1 Oct 2025

Relief Well Sustainment Deployable Resilient Installation Water Purification and Treatment System (RWS-DRIPS): Treatment of Relief Wells at Perry Dam, Kansas

Purpose: This report details the treatment process and resulting outcomes for relief wells at Perry Dam (Jefferson County, Kansas) using the Relief Well Sustainment Deployable Resilient Installation Water Purification and Treatment System (RWS-DRIPS) treatment trailer. The RWS-DRIPS is a mobile treatment unit with comprehensive water treatment capabilities designed to disinfect surface and subsurface water with high efficiency. Immediately following treatment with the RWS-DRIPS unit, video monitoring was used to observe the condition of the relief wells. The results of that observation are described in this report.

1 Oct 2025

Predicting Seagrass Habitat Suitability with Remote Sensing and Machine Learning: A Case Study in the Mississippi-Alabama Barrier Islands

Abstract: Seagrass occupies sandy platforms landward of the Mississippi-Alabama barrier islands, where the benthos experiences consistent sediment transport. This work characterized benthos surrounding Cat Island, Mississippi, to assess the influence of elevation and geomorphological features (e.g., slopes, flats, peaks, and valleys) on seagrass presence. Two machine learning algorithms predicted seagrass presence/absence (from airborne hyperspectral imagery) based on elevation and geomorphology (derived from airborne lidar bathymetry) for 2016, 2018, and 2019. Results indicated elevation primarily influenced seagrass presence, with minimal impact from geomorphology. Elevation change was not predictive, suggesting seagrass tolerated observed deposition/erosion rates. This research showcases remote sensing and machine learning efficacy in predicting seagrass habitat suitability (greater than 70% accuracy) and conveys implications for conservation.

30 Sep 2025

EWN Compass: Implementation Toolbox for Natural and Nature-Based Features

Purpose: This Engineering With Nature® (EWN®) technical note introduces the EWN Compass: Implementation Toolbox for Natural and Nature-Based Features—a user-friendly, web-based application developed using Esri ArcGIS Online. Designed to support practitioners in selecting and integrating natural and nature-based features (NNBF) into infrastructure projects, the toolbox provides structured access to existing resources, case studies, and environmental data to inform resilient and sustainable design solutions.

29 Sep 2025

Understanding Hurdles to Expanded Beneficial Use of Dredged Sediment: Stakeholder Perspectives

Purpose: This technical note (TN) is the second in a series of investigative reports seeking pathways and opportunities to expand beneficial use (BU) of dredged material (DM). This TN summarizes the results of stakeholder outreach and feedback on perceptions about potential BU barriers to be overcome. The purpose of the study was to aid the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) dredging and DM management practices, specifically BU of DM (hereinafter BUDM), that USACE manages from various navigation channels and ports around the nation. Per the 28 January 2023 Chief of Engineers’ Command Philosophy Notice, USACE is aiming to achieve a goal of 70% BU by the year 2030 (HQUSACE 2023), hereinafter the Chief’s 70/30 goal.

29 Sep 2025

Asset Condition and Probability of Failure Assessment–A Vision for Civil Works: A Document to Guide Collaboration and Innovation for the US Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Asset Management System

Abstract: The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is rapidly improving its asset management system through a variety of research projects and other work efforts that focus on how risk, condition, and probability of failure are conceived, communicated, and used for decision-making across the agency. As these projects move forward, it is critical that USACE defines a long-term vision for condition and probability of failure assessments across the entire asset management system. This Special Report defines that vision with the goal of achieving consensus and buy-in from a variety of participants that will need to buy-in to achieve success. An additional benefit to identifying an end vision for this work is to identify collaborative opportunities and any gaps that must be addressed to achieve it.

29 Sep 2025

State of Practice and Recommendations to Enhance Probability of Failure Estimates for Civil Works Infrastructure Components

Abstract: As the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) continues to improve its asset management system, it is imperative that maintenance investments across its wide infrastructure portfolio are maximizing risk reduction. A key component of risk is probability of failure. Presently, USACE estimates probability of failure for asset components in a variety of ways across business lines, activities, and decision spaces. This document explores the variations in the state of practice for probability of failure estimates across USACE and contrasts them with available best practices and methodologies. The review found several key gaps between the state of practice and best practices, including a lack of component failure and life data useful for time-to-failure parameter estimates, a lack of codified definitions of failure, no clear and consistent guidance for probability of failure estimates across business lines or decision spaces, and no methodologies that account for environmental variation at a facility. These gaps are addressed by a research strategy that compares and contrasts several probability of failure calculation methods using presently available data, identifies relevant life data for future collection, and defines a framework for investing in improved probability of failure assessments at facilities.

29 Sep 2025

Planning-Level Wetland Delineation of Fee-Owned and Trust-Held Properties of the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians

Abstract: A planning-level wetland delineation is an important visualization tool for identifying the location and type of wetlands on the landscape, prioritizing areas for conservation and restoration practices, performing alternative analysis, and informing design and development of infrastructure needs. This study used a combination of off-site data analysis and field data collection to identify the location and extent of wetlands on 1,428 acres of fee-owned and trust-held properties of the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians (LTBB). The study found that a wide variety of wetlands occur across approximately 313.6 acres, including 65 acres of wetland-nonwetland mosaic features. These wetlands benefit local communities by providing flood risk reduction, habitat for a wide array of species, and improved water quality. Opportunities to increase wetland functions through management activities, including restoration, were identified. This wetland delineation was conducted under the Planning Assistance to States Program, which provides technical assistance to states, tribal communities, and local governments and was administered via an agreement between the US Army Corps of Engineers–Detroit District and the LTBB. This approach has the potential to provide similar information to other tribal groups interested in identifying and delineating wetlands to improve the management of valuable natural resources.

26 Sep 2025

Rapid Assessment Tool for Channel Hydraulics and Floodplain Connectivity

Abstract: This technical note (TN) presents a rapid, nationally applicable web application for analyzing channel hydraulics and floodplain connectivity. The tool uses locally derived relative elevation models (REMs) that allow users to quantify hydraulics, like velocity and shear stress, and floodplain connectivity metrics, like inundation extent and storage volume (Haring and Dougherty, forthcoming).* By delineating cross sections directly from publicly available high-resolution terrain, the tool provides a rapid hydraulic assessment without requiring field survey data and also helps prioritize reaches for more detailed assessments.

25 Sep 2025

Effects of Suspended Sediment on Aquatic Organisms: A Literature Review and Database Effort

Abstract: The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) acknowledges that uncertainties and public perceptions regarding the effects of suspended sediment on aquatic organisms, particularly the concentration thresholds associated with harmful effects, present an ongoing challenge to its dredging mission. USACE is actively working to address these challenges through improved monitoring, research, and collaboration to support safer and more sustainable dredging practices. To help mitigate this uncertainty, 159 field- and laboratory-based studies describing the effects of sediment on aquatic organisms were reviewed and compiled in a database. No- and low-effect ecotoxicity data from this review were further analyzed to determine percentiles of effects data and species sensitivity distributions. The analysis indicated corals and freshwater crustaceans were most sensitive, followed by fish, while bivalves and marine crustaceans appeared to be the most tolerant of suspended sediment. This literature review provides a foundational framework for visualizing site-specific suspended sediment thresholds for effects concentrations associated with potential effects on aquatic species. It serves as a starting point for identifying critical data gaps for future research, layering in additional data, refining thresholds, and supporting more informed, site-specific decision-making moving forward.

25 Sep 2025

Considerations and Lessons Learned for Remote Sensing Data Acquisition of Understudied Wetland Vegetation Metrics

Purpose: Traditional field-based methods for monitoring wetland ecosystems are often limited by accessibility and cost, hindering comprehensive assessment of these vital habitats. These wetlands often present challenges for mapping and monitoring due to their size, location, and diverse vegetation types. Therefore, thorough planning and execution are essential for collecting reliable data for analysis and generating meaningful results. To overcome these challenges, we investigated how remote sensing data captured from uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), such as multispectral imagery and lidar, can be effectively used to develop and validate metrics for measuring wetland vegetation characteristics as an alternative to traditional field-based methods.