Army Corps of Engineers

Flooded street and two downed trees with downtown Houston buildings in background

Houston’s ‘Ike Dike’ Won’t Adequately Protect the City

The largest project ever undertaken by the Army Corps of Engineers may not be enough to protect Houston-area communities from flooding during the most severe hurricanes, according to the Corps’ own analysis.

April 27, 2023 - Grist

Superstorm Sandy

Federal Storm Surge Study Called Off Suddenly, Leaving New York Exposed

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was on the verge of proposing a plan to protect New York City from storm surges and sea-level rise. Instead, the city of New York has lost federal support for a path toward climate resilience.

February 26, 2020 - Gothamist

Flood

Corps of Engineers Faces Criticism for Flood Management

Recent heavy rains and flooding have put the the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the defensive about its flood control policies and procedures.

June 10, 2019 - The New York Times

Levee

Unequal Flood Protection Makes Floods Worse for Some Communities

Levees can save towns, but they can also push water downstream making floods worse, meaning that if wealthier places are protected, it’s sometimes at the expense of poor communities.

August 17, 2018 - ProPublica

Volunteers

When Coastal States Kill Building Codes, FEMA Pays

Despite the increasing number and intensity of natural disasters, some vulnerable states are relaxing building regulations and leaving the federal government to pick up the tab when tragedy strikes again.

April 5, 2018 - Bloomberg

Green River

Green River Dam Removal Reverses a Century of Infrastructure History in Kentucky

A century-old dam on the Green River failed in November. Now it will be removed in March.

March 23, 2017 - Courier-Journal

Trump

Trump Targets Obama's Signature Environmental Rule, the Clean Power Plan

The first environmental regulation to be rescinded under President Trump was the Stream Protection Rule. It will not be the last. The president has his eyes on a rule that limits greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants.

February 23, 2017 - The Washington Post

Dakota Access Pipeline

Army Corps to Grant Permit for Completion of Dakota Access Pipeline

Elections have consequences. Per a Jan. 24 executive memo, the Army Corps of Engineers indicated that it will grant Dakota Access LLC the final permit to tunnel under the Missouri River and complete the controversial pipeline.

February 9, 2017 - The Washington Post - Energy and Environment

Dakota Access Pipeline

Trump Reverses Obama's Rejections of Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipelines

Fulfilling two campaign promises, President Trump conditionally approved two controversial pipelines to transport oil sands from Alberta and Bakken oil from North Dakota, certain to stir opposition from environmentalists and Native Americans.

January 24, 2017 - USA Today

Dakota Access Pipeline

Victory for Native Americans and Supporters at Standing Rock—for Now

The Army Corps of Engineers denied Energy Transfer Partners an easement for the Dakota Access Pipeline under Lake Oahe, advising them to explore alternative routing and conduct an environmental review, granting indigenous peoples a rare victory.

December 7, 2016 - The New York Times

Dakota Access Protest

Following Study, Army Corps Needs More Study to Decide Dakota Access Route

As the protests over the Dakota Access Pipeline continue, so does the legal wrangling.

November 17, 2016 - KUOW

Dakota Access Pipeline

Dakota Access Protest Dealt Legal Setback

The federal judge ruled against a challenge that would have halted construction on the $3.8 billion pipeline project connecting North Dakota to Illinois.

September 10, 2016 - Associated Press via ABC News

One Geologist Predicted Floods in St. Louis Months Before They Struck

Hindsight is 20-20, but so too sometimes is the foresight of geologists. That was the case prior to the flooding that struck St. Louis this December.

January 3, 2016 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Los Angeles River Kayak

Los Angeles River Visionary Reflects on $1 Billion Recommendation for Revitalization

When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced its preference for a $1.08 billion plan to restore habitat in the Los Angeles River, many credited Lewis MacAdams's fight to change the city's relationship with its waterway over nearly three decades.

July 3, 2014 - The Planning Report

Should the Army Decide What Projects are Right for Your Neighborhood?

In an opinion piece for Bloomberg View, Edward Glaeser argues that the Army Corps of Engineers' influence on development in local communities is too far-reaching.

August 28, 2012 - Bloomberg

High Speed Rail: Detriment or Benefit to the Environment?

While California's high speed rail project will be beneficial for the environment by turning polluting car and plane trips into zero-emission travel by train, there are formidable environmental challenges it must overcome in the construction phase.

June 16, 2012 - Los Angeles Times

L.A. River: From Afterthought to Asset

With strong advocates in Washington and in City Hall, planning continues for an ambitious multi-billion dollar effort to overhaul the Los Angeles River and its relationship to the city.

January 11, 2012 - Planning

Physically Modeling and Understanding Floods in the U.S.

Despite efforts to stop them, floods hammered the U.S. in the early 20th century. A now abandoned model of the Mississippi river, its tributaries and surrounding lands was built to better understand how to combat those floods.

March 23, 2011 - Places

Levee Construction Around New Orleans Enters a Period of Uncertainty

The Times-Picayune reports that the Army Corps of Engineers, under pressure from penny-pinched local governments, has commenced a new pilot study that potentially relaxes the new, stricter standards for levees it set in place post-Katrina.

October 19, 2010 - The Times-Picayune

Judge Rules Army Corps Responsible for New Orleans Flooding

A federal judge has ruled that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' mismanaged maintenance of the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet was the cause of flood damage in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

November 20, 2009 - New Orleans Times-Picayune

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