America's Engineers: The People, Programs, and Projects of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Page 68

NORTHWESTERN DIVISION Seattle District

Aerial photo of the Mountlake Terrace Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Project, taken July 17, 2023, showing the overall project area. Construction on the $5.5. million Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)-funded project began June 2023 to restore wetlands, riparian corridors, and create more places for birds, fish, turtles, salamanders, and native mammals to live. PHOTO BY DAVID CARLOS, MOUNTLAKE TERRACE

From a Bogey to Birdies, From Fairway to Flyway - Golf Course Gets a Mulligan, Converts to Habitat What does it take to convert a former golf course into fish and wildlife habitat?

T

hat was the question plaguing Mountlake Terrace, Washington, a city just 14 miles north of downtown Seattle, after taking ownership of

BY NICOLE L. CELESTINE

64 I AMERICA’S ENGINEERS

a 16-acre golf course on Lake Ballinger’s shores and allowing it to return to its natural condition starting in 2012. Today, the area is unrestored open space and parklands, with a degraded Hall Creek flowing through it. Invasive plant

species and degraded channels jeopardize what could be valuable fish and wildlife habitat in the urban sprawl. City officials developed a master plan for restoring the wetlands, riparian corridors, and fish and wildlife habitat, creating and preserving critical habitat for amphibians, and providing significant habitat for migrating birds and many waterfowl species using the Pacific Flyway. Bringing the plan to life required engineering expertise in water resource stewardship and ecosystem restoration. City officials knew the nation’s engineers, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), has this expertise and experience in delivering world-class solutions to environmental challenges. They called upon USACE’s Seattle District for assistance exploring an aquatic ecosystem restoration project under Section 206 of its Continuing Authorities Program (CAP). “Ecosystem restoration projects like this allow the Corps the opportunity to partner with local communities, to create and preserve critical habitats in rapidly developing urban areas,” said district Civil Works Programs Section Chief Jeff Dillon. “The local community is actively engaged and motivated to move forward with this restoration opportunity.” The city received USACE’s technical assistance under Section 206 to restore and protect aquatic ecosystems and wetland habitats to improve the quality of the environment. Section 206 projects include channel modifications and wetland restoration. “Collaboration with the Army Corps of Engineers makes habitat restoration possible for over 16 acres of a previous golf course,” said the city’s Stormwater Manager Laura Reed. “When this project is completed, park visitors can enjoy an


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Interview: Lt. Gen. Scott A. Spellmon, Commanding General and Chief of Engineers

16min
pages 14-16, 18-19

America's Engineers: The People, Programs, and Projects of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

18min
pages 20-21, 24-26, 28

USACE Launches $7.5 Billion Financing Program

6min
pages 30-31

ADVANCING INTERDISCIPLINARY ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS FOR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE CHALLENGES

7min
pages 32-34

USACE Buffalo District Constructs Emerald Shiner Passage Structure

3min
page 35

National Roofing Program Inspects Army Reserve Facilities Following Hurricane Ian

5min
pages 36-38

Pittsburgh District Breaks Ground on First Step in Updating Aging Navigation System on Upper Ohio River

5min
pages 39-41

Building Momentum: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

11min
pages 42-45

Corps of Engineers Builds Underwater Sill in Mississippi River to Slow Saltwater Intrusion During Low Water Conditions

5min
pages 46-47

Mississippi River Drought Affects Navigation

4min
pages 48-49

USACE Hosts Reciprocal Mekong River Commission Exchange Visit

5min
pages 50-51

USACE Project Receives National Academy of Construction Award

3min
page 54

USACE Team Fights Floods in New England

5min
pages 56-57

New Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Complex Aims to Save Lives

5min
pages 58-59

PRESERVING INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERS SUSTAINABILITY

10min
pages 60-63

Omaha District Completes First Construction Project Under Tribal Partnership Program

6min
pages 64-67

From a Bogey to Birdies, From Fairway to Flyway – Golf Course Gets a Mulligan, Converts to Habitat

4min
pages 68-69

Military and International Operations: USACE’s Founding Mission

16min
pages 70-75

TECHFLOW’S PIONEERING INNOVATION SHAPES THE FUTURE OF EV CHARGING FOR THE U.S. MILITARY

6min
pages 76-77

America's Engineers: The People, Programs, and Projects of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

11min
pages 78-81

Army Engineers Finalizing the U.S. Military’s $10.7 Billion Relocation Effort in South Korea

5min
pages 82-83

Army Engineers Construct Half a Billion Dollars in Family Housing Towers on Camp Humphreys

5min
pages 84, 86-87

Charleston District Teams up With Other Agencies for Nonstructural Flood Risk Management Project

4min
pages 88-89

New Barricade to Provide Vital Security at Savannah River Site

3min
page 90

America's Engineers: The People, Programs, and Projects of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

4min
pages 93-94

Environmental Remediation: USACE Expertise in High Demand

14min
pages 94-99

RISING HERO OF RESILIENCY

5min
pages 100-101

USACE Lowers Isabella Dam Risk Rating, Lifts Operating Restrictions After Unveiling Dam Improvements

5min
pages 102-103

LA District Preps for Hurricane Hilary, Keeps Public Safe, Captures Water from Storm

7min
pages 104-105

Multiple Agencies Collaborate to Provide Homeless Individuals Shelter Before Tropical Storm

5min
pages 106-107

Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations

16min
pages 108-113

USACE Supports the Fort Cavazos Safety Day Event

4min
pages 114-115

USACE Relies on Strong Partnerships With Its Customers, and Large and Small Businesses, to Deliver Quality Engineering Solutions

4min
pages 116-117

SWF Hosts Emergency Management Public Law 84-99 Outreach Session

2min
page 118

America's Engineers: The People, Programs, and Projects of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

12min
pages 119-120, 122-123

Strong Partnerships a Catalyst for Innovation

8min
pages 123-124

USACE Offers Planning Support to Mission Partners Around the Globe

4min
page 125

Engineering in the Cloud

8min
pages 126-127

Software Wins Innovation Award for Predictive Flooding Capabilities Following Fires

8min
pages 128-130

CRIDA Gets French and Arabic Translations

2min
page 130

Logistics Activity Supports Typhoon Mawar Response

5min
pages 131-132

Logistics Support Team Members Participate in Emergency Response Training

6min
pages 133-134

USACE Researchers Looking for Solutions to Great Lakes Water Quality Issues

5min
pages 135-136

ERDC Assists the New England District in the Management of Hydrilla

4min
pages 137-138

249th Engineer Battalion Powers Through Multiple Recovery Efforts

5min
pages 139-140
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