What does the Army Corps of Engineers accomplish?

2019-03-18T21:40:17-04:00

Haven’t they been building dams and dredging waterways for years? Why cannot their mission invclude real flood mitigation?

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Mar 18 at 2019 10:48 PM

2019-03-18T22:48:35-04:00

They do.

Kansas City and Nebraska Offices have a boundary at the Platte River. The KC Office has flood management. https://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/

The map...https://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Locations/District-Offices/Nebraska/

Kansas City District Civil Works

The official public website of the Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2019 10:50 PM

2019-03-18T22:50:40-04:00

Here on Guam they're involved if someone wants to build in the water or water line, you'll have to get approval to build. Picture is of the Fish Eye underwater park that Army Corps of Engineers approved. The blue areas are made from bombs during WWII.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Mar 18 at 2019 11:00 PM

2019-03-18T23:00:03-04:00

My last unit before retirement was an Engineer BN. We had two officers who came to us from ACOE. I was AMAZED at all of the shit they do. And yes, that includes actual mitigation, not just recovery.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Mar 19 at 2019 10:24 AM

2019-03-19T10:24:10-04:00

The CoE is pretty much like the Navy CEC with a huge exception of its Civil Works program and navigational mission, which I believe you're focusing on. Army infrastructure, real estate, environmental, construction, maintenance, etc. is funded separately vs. the Civil Works side. The big deal is you don't want mission without resources. CoE doesn't get enough to do the "minimum", hence you have the occasional spectacular events like Katrina. Even so, there isn't enough money to forestall the Big Ones. The writing is on the wall for places like NOLA and Venice. At some point, you're really throwing money down the toilet to push off the inevitable for a few more years.
My experience with my counterparts has been generally amicable. CoE MIL engineer units tend not to be as flexible as the Seabee side, but can be more robust where it counts. Different mission, and more importantly, a different timespan most often. Two different mission sets are being supported which I'd call Seabees wedge in with the Marines and the Army conquers.
I'd expect with the changing climate pattern (it exists, but extent of human based cause is debatable), the flooding and other problems will get worse. As with everything governmental, it's always too little, too late.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Mar 21 at 2019 9:32 PM

2019-03-21T21:32:15-04:00

They also inspect/repair levees, but no one is ever prepared for Hurricane , or the highest water runoff in 50yrs.