The Prospector - Winter 2009 by US Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District

The Prospector

Vol. 80, Issue 4

Winter 2009

www.spk.usace.army.mil

Clearing the streets at Martis Creek

2009 Winter Edition

DISTRICT COMMANDER COL. THOMAS C. CHAPMAN

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CARLOS J. LAZO

Table of Contents 2 - 7 Holiday Party/Awards 10 Beale Clinic Project 14 SPK Adopts-ASchool

EDITORIAL BOARD CHRIS GRAY WARREN BYRD

20 Emergency Levee Repairs 24 Zonkey? 29 CFC

STAFF DAVE KILLAM HUNTER MERRITT JOHN PRETTYMAN ROBERT KIDD TODD PLAIN TYLER STALKER MICHAEL NEVINS

33 Piccola Farewell On the Cover

Martis Creek Lake dam operator Dale Verner uses his bulldozer to clear snow off of pedestrian paths near the dam. Photo by Warren Byrd

KATRINA NATIVIDAD The Prospector is an unofficial publication authorized under the provisions of AR 360-1. It is published by the Public Affairs Office, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, 1325 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. Tele: (916) 557-7461; FAX (916) 557-7853; e-mail: spk-pao@usace.army. mil. This publication is available on the Sacramento District Internet homepage and will be printed and mailed to those requesting it in writing. Editorial views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Corps of Engineers or the Department of the Army.

Commander’s Way Ahead Working Hard to Accomplish Our Mission “Good

communication is as stimulating as

black coffee and just as hard to sleep a f t e r .”

- Anne Morrow Lindbergh

I’d like to start this column by thanking all who planned and set up our holiday party this past December. I think everyone who attended would agree that it was truly a Great event. Our Sacramento District Recreation Association Committee (SDRAC) team of volunteers does such an amazing job! Believe me, not all districts have such dedicated volunteers. We really benefit from so many of our teammates’ selflessness. We’re into another year and certainly at least one thing remains constant: there is plenty of work for us to do. We’ve been growing significantly to meet our workload commitments, but we are still challenged to get it all done. I can’t say enough about the personal sacrifices of time so many of you have made, and are continuing to make, just so we can maintain the schedules of the many projects we are executing – and that is so important! As Lt. Gen. Carl Strock, former Chief of Engineers, said, “The Corps is responsible for the projects we build and manage, and we are accountable to the American people. For those who doubt us, words alone will not restore confidence. We are mindful that the public trust is earned when we follow through on our actions.” Getting our job done - executing our projects - is the most important thing we do, and the public counts on us to deliver our projects on schedule. Professionals do what they say they’re going to do, and we need to always be seen as a very professional organization. We started this calendar year off with a Strategic Leaders Conference (SLC) for the leadership of our Division HQ and of our four districts. We all met in Albuquerque, N.M., to finalize our South Pacific Division Implementation Plan (or IPLAN), which is our plan to regionally implement the USACE Campaign Plan. More than 100 of us spent those couple days going through drafts of our overall Division-level tasks (called Regional Key Tasks), which will support accomplishment of the Campaign Plan. We

Col. Thomas C. Chapman

also began developing our District-level tasks – our Operations Plan (OPLAN) - that will support accomplishment of the IPLAN’s Regional Key Tasks. We’re still finalizing our District tasks, and I’ll be giving you more detailed info on them later. As you know, the Campaign Plan’s intent is to take the Corps from Good to Great. Our Chief of Engineers, Lt. Gen. Van Antwerp, says that for the Corps, Great is: - Delivering superior performance every time. - Setting the standard for our profession. - Making a positive impact on the nation and other nations. - Being built to last: having a strong “bench” of educated, trained, competent, experienced and certified professionals. Our District OPLAN will support attainment of the Campaign Plan’s goals, at a Great level, but our OPLAN will not be a collection of new initiatives. It will be what we’re already doing - what we have to do to accomplish our day-to-day missions - but details ways of doing it better. This is what our OPLAN boils down to: doing our job, but doing it better, doing it Great. What will be most important is that each one of you sees your part in our District OPLAN. Each of us plays an important role in the success of this plan, because it is only through our combined and synchronized efforts that we will achieve our goals. All of us – from our most senior leaders to our newest employees – are accountable for delivering superior performance. So regardless of the personnel system we are under, all of us will have components of our District OPLAN addressed in our performance objectives. The future for the Corps of Engineers is great, and when people see our castle, we want them to think of an organization that consistently delivers superior performance. When the Chief asks, “What will you do to make USACE Great?”, I am certain our Team will answer through our actions which show sustained superior performance.

Essayons and Building Strong!

A Recap of the Sights & Sounds of the Todd Plain & Carlos J. Lazo Photos by Michael Nevins Public Affairs Office by

Attendees were greeted at the door by Sacramento District Recreation Association Committee president Jonathan Friedman. Friedman signed everyone in, simultaneously reminding everyone that it was he who had orchestrated everything at the party.

2009

Once signed in, attendees were immediately pointed at by senior water management specialist Kyle Keer. Keer wore his graduation jacket to the ceremony.

After attendees had recovered from the brightness of the jacket, they took their seats, helped themselves to some free water and waited for the festivities to begin. They also took the time to browse and bid on various holiday baskets prepared by District employees. The funds go toward future SDRAC activities, including next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s holiday party.

Following an introduction by Keer, a video message by the District Commander recognizing the nine district employees deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan was played for the audience. After the video message, the Commander, Col. Thomas Chapman, thanked everyone for coming.

LUNCH Lunch was served shortly thereafter. As everyone ate, photos of District employees and project sites across the district scrolled on the projector screen for everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enjoyment.

HOLIDAY PARTY Following Meagher and Fujitsubo’s performance, Kyle took the stage to remind everyone that only 10 minutes remained for basket bidding. He then reminded everyone that his jacket was, in fact, custom made and not from the 1983 Sears Summer catalog.

Rick Meagher (right) and Miki Fujitsubo followed the Corps-a-Liers with their new hit, “It’s a Holiday Party, Let’s Have Some Fun.” The song is number one on the Mongolian Billboard’s Top Ten songs containing the word Holiday.

Following lunch, the audience was treated to a performance by the Corps-a-Liers at no extra charge.

All in all, the Holiday Party was a huge success according to Jonathan Friedman, and SDRAC is already hard at work planning next year’s Holiday Party. SEE YOU THERE!

Awards and certificates were presented for the next two hours. No one was allowed to leave. (See page 4 for a complete list of awardees)

People’s Choice Award winners were announced, as well as Length of Service Awards for 10-40 years of Corps employment.

Once all the awards and certificates were handed out, the District Corporate Board sang along to the “12 Days of Corps” song. It was truly an amazing and breathtaking performance.* *Note: Critique was based on eyewitness accounts and not on the fact that the Corporate Board serves on the pay pool.

A non-judged talent show allowed attendees to show their skills. Everyone was treated to funny variations of holiday songs, stand-up comedy, some rap and even some solo rock guitar.

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TIER I GRADUATES

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S

Alison Plant

Julie Dickinson

Tamara Moland

Mariah Garr

Joshua Wagner

Suzanne DeMers Paul Risher

Rachael Hersh-Burdick

Colby Conrad

Jesse Hogan

Kathy Kroeger

Chandra Jenkins

Adam Riley

Lisa Wiens

10 YEARS

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LENGTH OF SERVICE AWARDS 25 YEARS

Robert B. Stewardson

Christopher Swendsen

Linda M. Olsen

Randall C. Yee

Richard F. Meagher

Linda N. Finley

Keley D. Stock

15 YEARS Kim M. Clark

Jill Swett Jesus H. Cano

20 YEARS

Carol A. Dones

Fred Martin

30 YEARS

Bradley A. Call

Brian A. Pitt

Jerry W. Fuentes

40 YEARS

Thomas G. Bookholtz

John M. High

Robert F. Collins

John P. Walshe

Peoples Choice Award Winners J.J. Baum was named the 2009 recipient of the Lt. Gen. Arthur Williams Outstanding Service Award for providing exceptional service to the public by working closely with planners, designers, and construction representatives to ensure that environmental quality remains a top priority for District projects. The purpose of the Lt. Gen. Arthur E. Williams Outstanding Service Award is to recognize the Sacramento District individual whose actions best exemplify the highest qualities of outstanding service to the public. The accomplishment is reflected by a superior level of professional performance and unique contributions to both the Corps and the community.

Gary Butler was named the 2009 recipient of the Hattie Peterson Inspiration Award. Known to his peers as an inspiration with his positive attitude and words, and his constant smile, Gary has been involved with many morale building activities within the District, from CFC to SDRAC. When he was 16, his father was sent to prison, his mother passed away from lung cancer, and he was evicted from his home. He continued to attend high school while living in bushes, showering in a campground and washing his clothes in the river. After four months of living like this, he was invited to a youth group meeting at a local church, were he told the youth pastor of his needs. He was given a job and a place to live. After graduating in 1997, he joined the Army and served eight years, including a 14-month tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The purpose of the Hattie Peterson Award is to recognize the Sacramento District individual whose actions best exemplify the highest qualities of personal and professional perseverance through social challenges. Linda Blue was named the 2009 recipient of the Laura Asay Exceptional Support Award thanks to her reputation for reliability through decades of service to both the Real Estate Branch and the Office of Counsel. She has developed this by freely sharing her exceptional knowledge of administrative applications to ensure that the District can achieve its missions outside of her duties to Counsel. The purpose of the Laura Asay Exceptional Support Award is to recognize the Sacramento District individual whose actions, over a period of one year or more, best exemplify the highest qualities of exceptional public service through support to mission activities. A superior level of responsiveness to mission support needs; broad respect for performance and technical capabilities; and an established reputation for reliability reflects this accomplishment. Michael Jewell was named the 2009 recipient of the Lewis A. Whitney Leadership Award for his leadership, change, and inspiration to the Regulatory Division, successfully converting it from a branch within the Constructions Operations division into its own division. Kate Dadey (second from right) and Nancy Haley accepted the award on behalf of Michael Jewell and the Regulatory Division. Lewis A. Whitney (left) was on hand to present the award. The purpose of the Lewis A. Whitney Leadership Award is to recognize the Sacramento District individual whose actions, over a period of one year or more, best exemplify the highest qualities of successful leadership in executing the Districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission. Such performance sets an example for the District in the areas of creativity, mentoring, motivation, and support for District goals, all of which generally exceed expectations.

Chris Gray was named the 2009 recipient of the George Weddell Professional Excellence Award for his technical expertise and leadership that led to the Sacramento Districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Public Affairs office achievement of a high standard of excellence and set the bar for other public affairs organizations across the Corps. He has edited 20 of the Districts more than 60 stories published in everything from the Prospector to the Army Times, and has produced 41 entries at Army.mil, making him the number one published writer in the entire Corps organization. The purpose of the George Weddell Professional Excellence Award is to recognize the Sacramento District professional whose performance has reflected the highest level of professionalism within his/her chosen discipline.

The Prospector

The Sacramento District Regulatory Division

The 2009 “Be One Team” Award Winner Laura Whitney-Tedrick Presenter of the “Be One Team” award by

The Regulatory Division exceeded all eight national performance measures - issued more than 2,600 permits – 4,700 jurisdictional determinations, which was the highest in SPD and the most ever for the Sacramento District. At the same time, the Regulatory Division reduced the number of pending actions by 33 percent - executed 99 percent of their overall budget, with its staff being 93 percent chargeable. The team did this while providing outstanding customer service as Regulatory personnel averaged a four out of five – indicating “High Satisfaction” on customer service surveys received during the year. The “Be One Team” award is named for Col. Dorothy Klasse who was the Sacramento District Engineer from 1996 to1998 and she was also the first woman District Commander within the Corps of Engineers. Col. Klasse understood the need for, and importance of, team unity to maximize the effectiveness of the District’s resources. Her ability to convey this message was “extraordinary” as she emphasized a strong sense of purpose, camaraderie and pride. She coined the phrase “Be One Team.” Upon this base, Col. Klasse laid the foundation for effective project management, fostering an attitude of unity within the District. The “Be One Team” award recognizes a Sacramento District team whose members have interacted in an enjoyable and harmonious working relationship, while making effective use of the District business process model. The combined success of this approach may be illustrated by effective execution and customer recognition.

U.S. Servicemembers Volunteer Time to Help Afghan Refugees Story and Photos by Hank Heusinkveld (USACE Afghanistan Engineer District-North)

On the outskirts of Kabul at a refugee camp, Army Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Eric Albertson holds a plastic bag filled with toys and school supplies. He’s shoulder to shoulder with Sailors and Airmen who’ve formed a gauntlet designed to keep youngsters from straying into a nearby area where blankets are being distributed to adults. Soon a shy, but curious girl about 7 years old walks past the beaming servicemembers to Chaplain Albertson. He bends down to give her a friendly greeting and gives her the bag. In turn, she gives him a trusting smile and scurries off to see what she has received. Chaplain Albertson and others make up Volunteer Community Relations (VCR), a command-directed outreach program that provides clothing, blankets, school and other supplies to Kabul’s poor and displaced persons, and Afghan refugees who have returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan. On this day the VCR distributed 900 blankets and more than 500 bags filled with the toys and schools supplies to 300 needy families. The two or three-acre patch where the camp is located is strewn with debris and overrun with raw sewage. According to Albertson, it’s the only place that these Afghans can call home. “Probably 50 percent of the people here are from the south, where there was heavy fighting,” he explained. “They literally left their homes and their property, and the only things that they brought with them were what they could carry. So they just migrated up north and once they got to Kabul where they thought it was safer, they settled in the camps. And some people are just simply the Kabul poor who just don’t have anything.” Albertson has been on several similar missions throughout Kabul. Despite the dismal conditions in which the people live, he said what motivates him and VCR volunteers are the looks on children’s faces when they receive

-See VOLUNTEERS on page 30

The Prospector

Corps helps expand, modernize Air Force clinic Project includes construction of 22,000-square-foot facility 10

The entrance to the new 22,172 square-foot facility at the Beale Air Force Base medical clinic.

The Prospector

Carlos J. Lazo Public Affairs Office by

The Sacramento District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is currently renovating more than 17,000 square-feet of the medical clinic at Beale Air Force Base, Calif. This is the second phase of a $17.7 million Corps project to expand and modernize the clinic, and is aimed at improving on-base services for base employees, military servicemembers and their families. The first phase involved the construction of a new 22,172 square-foot facility adjacent to the clinic, completed in June 2009. The Air Force conducted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the facility on June 3. “The new annex is now home to family health, pediatrics, women’s health, lab, and pharmacy,” said Col. Dorothy A. Hogg, commander of the 9th Medical Group. Hogg, along with Brig. Gen. Bob Otto, 9th Reconnaissance Wing commander, and Col. Kory Cornum, Air Combat Command surgeon general, attended the ribbon cutting ceremony in June. “Not only is the new area very attractive, but it is more functional and efficient,” she said. “Waiting areas are vastly improved for all of the clinics. We have an extra procedure room and larger exam rooms. The pharmacy doubled its space, which greatly expanded its capabilities. “This increased internal storage capacity and automated dispensing equipment improves all aspects of pharmacy operations from patient safety to customer wait times,” she added.

This renovation will include the construction of new interior walls and the installation of new flooring, electrical wiring, fire-alarm systems and high-speed telecommunication wiring to modernize the nearly 50-year-old building. Work is anticipated to be completed early this year, according to Ulysses Gomez, field quality assurance representative with the Corps’ Beale project office. Twelve to 15 workers are on site at any one time during the project process, rotating so not to interfere with one another’s work. This includes electricians and other sub-contractors responsible for installing floor covering, telecommunications wiring and fire alarm systems. “Modernizing our 48-year-old facility enables our staff to more efficiently support Beale’s Airmen and their families so the mission is not hampered by health related issues,” Hogg said. Once completed, the newly-modernized section of the clinic will house optometry, flight medicine and mental health sections. “This new addition and continued renovations will bring the 9th Medical Group footprint into the 21st century and reduce the requirements that were once needed for a bedded facility,” said Hogg. “When all of the planned construction is completed we will have a modern, environmentally friendly, outpatient facility that will provide a medical home atmosphere for our customers.”

The clinic averages about 190 outpatient visits and 430 pharmacy prescriptions per day, Hogg said. Before the construction, the area used for the facility was home to a parking lot for the clinic. A month after the completion of the facility, phase two began, focusing on renovating 17,725 square feet of the current 61,344 square-foot clinic, which formerly held pediatrics, family health, lab and the pharmacy.

A subcontractor installs tile flooring at the Beale Air Force Base medical clinic Dec. 7, 2009.

Crossword Puzzle Black History Month Edition ACROSS 1. Author Haley of “Roots” (1976) 5. Black History Month is celebrated in February to mark the birthdays of Amraham Lincoln (b.1809 - d.1865) and ___ Douglass (b.1817 - d.1895) who was an activist who campaigned to end slavery and was a cofounder and editor of the “north Star” newspaper 13. Shark Sucker 15. This talented and glamorous star opened the doors for other AfricanAmerican actresses in Hollywood, such as Halle Berry, who won the Best Actress Golden Globe Award for protraying her in a biographical television movie 16. Controversial Coat 17. Monastery Superior, in France 19. Exploited 20. Harriet Tubman, for one: She led more than 300 slaves to freedom (See #25A for a related clue) 25. Pre-Civil War organized system that was used for helping fugitive slaves escape to Canada: Underground ___ 26. Negative reply 27. Music store items, commonly 30. Ms. Jillian 31. Sports tally 33. Not Nice 36. Seize Suddenly 39. Roman Road 40. In the 1970s, this South Bronx DJ pioneered the HipHop style that dominates music today 44. He directed “Twelfth Night” (1996): Trevor ___ 45. Take a chair 46. Wander 47. Star football running back and Super Bowl MVP (in 1993): Emmitt ___ 49. Shoshonean 51. Shoe width Size 52. Speech Stopper 54. Thurgood Marshall, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Lena Horne, Jesse Jackson and Maya Angelou are among those who have been honored with this Medal

which has been awarded annually by the NAACP since 1915 59. He founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association, in 1914 61. Bread spread 64. Famed tennis

and Other Plays” (1978) 3. En predecessor 4. Tic-Tac-Toe letters 5. Fifties singer who sang “Turn Me Loose” 6. Adam and Eve’s Garden 7. Carry out

Champion: Arthur ___ 65. The Jackson 5 hit 66. Legendary boxer Muhammad’s former name 69. World light-heavyweight champion (from 1952 to 1962): ___ Moore (b.1913 d.1998) 72. “Cosby”, e.g. 73. Superstar Cosby

8. TV show starring Eriq La Salle 9. Defeat Disastrously 10. Delivery Room exclamation: “___ a girl!” 11. Cuban revolutionary leader Guevara 12. English dramatist who wrote “The Spanish Tragedy” (c.1586): Thomas ___ (b.1558 d.1594) 14. Squeal 16. Distant 18. Shape, slangily 21. Popular Hip-Hop artist: ___ Cool J 22. Heard in the Tennis circuit: “___ 23rd in the World, right now!” 23. Fashionable 24. Ship’s distress Signal

DOWN 1. Island resort in the Netherlands Antilles 2. Poet, Playwright, Novelist and Essayist: Amiri Baraka (formerly known as ___ Jones) wrote “Blues People: Negro Music in White America” (1963) and “The Motion of History

27. Plant Pot Product: Terra ___ 28. “I have a ___ that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.” - Martin Luther King Jr. 29. Antitoxins 32. “Hello!” or “Goodbye!” 33. Kweisi ___: NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) leader 34. He was a star running back and became the first African-American football player to win the Heisman Trophy (in 1961): ___ Davis (b.1939 - d.1963) 35. Fats Domino smash hit: “___ That a Shame” 36. In 1831, he led 60 followers in the Southampton Insurrection, a slave revolt, which was the most serious in American history. He managed to live in freedom for six weeks until he was caught and hanged: ___ Turner (b.1800 - d.1831) 37. Choice on a Radio 38. Famed Blues guitarist King 40. It’ll encompass “exp” 41. Every bit ___... 42. __-Coastal: The Atlantic and Pacific sides 43. Sports Stadium 48. Chinese Communist leader: ___ Guefeng 49. NFL Players Association executive director: Gene ___ 50. Woods of Golf 53. Mrs. opposite 54. “Pense” prefix 55. U.K.: ___. Brit. 56. Help 57. James Dean, for one 58. Large U.S. city 59. To the highest degree 60. Wallet Wads 61. “Alas!” 62. Medieval French tale 63. “East” in Montréal 67. Hosp. nutrient device 68. Not them 70. Type of radio 71. ___-Fi

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Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Corner EEO Manager Linda L. Brown Phone: 916-557-6904 E-mail: Linda.l.Brown@usace.army.mil Complaints Manager Leia G. Sherer Phone: 916-557-6907 E-mail: Leia.G.Sherer@usace.army.mil Special Emphasis Program Manager Tamara L. Moland Phone: 916-557-6906 E-mail: Tamara.l.Moland@usace.army.mil

Upcoming Special Emphasis Program Observances 2010 Black History / African American History Month February 1-28, 2010 Theme: The History of Black Economic Empowerment

Seeking Volunteers: Your help is needed in leading the next generation of employees in discovering innovative career development trainings, professional development workshops, culturally diverse guests & speakers, etc. Please contact Tamara Moland, ext. 6906, if you are interested in helping with planning upcoming special events.

Suggestions welcomed: We have added a suggestion box in the EEO office. Please complete suggestion form including ideas about trainings, workshops, and cultural events.

Thank you!

Women’s History Month March 1-31, 2010 Theme: Writing Women Back into History Asian Pacific American Heritage Month May 1-31, 2010 Theme: Leadership to Meet the Challenges of a Changing World Women’s Equality Day August 26, 2010 Theme: Celebrating Women’s Right to Vote Hispanic Heritage Month September 15 - October 15, 2010 Theme: Not available National Disability Employment Awareness Month October 1-31, 2010 Theme: Not available National American Indian Heritage Month November 1-30 2010 Theme: Not available

Sacramento District ‘adopts’ Pacific Technology School Chris Gray Public Affairs Office by

“You

never know what they’re going to ask,” Sacramento District water quality specialist J.J. Baum said, laughing. So it came as no surprise when a student raised his hand in the middle of Baum’s demonstration of a tubeshaped water quality monitoring device and asked, “Does it ever catch a fish?” Not usually, as it turns out. But Baum appreciated the curiosity. “They may not remember who I am or what I do,” he said. “But they might remember that the Corps is out there testing water, and that’s the kind of thing we’re trying to show them,” he said. Baum coordinates the Sacramento District’s Adopt-A-School program, which sends Corps employees to requesting local middle schools and high schools to talk about their jobs and what it’s like to work for the Corps. The Pacific Technology School here, where Baum presented to more than 30 students Dec. 10, is the newest of about 15 schools in the Sacramento area taking part in the program, Baum said. The Pacific Technology School is a new, tuition-free public charter school for sixth and seventh grade students with a curriculum focused on math and science. School principal, Dr. Yavuz Bayam, said Baum’s presentation helped inform his students about career opportunities in the sciences. “Hearing about how we manage water quality and jobs that do that, it’s a good way for the students to understand the importance of the

-Continued on following page

subjects they’re studying,” Bayam said. The Adopt-A-School program’s 20 or so volunteer presenters are mostly junior employees and come from various Corps specialty areas. Baum said the program gives new Corps employees a chance to hone their presentation skills and helps them develop relationships with their communities. It’s also an opportunity, Baum said, for the community to get to know the Corps. “It provides a viewpoint on the agency and how it works in their area, that we’re working to make their homes and lives safer, and puts a face to their government,” Baum said. But it’s the feeling he gets from presenting that keeps Baum volunteering. “These are new eyes looking at what you do. It reminds you of why you got involved in the first place,” he said. “It’s rejuvenating.”

Sacramento District water quality specialist J.J. Baum demonstrates a water quality monitoring device for students at the Pacific Technology School in Orangevale, Calif. Dec. 10, as part of the district’s Adopt-A-School program.

Simple Rules to Remember when Submitting Stories & Photos Stories

Photos

• Include all the many projects (new, ongo- • If you have great photographs, work related or ing and recently completed) your office/ not (but still tasteful), send them in. section is involved in as well as personal • Please remember to include your name, section stories. Send it as a word document. and all photo information, aka the 4 W’s (What, • If you are actively involved in the local Where, When and the big one, WHO). community and would love to tell your • In other words, explain what is going on in the story, send your information. photo. • If you have something important you would like to share with everyone, send it in.

Prospector@usace.army.mil

The Prospector

International Sportsmen’s Expo

Park Rangers promote Corps Lakes, water safety at Sportsmen’s Expo

Hunter Merritt Public Affairs Office by

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District park rangers were on hand at the California State Fairgrounds during the International Sportsmen’s Exposition Jan. 22 - 24. The park rangers were there to promote the recreational use of Corps Lakes, and to educate attendees on water safety, including the need for life jackets when recreating on or near water. Participants were treated to demonstrations of an inflatable life jacket that automatically deploys when submerged. Some attendees were allowed to try on drunk goggles, aimed at mimicing being under the influence of alcohol, to demonstrate the dangers of mixing recreational activities with drinking. The Expo was expected to attract over 40,000 visitors. (Clockwise from left): Sacramento District park ranger Alyson Strickland has an attendee try to give her a high-five while wearing drunk goggles; Park ranger Nicholas Figueroa; a view of the floor at the Expo; Park rangers Mary Ann Deeming and Figueroa speak about water safety practices to attendees.

While winter in the Sierras means truckloads of snow and hibernation for some, at Martis Creek Lake, dam operator Dale Verner is at his busiest. Verner alone is responsible for bulldozing snow from pedestrian paths and the roads that lead to the dam so he can perform the many functions and system checks needed to ensure safe operations through the long winter months. As winter storms continue to dump foot after foot of snow, Verner, a few days shy of 69, struggles to find an empty spot on his calendar. “Once summer ends, you shut it all down, you have to turn the water system down and get ready for the winter,” he said. “It’s all covered in snow and closed. We have to keep access into the dam open all the time in case of emergencies. “It’s a perfect job,” Verner said. “Half the time the supervisors don’t know where I am, the other half they don’t know what I’m doing,” Verner mused. “I have about 160 items that I do on a weekly or monthly or quarterly basis,” Verner said. “You check your winches; just everything in the dam is taken care of by the maintenance man, the dam operator. You familiarize yourself with the way the dam works and to make sure your equipment is operational on the day you need it. Dam maintenance is every week – your maintenance, electronics, hydraulics, instrumentation. So that goes on continuously, winter and summer. You always have to work in about 16 to 20 hours a week of just dam maintenance to make sure that it works.” His winter responsibilities became easier recently with the addition of a new golf cart-type contraption that Verner designed and the Corps had built and purchased. Gone are the days Verner has to snowshoe more than two hours into the park station from Highway 267.

“There would be times if you got snowed in it would be a little bit tricky,” said Verner, who likes the solitude in the winter but admitted the seclusion makes him “get buggy now and then.” “It took me two-and-a-half hours to drive to work then, two hours to get in to the shop. You do feel satisfied when you get in. I’m stubborn, so even when the boss said I didn’t have to go in, I did. It’s kind of a self-gratification when you get in, no matter what it takes. “I took a Rhino and custom designed it,” Verner said of his tracked vehicle. “It has a three-stage heater, full cab. They (Corps) just told me to spec it. It is great in the snow, it’s great environmentally out in the wetlands. But the main thing is I don’t snowshoe anymore.” Rhinos aren’t the only wildlife encounters winter in the Sierra affords. “The eagles – we have a breeding pair of eagles. Lot of coyotes. Bears – a big old sow – she travels here all the time. “That was my worst experience, when I was on snowshoes on top of the dam and she was coming toward me,” Verner recounted, “but I hollered and waved and stood tall. She went around me with her cub. We have a mountain lion that comes in – she watches me and follows me up and down the dam. She’s fascinated with what I do. She brought her cubs onsite, kept them for three months and took care of my marmot population – ate them.” Verner’s boss, Doug Grothe, park manager at Englebright Lake, knows he has a seasoned pro on his team – plus a good storyteller. “Dale has the most interesting things happen to him since he’s there by himself so much of the time. Whether it’s bears with cubs or mountain lions watching him, he has some entertaining stories. He once found a strange looking object out in the area, which turned out to be something that fell from an airplane. He has a “mountain man” kind of look about him, which to some might be somewhat intimidating. Yet, he is a ski instructor for the little kids at Boreal - and the kids love him. “I would rank him high – he has the skills needed to do the job and he is very organized,” Grothe said. “He not only recommends and plans needed projects, but gives me the estimated materials, labor, and contract costs needed to complete the projects. He has done a great job working with the various people involved with the DSAP effort. I have received numerous compliments for his willingness to help with and coordinate whatever they need.”

The Prospector

Sierra winters a busy time for Martis Creek dam operator Dale Verner

Opposite Page: Martis Creek Lake dam operator Dale Verner sits inside his bulldozer as he prepares to clear snow off of pedestrian paths that lead to the dam.

Corps tests new technology aimed at emergency levee repairs Story by Warren Byrd Photos by Chris Gray Public Affairs Office

At first glance, the bulky, yellow inner tube scooting downstream resembled a river rapids ride at a theme park. But this was no ride. The tube, along with thousands of gallons of water, was gaining speed as it rushed toward a 6-feet-wide breach in the nearby levee. But a few moments later, the tube lodged itself squarely into the levee breach, halting the thousands of gallons behind it and reducing the water flow to a mere trickle. Saving lives and preventing extensive property damage caused by devastating floods is foremost in the minds of federal agencies charged with providing that protection. Research teams around the country spend countless hours eyeing methods and techniques that might one day significantly reduce the time it takes to seal and repair levee breaches. A recent demonstration at the U.S. Department of Agricultureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hydraulic Engineering Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service in Stillwater, Okla., provided an informative glimpse of how several devices developed under the Rapid Repair of Levee Breaches Program might work for various sized breaches caused by flooding. One such technology, developed by a team of research scientists from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers En-

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The Prospector

Oceaneering International Inc. technicians, working alongside engineers with the Corps’ Engineer Research and Development Center, dissemble a Rapidly Emplaced Hydraulic Arch Barrier (REHAB) device during a demonstration of the Corps’ and U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Rapid Repair of Levee Breaches Program (RRLB) technology at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Hydraulic Engineering Research Unit in Stillwater, Okla., Nov. 9. Opposite Page: Engineers with the Corps’ Engineer Research and Development Center install a Rapidly Emplaced Hydraulic Arch Barrier (REHAB) device during the demonstration in Stillwater, Okla., Nov. 9.

G U L P w e N e Th

n o i t c a n i

New technology can be confusing, but weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll show you a quick example of the new PLUG and REHAB in action. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re welcome.

How Does it Work?

As it nears the break, the PLUG begins to roll and eventually locks into place, held by the laws of physics, blocking the breach and reducing the water flow to a mere trickle. A Rapidly Emplaced Hydraulic Arch Barrier (REHAB), seen in background, is then placed around the breach, enabling crews to repair the breach.

When dropped into the water, the Lightweight Ubiquitous Gasket (PLUG) fills roughly 80 percent with water. Kept afloat by the air left in the tube, the device makes its way, pushed by the river flow, to the breach. This process takes only minutes to occur.

The Prospector gineer Research and Development Center and other agencies, shows promise, even with its bulky exterior. The RRLB devices are tubes made of non-stretch fabric designed to float into a levee breach, stopping water flow. When dropped into the water, the tube fills roughly 80 percent with water. Kept afloat by the air left in the tube, the device makes its way, pushed by the river flow, to the breach. As it nears the break, the tube begins to roll and eventually locks into place, held by the laws of physics. “The flexibility of the fabric and the ability to be compliant and fit into an area that we needed it to fit into, all made sense when we started looking at it (material to use),” said Don Resio, senior research scientist at the Corps’ ERDC. “These things seal the breach, and it pretty much works first time, every time.” Levee breaches are caused by excessive forces from the water, weakness in the levee material or the levee foundation, or both. Overtopping of levees by floodwater and waves is the most obvious cause. Seepage through or under a levee is less obvious, far more difficult to predict, and is the major concern in certain areas such as the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Just how effective RRLB devices would be in flooding scenarios that included the Sacramento or Feather rivers is up for debate. Resio said employing the rightsized tubes with a well-trained team at the right locations could work. A helicopter deployment of the RRLB pieces, coupled with strategic team placement, would likely be used in a flooding event in or near Sacramento. Resio said that, in a typical scenario, a stock of the tubes – each one in the system is in a pre-loaded configuration – in various sizes would be available and perhaps located at an airport. Once officials realize a breach had occurred, a team would be mobilized. “(Levees in the Sacramento area) could breach anytime, anyhow. It’s more likely to breach during high floods, so you would be on readiness. The team knows what to do, it’s trained, and it takes off,” Resio continued. “Our goal is to be able to take off within a couple hours of notification, be onsite within an hour, and then have it all set up within another couple of hours.”

“There are other considerations that could be problems as well,” said Ed Ketchum, chief, soil design section, Sacramento District. “Trees, buildings, power lines, etc. may cause mobilization to be very difficult.” Developers still need to consider solving several significant technical and logistical problems in order to make the tubes deployable, said Ketchum. Michael Ramsbotham, soil design expert and regional geotechnical specialist for the Sacramento District, agrees. “You would have to have a small levee with a small breach, with wide open access, and low velocity in the river,” Ramsbotham. “I think you could use it (RRLB) to prevent overtopping. If you had a small creek or tributary it would probably work better for that.” Resio said they are still studying the best deployment possibilities and the potential effectiveness for flooding here, knowing the likely difficulty in sealing breaches so large for such a big flood event. But he and his team will continue testing and work toward that end. The key, he said, is that efforts are being made. He and his team realize the potential obstacles and that this system might not be the solution to every flooding event or breach, but it’s a start, he said. “I’m pretty excited about the potential we have with this system,” he said. “There’s a lot of potential, and there’s a lot of good people working in this field. It’s amazing how many people and how much everybody wants this thing to succeed. I’ve very optimistic about transitioning it into what we need it to be.” A full-scale demonstration, likely at a site in South Dakota, will be conducted next summer. The Department of Homeland Security began funding the development and demonstration of the RRLB program in 2007. The initial concept development and testing was accomplished at the facilities of the Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory, U.S, Amy Engineer Research and Development Center, in Vicksburg, Miss. Additional large-scale testing was completed at the HERU in Stillwater in September 2008.

But there is still much more to consider.

SURPRISE! It’s a Zonkey! Chris Gray Public Affairs Office by

Fred Dolling watched as his wife, Stanislaus River Parks park technician Lisa Dolling, pulled into the driveway of their country home towing a horse trailer and thought, “Maybe it’s a cow.” They’d talked about buying a cow. Fred’s family kept jersey cows when he was growing up, and he thought maybe Lisa had bought him one. He went out to the truck to help her unload whatever it was that was in the trailer. He stared as she opened the gate. It was not a cow. “I looked into the trailer, and I thought, ‘What is this?’,” Fred said.

It was a zonkey. A zonkey, as its name suggests, is the offspring of a zebra and a donkey – with a temperament, Lisa said, that combines the unrulier dispositions of both. She had seen one advertised in the paper and went out to have a look. “He was just the cutest thing,” she said. “I was hooked.” She named him Zippy. “We’ve always been animal lovers,” Lisa explained. “I’ve always had a thing for exotic animals. Especially zebras.”

“It was a surprise,” Lisa said.

“He’s been a character,” she continued. “He’s a little ornery. But he loves people.”

“It was a surprise,” Fred said.

Zippy wasn’t the Dollings’ first pet. They already had

The Prospector

Joey the camel kisses Fred Dolling at the Dolling farm, while his wife and Stanislaus River Parks park technician, Lisa Dolling, looks on. Insert: Canela, the Dollings’ pygmy goat, snoops around at the farm

two longhorn steers, a pygmy goat and a llama, Niño; none of them uncommon in this part of the country. Zippy was, however, their first exotic pet. And a year or so after they bought him, the Dollings bought a camel, Joey. Counting Zippy and Joey, the Dolling family menagerie now numbers 20: One zonkey, one camel, one llama, two longhorn steers, one jersey cow, one horse, seven cats, five dogs and a pygmy goat. “It is a handful,” Fred said. “The hard thing is when we go on vacation, finding someone to take care of them.” Finding a vet to care for them, Lisa said, has been another challenge. But aside from that, keeping them isn’t hard. Feed isn’t as expensive as you’d imagine, Lisa said, and “they get along with the horse and the dog and the cats.” “If you separate (the horse and the zonkey), they cry,” Fred added. “They don’t want to be separated.” “They’re kind of our hobby, I guess,” Lisa said. “Some people go the lake or to the mountains. We’ve got our Lisa Dolling pets her zonkey, Zippy, at the Dollings’ farm.

animals.” In a small town like Knights Ferry, with animals like theirs, everyone knows the Dollings. When their neighbors have company, Zippy and Joey often wind up part of the tour. “They’ve got a lot of friends,” Lisa said. But their animals aren’t known just locally. The Dollings live just up the road from the Stanislaus River Parks headquarters office. Both the park and the Dollings’ farm sit off one of the main roads to Yosemite National Park, so they get their fair share of passer-by traffic. They often find strangers parked outside their fence, taking photos with Joey. Once, they found a ski cap in his enclosure – which Joey snatched off the head of someone who got a little too close, they speculate. Awhile back, the Dollings got a call from former Stanislaus park manager Angie Wulfow, who lives in North Carolina. Wulfow opened up the Charlotte Observer recently to find a large photo of a man feeding a camel a cracker. It was Joey. The man in the photo, Lisa recognized, stops by regularly to feed Joey.

Stanislaus River Parks park technician Lisa Dolling and her husband, Fred Dolling, pose with their camel, Joey, at their farm.

The Dollings have been asked to show Zippy and Joey at the California state fair. And someone from a nearby church asked them once whether they might use Joey in their Christmas nativity scene. “We had to tell them, ‘no, they don’t leave the farm’,” Fred said, chuckling. “Anyway, we don’t have a trailer big enough to move him,” Lisa said. The Dollings are sometimes approached to take in rescue animals, too. Someone offered them an ostrich once. Someone else offered them a zebra. For now, though, 20 are enough, they said. Still, “I wouldn’t mind getting a zebra one day,” Lisa said. “No giraffes or elephants, though.”

Barracks-upgrade project opens renovated building to Navy students By Tonya K. Townsell, Presidio of Monterey Public Affairs

Community leaders celebrated the continuing $17.5 million barracks-upgrade project at the Presidio of Monterey with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for building 646 here Dec. 15. Building 646, the second of three barracks-upgrade projects, will house Navy students attending the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center. The project under way is to renovate the barracks buildings to a modified one-plus-one configuration. Additionally, the project will repair various failed or failing building components and bring the three barracks up to a modified one-plus-one configuration and reconfigure 44 existing rooms in each building to provide suites of two semi-private sleeping rooms and one private sleeping room. Each suite will have its own built-in closets. Each one-plus-one room will host one shared bathroom and kitchenette-type area. And, the one-person room layout will have its own bathroom and kitchenette. Workers will also replace wall finishes, ceilings and flooring, install new lighting, upgrade the HVAC and electrical systems, replace

Each suite has a built-in closet and a kitchenette with a microwave, small refrigater with freezer and a two-burner stove top.

the plumbing system and install new fire alarm and protection systems. The renovation of building 646 began in December 2008. The final cost came to just over $6 million, said Presidio of Monterey Garrison Commander Col. Darcy A. Brewer, adding that building 645’s renovation, which was completed in December 2008, came in at $5.7 million. The next building slated for renovation is building 648.

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Sacramento District, BloodSource team-up to save lives

Story and Photos by Todd Plain Public Affairs Office

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District emergency operations center student–employee Elijah Fisher (center) donates blood Jan. 20, during the BloodSource drive near the district headquarters here. Fisher and 27 others registered and donated 23 pints of blood. The Sacramento District has supported BloodSource blood drives since 1989, with 4,430 registered donors providing 3,978 units to date. District donors say they appreciate the “blood mobile” coming to their workplace, making regular donating convenient.

Corps of Engineers Natural Resources Education Foundation Our Mission: The Corps of Engineers Natural Resources Education Foundation (Foundation) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit advocacy organization dedicated to the stewardship of the environmental, cultural, educational and outdoor recreational resources associated with the Natural Resources Management mission of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). The Foundation is a membership organization for Corps employees past and present, as well as other friends of the Corps’ Natural Resources program. The Foundation provides opportunities to support valued projects through contributions of services, materials and funding. Corps Natural Resources Program: The Corps is responsible for the management and stewardship of over 11 million acres of land and water located in 43 states, including amny significan environmental and cultural resource sites. The Corps is the larges Federal provider of outdoor recreation with over 370 million visitors in 2006. Our goals are: • to provide additional financial and volunteer support for projects which will enhance the Corps Natural Resources Management mission; • to assist local and regional Corps of Engineers advocacy groups in raising funds for enhancement projects which the CNREF Board finds in line with this Mission Statement. • to facilitate partnerships between the public and private sectors which strategically invest in public education and the conservation and sustainable use of natural and cultural resources managed by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers; • to educate decision-makers and the public about the importance of the Corps stewardship mission in conserving natural and cultural resources and providing public recreation opportunities which contribute to the quality of American life.

To learn more and track our progress, visit our web-site: www.CorpsFoundation.org

For more information on NRE, pick up a brochure today! 28

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Sacramento District Hits New High for 2009 Combined Federal Campaign Todd Plain Katrina Natividad Public Affairs Office by

and

Every year, a member of the Sacramento District’s Corporate Board takes a turn as the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) chair. Regulatory Division Chief Mike Jewell recently completed his term for the 2009 campaign season (Sept. 1 to Dec. 15). This year, the District raised more than $103,000 for the 2,000-plus available charities, the second highest total for the District since its peak contribution in 2006 of over $110,000. “Although we had only 255 contributors (this year), we actually had the highest (per contributor) average of $407,” Jewell said. District participation has seen a steady decline since 1997, so Jewell said that setting monetary records for charitable donations is notable. The official CFC Web site states that, “CFC is the world’s largest and most successful annual workplace charity campaign, with more than 300 CFC campaigns throughout the country and internationally to help to raise millions of dollars each year. Pledges made by Federal civilian, postal and military donors during the campaign season support eligible non-profit organizations that provide health and human service benefits throughout the world.” The CFC program, which began in 1964, is the only approved charitable organization authorized to solicit federal employees in their workplaces, and if they so choose, employees may make donations through payroll deductions. To date, federal workers have contributed more than $6 billion. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in Washington, D.C., administers the campaign every year from Sept.1 to Dec. 15. OPM regulates the CFC and provides guidance to the local campaigns. A local federal coordinating committee (LFCC) consisting of federal employees and representatives runs the campaign. They serve as a board of directors for the local campaign and oversee the local CFC. Jewell said that Sacramento’s CFC leaders could not pinpoint a reason for the District’s campaign success, but said limiting pressure on employees played a role.

Photo by Michael Nevins

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District Regulatory Division Chief, Mike Jewell.

“I think for us this year, we purposefully ran a lower-key campaign…basically, we wanted people to be able to do their jobs without us hassling them a lot,” Jewell said. Another factor for success, and new for this year’s campaign, was the ability to donate online. “About a quarter of the people who donated, did so online,” Jewell said. It is a trend that Jewell hopes will continue, and said it played a major role in this year’s success. Jewell complimented the Sacramento District volunteers and other key workers for their successful season. “This campaign, year to year, wouldn’t be successful without them.”

Volunteers - from page 8 something as simple as a colored pencil with construction paper or a small, fuzzy stuffed animal.

who have not seen poverty up close he said it can resonate on a very deep level.

“Oh, yes! That’s part of the attraction. There’s a huge waiting list for the number of people who want to go out, and the main reason they go is because of the children,” Albertson said. “Even for myself…one of the kids, maybe he was two or three years old, when he received his bag he just giggled. There was so much excitement. His whole demeanor just lit up, and that’s the real attraction to the mission. But it’s not just about the children. It’s about the families, too. I remember on one of the missions a lady just broke down and cried. She was so happy to have some things for her family.”

“At the refugee camp it was cold, there was water from earlier rainfall, and a number of children were without shoes. There was mud and broken glass…that’s just a difficult thing for anyone to see,” Albertson said. “But in some ways I think it’s good to see it because it’s real. It’s different than watching a TV commercial soliciting money to help some child somewhere in the world.”

The VCR itself is comprised of mostly servicemembers who want to make a difference in Afghanistan. Albertson said the popularity of the VCR has doubled in the past few months, and service members gladly give up precious personal time to go on a mission if selected. One of the prerequisites for selection, he said, is helping to sort donated items that have been sent by U.S. churches, civic groups and individuals. But the VCR isn’t just limited to servicemembers. Mixed in are government civilian employees and servicemembers from other countries. And when the VCR heads out on a mission it’s accompanied by servicemembers who add additional protection. “Because of the security concerns we have to make it a military operation. Fifty percent of the people on a mission are providing security. And we work with the Afghan National Police who also provide security,” Albertson said. “But the individuals who help us with the distribution are a mixture. It’s a joint operation so we have members from every branch of the service, and it’s a multi-national operation so we have members from different countries who are serving over here. And there are civilians from the Army Corps of Engineers, other government agencies and contractors. They all pitch in to help.” Albertson said a first-time visit to a refugee camp is a huge dose of reality for some volunteers. For those

Bob Van der Borg is a civilian who felt fortunate to go on the mission. Assigned to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Afghanistan Engineer District-North, he looked at the refugees’ plight not with despair, but optimism. “What surprised me was that in my job I find that one tribe will not associate with another when it comes to road-building contracts. When a particular contract is in one tribe’s area, for example, you hire the people from that tribe,” Van der Borg said. “In this refugee camp there are about six tribes living together trying to do the same thing which is escaping the realities set before them. But they all live together and they all face similar situations. Hopefully when they get out of this situation they won’t go back as separate tribes, but they might actually go out and form a village.” The weather in Afghanistan continues to get colder, which means a need for warm winter clothing at the camp. Albertson relies on the generosity of Americans to keep supplies coming, and the willingness of commanders to keep pushing the VCR program. ”This provides us for immediate distribution, so it’s a testimony to the charity of the American people that they want to do this. And there’s a tremendous amount of effort from the senior commander’s command directive to maintain this relationship with the people,” Albertson said.This is also a testimony to the love of the servicemembers and civilian volunteers here for the Afghan people and their commitment to help them.”

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Afghanistan Engineer District-North Project Manager Larry Bergmooser, second from left, confers with other AED-North project managers at Kabul International Airport. From left: Greg Grugett, Bergmooser, Sayed Mujtaba and Glenn McIntosh. Following is Robert McLaughlin of the Transportation Security Administration.

Corps of Engineers helps get Kabul International Airport up and running Story and Photos by Hank Heusinkveld (USACE Afghanistan Engineer District-North)

In the spring of 2009, commercial airline traffic in Afghanistan was nearly non-existent. At Kabul International Airport, (KIA) air traffic was mainly military fixed wing and rotary aircraft. But an international effort by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Afghanistan Engineer District-North and other organizations is helping to make KIA more accessible for international and domestic air traffic, giving the Afghan economy a much-needed boost. “When I first got here, two or three airplanes were arriving each day and there were no pedestrians at all after 10 a.m.,” said AED-North Project Manager Larry Bergmooser. “Now it’s nonstop travel. Our goal

and objective is to help the Afghans with their infrastructure needs. We’ve been assessing their buildings, and we’ve been communicating with the directors to find out what their needs are. “The Afghans just haven’t had any resources, and they’ve had no authority to develop their own organization. We’ve been empowering them to a large degree, and that’s helped to jumpstart the redevelopment,” Bergmooser added. KIA has two contrasting sections. The Japanesebuilt international terminal is modern and attractive,

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completed in August of 2008. The domestic terminal was built in two different periods more than 50 years ago. The Soviet Union built the foundation and the runways in the early 1950s, and the U.S. Agency for International Development built the air traffic control tower and annex a few years later. According to Bergmooser, the domestic terminal is well past its serviceable life, but the structure is solid and is being updated with modern electrical and sewage systems. In addition, Bergmooser said that the Corps of Engineers is working directly for the Federal Aviation Administration to install a ground approach radar system, improve security enhancements, and plan activities for building renovation. “The Ministry of Transportation for Civil Aviation is just now bringing on its engineering team. The individual engineers are quite qualified, but they haven’t had the experience that they’ve needed or the money to do the projects, and they’ve not had the chance to develop their own experience,” Bergmooser said.

improve construction and help provide more projects and more employment for people.” Developing working and mentoring relationships at KIA has been successful, Bergmooser said. The FAA is advising and mentoring the Minister of Transportation, and the Montreal-based International Civil Aviation Organization which certifies airfields for international travel is helping directors and sub directors to understand their roles. Kabul International Airport President Dr. M.Y. Rassuli is grateful for the outpouring of international support. “Kabul International Airport is the biggest in Afghanistan. It has been in very bad condition, but now it has been improved with the help of our international colleagues. The World Bank provides for us tariff for the rehabilitation of the runway and the fencing of the airport and also for demining,” Rassuli said. “The Corps of Engineers helped us with airport security with the perimeter fence around the operational area. They are rehabilitating the annex building and the tower and they have also built a gate for the crews. We are very thankful to our international colleagues, especially from the Corps of Engineers.”

“If you don’t have money, it’s USACE Afghanistan Engineer District-North Project hard to do a project to get Managers Greg Grugett, left, and Glenn McIntosh experience. If you don’t have stand before the international terminal at Kabul the authority to go in and build International Airport. something or you don’t have the resources to build it, then you don’t go to that next level of competence. That’s The big picture is simple, Bergmooser said. The what happens when you lose three generations of more functional and well managed the airport, the experience and training and the ability to manage more commerce can expand by commercial air trafyour own affairs,” Bergmooser said. fic. One thing that the Afghans are gaining is project management expertise, provided by the Corps of Engineers. Sayed Mujtaba is an Afghan civil engineer employed by AED-North as a project manager for the Support for Others Program.

“The air highway within Afghanistan is secure. When you start building an airport center, a society is going to grow from it. That’s what’s happening here. And once they get up to speed eventually they’ll be all Afghans working and building,” Bergmooser said.

“I’m getting a lot of experience from the Army Corps of Engineers, and it’s helping me guide the Afghan people for managing projects. Management in Afghanistan has been missing for a long time because we haven’t been able to build anything,” Mujtaba explained. “The Corps can help Afghan engineers not only build, but help with management which can

“That’s what I’ve really been proud of is helping get that part started. The whole goal is to let them build, not build it for them because they know what to do. They want to do this. They just need us to give them the experience, the encouragement, money and the time to do it.”

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A Hail & Farewell to Mr. Frank Piccola By David Killam Ask anyone in the Sacramento District who Frank Piccola is and their recognition of him will be immediate. Everyone knows him and his departure will cause a little sadness in the ranks. Piccola, Chief of the Planning Division, is retiring in March. Piccola joined the Corps of Engineers in 1990, in the Los Angeles District. He previously worked in his native state of New Jersey, for county and municipal governments there. He even worked briefly as an environmental consultant on cruise ships. He graduated from Rutgers University in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, and later acquired a master’s degree in government administration from Rider University. While at Los Angeles, Piccola worked on the Los Angeles Deep Draft Navigation Project as an environmental manager. In 1993, his team won USACE’s Outstanding Planning Team of the Year award. When Piccola’s wife Janet, who works for the state of California, was transferred to Ione, Calif., Piccola received a 120-day tour with the Environmental

Resources Branch of the Sacramento District. After “a lot of begging,” Piccola was hired as a permanent employee of the district. Since then, Piccola has been appointed as the section chief of environmental planning and assumed leadership of the Planning Division in 2007. Among his mentors, Piccola lists from South Pacific Division, Ron Muller, Robin Mooney and Todd Snow. He was also mentored by Col. Thomas Chapman, the District Engineer. His love for the district has yet to diminish. “I like working here because the projects are challenging,” said Piccola. “Someone once told me that all of the easy work for the district has already been accomplished. I believe that‘s right. I also feel that in many instances, Sacramento is the point of the spear.” “I also like the people who are here,” he added. “Some of the smartest people I have ever met work right here in the District. I have respect for everyone in the District.”

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Piccola, who now lives in Amador County, plans to retire in the cooler Pacific Northwest. “With the exception of a few boiling hot days in summer, I will miss the weather here for most of the year,” added Piccola.“And I will miss the projects. Look at the great projects we’ve done: Guadalupe, Napa and the Yolo Bypass. And the great projects we’re working on: Truckee Meadows and the Joint Federal Projects, where government agencies are working together.” “I will miss a lot of people, especially: Scott Clark and, Alicia Kirchner– these are people whose work has made the Planning Division what it is today. My first supervisor at Sacramento District was Sanny Osborn, who was the best supervisor I’ve ever had. I was lucky to be able to lure back Kurt Keilman and Sannie, who had left the district. I will also miss interacting with some of our sponsors. I respect how so many of them are dedicated to their constituents.” “I’m a great believer in having fun at work,” Piccola said. “I also believe in mixing seasonal and re-

tired annuitant workers in with permanent employees. It adds a lot of stability.” Scott Clark, Chief of the Environmental Resources Branch, will also miss Frank. “He has a great personality with a gift for gab,” said Clark. “He can talk with anyone about practically anything, from inspectors all the way up to U.S. Senators. I’ve always been impressed by his energy levels and his sense of humor, which defuses stressful situations” Under Piccola’s leadership, the planning division’s budget has almost doubled and the division has hired another 20 people. “Planning has gained a lot of respect while Frank was here,” added Clark. “There is greater recognition of planning’s mission.” Alicia Kirchner, Deputy Chief of the Planning Division, also has good things to say about Piccola: “Frank became Chief when Planning needed strong leadership,” said Kirchner. “Almost instantaneously he started to make a difference. During his tenure in the last three years, the change in Planning has been profound.” “To young people, I say don’t fight the government,” added Piccola. “Work with the government. Learn and enjoy the work. Be a sponge – learn from others.” Left: Piccola in his cubicle circa mid-1990s Top: Piccola smiles after being dunked in a water tank during the District’s 2009 spring picnic.

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The Sacramento District is proud to announce its own chapter of Toastmasters International. Entitled, “Corps Talk” the District Toastmasters Club includes over 20 District employees who are committed to developing new skills in public speaking and personal communication. Started in September of 2009, the chapter now numbers more than 20 members and is always seeking new members that are interested in becoming better communicators. Members take one lunch hour every other Wednesday to meet and speak about various topics in a structured speaking forum and receive feedback from their peers. From a humble beginning in 1924 at the YMCA in Santa Ana, Calif., Toastmasters International has grown to become a world leader in helping people become more competent and comfortable in front of an audience. The nonprofit organization now has nearly 250,000 members in more than 12,500 clubs in 106 countries, offering a proven and enjoyable way to practice and hone communication and leadership skills. Many people ask, “What’s in it for me?” Professional survey after survey reveals presentation skills are crucial to success in the workplace. Many people pay high fees for seminars to gain the skill and confidence necessary to face an audience. Toastmasters provides an option that is less expensive and held in high regard in business circles.

For more information on attending a meeting, please contact Kate Dadey, Vice President for New Members.

Column

Sudoku Challenge 1 3 4 4 7 8

Row

2 2 3

8 9

5 9 2 1

9 5

9 6

5 8 4 Rules

Play

Fill in the game board so that the numbers 1 through 9 occur exactly ONCE in each row, column, and 3x3 box. The numbers can appear in any order and diagonals are not considered. Your initial game board will consist of several numbers that are already placed. Those numbers cannot be changed. Your goal is to fill in the empty squares following the simple rule above.

9 7 5 2 1 8

Difficulty:

Hard

Fall edition caption winners “...don’t you wish your girlfriend was hot like me?” “You are getting sleepy...” “I hate humid and damp days, they make my hair frizzy and I can’t do a thing with it”

Pay and Leave Schedule 2010 = Payday

= Holiday January S

February F

April M

October T

November F

September

June

August

July M

May

March

= End of pay period

December

2009 Leave Year ends 2 January 2010 (Use or Lose Time must be used or forfeited) - 2010 Leave Year ends 1 January 2011 (26 Pay Periods).

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District 1325 J. Street Sacramento, CA 95814

What caption would you give this photo? Why do you get to hold the microphone?

Send your caption ideas to Prospector@usace.army.mil The top two captions will be selected and printed in the upcoming issue of The Prospector. Send in any funny or interesting photograph and we may use it for a future caption challenge.