean up Loyalhanna during Earth Day By April Richards, Loyalhanna Lake
The snow and cold didn’t stop volunteers from participating in Loyalhanna Lake’s celebration of Earth Day at the Bush Recreation Area, April 25. Students from the Outside-In School, Masons from Williamson Lodge 431, members of the Woodlands Boat Dock Club and local residents worked hard to remove trash and debris from different areas along the lake. In just three hours, 36 volunteers collected 65 bags of trash and pulled 120 tires of all sizes from the shoreline. Together, the staff and volunteers shuttled the debris to the boat launch area where it was placed in dumpsters. Afterwards everyone enjoyed lunch together. The event was held in conjunction with the Volunteers unload bags of trash collected from the lake. Great American Cleanup of Pennsylvania, a cleanup of public spaces and watersheds. Tires are statewide effort to remove litter from roadhauled away and recycled into new products such as ways, streams and lakes. In support of the event, Westmulch or used to provide energy from tire-derived fuel. moreland Cleanways provided gloves, bags, vests and Volunteers helped to provide a clean lakeshore and water for the volunteers. recreation area for the upcoming 2015 season. As part of Bridgestone’s Tires4ward program, the Loyalhanna and Conemaugh lakes staff would like to tires that were taken off of the lake are scheduled to be picked up and recycled by Liberty Tire. The Tires4ward thank all of the volunteers that made our spring cleanup a success. program is designed to support any citizen-organized
Earth Day brings geocachers, volunteers to Shenango lake By Richard Egger, Shenango Lake
Volunteers combine trash removal and Geocaching in celbration of Earth Day
Volunteers picked up two truckloads of trash at the Beaver Pond Road and Golden Run areas as part of the Shenango River Lake’s Earth Day activities, April 25. Participants came from as far away as Erie and Pittsburgh. Members of GeoMaSh, the Geocachers of the Mahoning and Shenango Valley, practiced their geocaching skills while cleaning up the areas. Geocaching is an outdoor recreational activity in which participants use Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers or mobile devices to hide and seek containers, called geocaches.
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East Branch hosts first responders exercise, By Kim Warner, East Branch Lake East Branch Lake hosted a First Responder/Safety Tabletop Exercise at the East Branch Resident Office, May 6. Led by Pittsburgh District’s Jim Christ, emergency planner, and Kim Warner, East Branch resident engineer, the group discussed possible incident scenarios on the construction site and any other issues which could arise. The discussions will asA First Responder Tabletop Exercise was recently conducted at East Branch Lake in preparation for sist in refining the notification the upcoming work. processes and improving preresentatives from the Elk County Of- struction Company. District repreparedness in case of an on-site fice of Emergency Services, Wilcox sentatives included personnel from accident or injury. Volunteer Fire Department, Ridgway the district’s Readiness, Construction Approximately 20 personnel parAmbulance Service and Layne Con- and Operations offices. ticipated in the event including rep-
Tionesta celebrates Earth Day By Ricky D. McKee, Tionesta Lake
Volunteers unload bags of trash collected from the Tionesta Lake.
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Tionesta Lake teamed with the local sheriff’s department, fishing club, and others to clean up Tionesta Lake, April 25. The 24 volunteers placed mulched on almost half of the Mill Race Trail and removed a dump truck load of litter from along the lakeshore campsites during the four-hour event. The staff hosted a picnic lunch for all the volunteers that participated in the event. Volunteers came from the Forest County Sheriff’s Department, Venango College of Clarion University Fishing Club, Clarion University Campus Crusade for Christ, Brownie Troop 30715, the general public, and Tionesta staff family members. This diverse group of volunteers worked hard, had a lot of laughs and commented that they would be back next year to participate again. Park Ranger Luke Houston, event coordinator, made the event successful with the assistance of park rangers Ricky D. McKee, Jason Quinn, Jason Bowers and Terrence Richards, maintenance worker.
Grays Landing undergoes periodic inspection By Ben Sakmar, Engineering
and all operating and electrical equipment. A boat was used A periodic infor inspection of spection conducted the lock walls and by district engineers dam, and the reshows Grays Landsults of the inspecing Lock and Dam tion were presented is generally in very to project persongood condition with nel, May 21. no significant dam Periodic insafety concerns, spections of flood May 20 - 21. control and navigaAs a part of the tion projects are Dam Safety ProInspection team (from left to right): Dustin Trent, Ben Sakmar, Frank Battaglini, Ron Gadomski, Kristen Enzweiler, Irene Mollah, Charles Thewlis, Vince De Carlo, Jenna conducted on gram, members Cunningham, Carolyn Wehner, and Eric Thewlis. five-year intervals of the U.S. Army to document the project’s condition and to be used as a Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District conducted a budgeting tool. periodic inspection of Grays Landing Lock and Dam, Grays Landing Lock and Dam was completed in Monongahela River, near Masontown. 1995, and maintains a 9-foot minimum pool for more All project features were inspected including the than eight and a half miles upstream to Point Marion 84-foot by 720-foot lock chamber, all 3,500-plus feet of lock walls, galleries, emergency bulkhead structure, Lock and Dam.
Kent State students get upclose look at Tionesta Lake By Rodney Daum, Tionesta Lake Kent State University geology students toured the flood risk management facilities at Tionesta Lake in Forest County, Pennsylvania, April 10. After a presentation by Kristen Enzweiler, Corps geologist, about the history of the facility, the students toured the spillway, outflow and control tower at the lake with Rodney Daum, resource manager. The tour was an opportunity to explain the mission of Tionesta Lake, and the role that geology played in the construction and site selection for the dam. Tionesta is a key link in a system of flood control project for the Allegheny and upper Ohio Rivers. Since its completion in 1940, Tionesta has prevented more than $571 million in flood damage.
Geology students from Kent State University, Ohio, visited Tionesta Lake for an up close look at how the dam functions and how geology played a role in its construction
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Moquito Creek Lake sets the table Dam safety conducts table-top exercise with Corps staff, local emergency officials
By Eric Schreckengost, Mosquito Creek Lake Megan Garrett, the district’s Dam Safety Program manager, recently conducted a dam safety tabletop exercise at Mosquito Creek Lake. The purpose of the exercise was to discuss a “what if” scenario. The exercise examined a hypothetical record high pool of 906 feet above sea level from an unprecedented “storm of storms,” and the necessary actions by project staff and district personal to handle the (Left to right) Mark Zaitsoff, Megan Garrett, Linda Beil, Evan Skornick, Werner Loehlein, and situation. Werner Loehlein, WaDianne Kolodziejski. ter Management chief, and Mark action should an actual event occur in the future. Evan Zaitsoff, Hydraulic Engineer chief, Skornick, Northern Area Operations manager; Linda developed the exercise which was designed to send water over the never tested natural spillway located in Beil, Trumbull County Emergency Management; Dianne Kolodziejski, Mosquito Resource Manager; and the northwestern portion of the lake. The exercise was beneficial in developing a plan of the Mosquito staff also attended the tabletop exercise.
East Branch welcomes Elk County business leaders By Kimberly Warner East Branch Lake Eighteen local business owners and managers with the group Leadership Elk County visited the East Branch Resident Office for a presentation about the construction project and its economic benefits, April 8. After a question and answer session, the group viewed construction activities from the boat ramp. The meeting was well received, and everyone enjoyed the visit.
For more information about the Pittsburgh Distict or to volunteer at one of our lakes, visit:
www.lrp.usace.army.mil
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Corps partners with Laurel Highlands River Tours, outgrants Youghiogheny’s Tub Run Campground By Carol E. Davis, PAO
Japalucci said most people know the Corps because Under a clear blue sky, they are boaters dignitaries cut a new blue or campers, but ribbon to mark the start recreation is the of a new partnership at by-product of our Tub Run Campground in mission which means Confluence, Pennsylvaup-keep of these sites nia, April 9. can be challenging. The ribbon cutting “As far as funddenotes the recent parting recreation sites, nership of the Tub Run we [the Corps] have Campground to Laurel had to get creative,” Highlands River Tours Japalucci said. and Outdoor Center. The Laurel Highlands campground was previsigned a 25-year ously managed by the Dignitaries cut the ribbon on a new partnership at Tub Run Campground in Confluence, Pa., April 9. Cutting the ribbon was Elizabeth McCarty (left), lease for Tub Run. U.S. Army Corps of EngiSenator Pat Stefano, Mark McCarty, Neal Christopher, The lease gives them neer Pittsburgh District. Lt. Col. Gerald Dull, and Sheila Shea. the right to make im“This partnership not provements and use only allows a local busiis a win-win for everyone involved. the site as part of their recreation ness to do what they do best,” Lt. Before the out granting, Tub Run inventory, but it also makes them Col. Gerald Dull, deputy district was a federally-run campground. It responsible for the maintenance. commander said. “It will bring enwas falling into disrepair and was According to Elizabeth McCarty, hanced services and facilities to the understaffed. The water treatment Laurel Highlands River Tours and campground.” plant on the property was in need of Outdoor Center, they intend to inDull said even though Youghrepair, the shower facilities needed iogheny Dam is one of the few updating and repairing, and the elec- vest $170,000 into Tub Run within federal dams in the country that trical services needed updating. Un- the first year of their lease. “We are so excited to be able is congressionally authorized to fortunately, due to a lack of federal to acquire this fully functioning release water in support of downfunding, the district was unable to campground that has access to this stream whitewater activities, those make any of the necessary repairs. beautiful lake,” Elizabeth McCarty, activities still compete for federal “We got to take a property that funds. was quickly becoming an underper- Laurel Highlands said. She said part of the planned up“We prioritize funds first for the forming liability and turned it into grades included repairing the water purpose of saving lives and presomething positive for the district venting flood damages,” he said. and the community,” Japalucci said. treatment plant, upgrading the electrical, adding cabins on the lake, and “Upkeep and enhancement of our “I can remember coming here recreation facilities is extremely as a girl with my parents,” Suzanne offer a wide variety of recreational water and land sports. important to us, but there are private Estock, Youghiogheny River Lake “Economically, out granting sector businesses, such as Laurel park ranger said. “It was always a this campground is going to help Highland, who focus on one misgreat place to come and I have fond the community’s local businesses, sion – providing quality recreation remembers here. It’s hard to see it local marinas and concessionaries,” to visitors of the region.” change hands, but out-granting this According to Gregory Japalucci, campgrounds means we can allocate Japalucci said. “This is not privatizdistrict reality specialist, out granting that money to another campground.” ing; it’s partnering.”
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Ospreys return to Mosquito Creek Lake By Eric Schreckengost, Mosquito Creek Lake, Photos by Craig Fritz The osprey has returned to Mosquito Creek Lake. They have chosen a nesting platform installed 10 years ago by project staff with hope that one day osprey would successfully nest in the bay along the Lakeview Nature Trail. This raptor spends its summer season, April to October, in areas across North America, and then migrates as far as South America for the winter. A local bird and photography enthusiast, Craig Fritz, snapped these shots and was gracious enough to share them with us. If you want to see these nesting birds, the nature trail touts a watchable wildlife platform with an exceptional view of the nesting osprey.
Northern Area Lake Managers complete race at Shenango By John J. Kolodziejski, Shenango Lake Members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Shenango River Lake competed at a 5K race held at the lake, May 30. From left to right, Rodney Daum, Tionesta Lake Manager, Dianne Kolodziejski, acting Berlin Lake Manager and Mosquito Creek Lake Manager; Alyssa Kolodziejski and John Kolodziejski, Shenango Lake Manager; completed the run which included crossing the Shenango Dam and following part of the Trout Island Trail.
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District reaches out during STEM event By Samantha Peitz, Engineering Volunteers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District participated in the “Engineer the Future,” Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematic event at the Carnegie Science Center. The event featured hands-on activities which allowed students to interact with professionals in the STEM fields. The district was one of 40 societies, agencies, companies, and universities that participated. More than 4,000 parents and students attended the two-day Samantha Peitz speaks with students during the “Engineer the Future” Event at the event, Feb. 20 and April 10. Carnegie Science Center District volunteers for the February event were Maj. Lucas, Samantha In April, Maj. Stephen Lucas, Capt. Brian Molloy, Peitz, Chris Bushaw, Sean Weston, Ethan Leisure, Samantha Peitz, Jenna Cunningham, Barb Hopkins, Huan Tran, Sarah Missenda, Chris Miller, Sara Vince De Carlo, Chris Bushaw, Beth Schneller, and Woida, Jason Moats, and Don Hawthorne. John Rusnak volunteered for the day.
Scouts take out the trash.... Grafton, West Virginia Cub Scout Pack 6 cleaned up more than 25 bags of trash on the Tygart Dam Trail as part of an Earth Day initiative, April 25.
Think before you sink. Wear your life jacket! visit bobber.info 15
Unmanned survey boat helps engineers plan for project Story and photo by Jeff Hawk, PAO Technology developed to help Marines plan for amphibious operations is now assisting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with collecting hydrographic survey data in areas not easily accessed by a manned vessel. Developed by the Corps’ Engineer Research and Development Center in Vicksburg, Mississippi, the Unmanned Survey Vessel for Shallow Water helps military planners by gathering survey information in dangerous or inaccessible areas, while keeping recon teams out of harm’s way. Researchers and surveyors are finding that it also has a civil works application. “It’s a great application that started with the military, but now is able to move on to support civil works functions,” said Jeff Jalbrzikowski, a surveyor for the Corps’ Pittsburgh District. Jalbrzikowski joined field data collection experts from ERDC’s Coastal and Hydraulic Laboratory at the district’s Loyalhanna Lake, May 6. He reached out to the lab after learning that the USV recently collected sedimentation survey data at the Bankhead Lock and Dam on the Black Warrior River in Alabama. Jalbrzikowski said he saw use for the vessel to obtain data in areas of Loyalhanna Lake that were too dangerous or too difficult to access with a manned survey boat. Project engineers need the data to design and construct an upcoming bridge replacement project at the rural Western Pennsylvanian lake. “We’re trying to get a better answer for if we need to do any
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Pittsburgh District and ERDC CHL team members pose in front of the unmanned survey vessel at Loyalhanna Lake
dredging here out on the lake” to plan for the project, said Jalbrzikowski. The 10-ft-long, 4-ft-wide catamaran-hulled boat can operate in six inches of water and provide multi-beam imaging in less than a meter of water or as deep as 120 meters of water. It is also equipped with a sound velocity probe, a motion sensor and a dual frequency GPS system. The technology provides a picture of the underwater landscape that helps planners and designers to see obstacles, sedimentation buildup and navigation passages. The boat is driven by remote control system that directs power from two onboard batteries to any or all of the three motors. In a pinch, it can turn around in its own space. “It has everything you would need to do a hydrographic type survey,” said William Butler, a research physical scientist at CHL. “We’re here today to help out on the bathymetry portion [of the bridge replacement project] at Loy-
alhanna Lake so they’ll know what type of vessels they can get in and where they can maneuver when they do conduct the project.” Collecting field data also helps ERDC researchers to fine tune their product and the application of its onboard technologies. “This has been in development for about a year,” said Butler. “We are now continuing to look at different communications systems and different sensors to integrate with this boat,” he added. Researchers are planning to integrate above and underwater LiDAR and looking at providing capabilities for conducting structural analysis on piers and other structures. At the end of the day, ERDC was able to provide a full survey of specific areas of Loyalhanna Lake, even up to the dam. It also is providing the Pittsburgh District the opportunity to consider how the technology might be applied across the district to access its many remote areas.