27 Aug 2015

Managing a river is dam challenging

In 2013, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Omaha District Leadership Development Class developed a video game that invites players to plan and make releases from two inland waterway dams. The Omaha District, with class members as project managers, awarded a contract to the U.S. Army Game Design studio to design the game. The game allows players to take charge of river operations and experience the unique challenges presented when managing reservoir operations in a variety of weather conditions across a geographically diverse basin. Like the real world, the weather forecast isn’t always accurate, presenting an additional challenge.

20 Oct 2014

Where to go in a Zombie Apocalypse? What about a Nuclear Attack?

Zombies. They’re at your door. Sure, this time it’s just trick or treaters. BUT... What would you do if it were really zombies? Where would you go? What supplies would you need? Where would you use the bathroom? How would you get food or water and where would you sleep? Instead of zombies, think 1960s and the threat? A potential nuclear disaster. Just in time for Halloween, peek into life in a fallout shelter as presented in a display at the Lewis and Clark Visitor Center at Gavins Point Dam during the 2014 recreation season.

18 Sep 2014

Safety drills prepare crews for “what if”

Crews performing a repair contract at Big Bend Dam recently held an exercise to practice safely rescuing a worker who has become incapacitated in their work area. Contractor J.F. Brennan is repairing the spillway gates at Big Bend Dam near Chamberlain, S.D. During the exercise, a mannequin, playing the part of an incapacitated worker who was overcome by paint fumes, needed to be rescued from an area 25 feet above the spillway concrete and 50 feet from the nearest mechanical lift. Once the team extracted the mannequin from the work area, they faced the additional challenge of moving it out of the spillway over the 20-foot-high wing wall using the lift and providing first aid while getting medical attention in a remote location.

18 Aug 2014

Military Munitions Remediation at Camp Hale: the project, the history, the public

Through the Department of Defense’s Formerly Used Defense Sites mission and under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District is cleaning up contamination, addressing military munitions, and removing safety hazards caused by past activities near Camp Hale, Colo., where the Army trained for winter warfare from 1942 to 1965.

12 Aug 2014

USACE publications begin moving to digital environment

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Digital Library is giving a permanent home to a large collection of publications, reports and documents prepared by districts across USACE. The materials within the collection include information by and about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. All content is contributed by offices throughout USACE and is enriched with metadata designated by its contributors and librarians. The digitized materials are uploaded into the CONTENTdm® Digital Collection Management System which allows for greater search and retrieval of items. The digital library is managed and maintained by the USACE Library Program.