• November

    Spotlight on USACE Galveston District's Lisa Finn

    Lisa Finn’s journey toward a healthy lifestyle began with a single moment while out to dinner with friends back in the spring of 2009. “I looked around the restaurant and it occurred to me that I was the heaviest person in the room,” said Finn. “That thought stayed with me and bothered me tremendously. It was then that I became determined to lose weight.”
  • October

    Spotlight on Capt. Derek Thornton

    GALVESTON, Texas (Oct. 16, 2012) - It’s no secret that successful engineers often exhibit similar
  • September

    Spotlight on USACE Galveston District's Adrian Ramos

    PORT ISABEL, Texas - When U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District Civil Engineer Adrian Ramos decided to pursue a career in engineering, he knew his ideal choice of employment would allow him to remain hands-on in the field. Armed with distinct goals and a passion to serve, Ramos found a natural fit with the USACE Galveston District’s Engineering and Construction Division.
  • August

    USACE Galveston civil engineer makes community proud

    Many would consider growing up in the largely African-American Sunnyside neighborhood south of
  • Franchelle Craft earns Modern-Day Technology recognition

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District Civil Engineer Franchelle Craft was selected and
  • July

    Spotlight on USACE Galveston District’s Rashid Sheikh-ali

    GALVESTON, Texas (July 18, 2012) - Full of hope and aspirations for a better life, Rashid Sheikh-ali (a native of Mogadishu, Somalia) set out on a life-changing journey in 1980 that would take him from Africa to America – where he would become a structural engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District.
  • June

    Spotlight on Sarah Xie-DeSoto (June 2012)

    Leaving the fast-paced world of international business behind to start a new life with her groom, Structural Engineer Sarah Xie-DeSoto packed her bags in 1998 and made the 7,000-mile journey from Sichuan, China, to Texas to embark on an adventure that would incorporate structure in her life in a way she hadn’t imagined.
  • Corps' partnership with Trinity River Authority saves time, money

    GALVESTON, Texas (June 18, 2012) – With a rich history of water management, the Trinity River Authority is known for providing services to more than 60 cities in the Trinity River basin and for supplying approximately 60 percent of the water for the City of Houston. But what you might not be aware of is that the TRA partnered with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District in 1977 to issue permits at the Lake Livingston Project, saving permit applicants a substantial amount of time and taxpayers thousands of dollars each year.
  • Wallisville Lake Project offers visitors outdoor fun, relaxation

    Leave the City of Houston behind with its tall buildings, stadiums and busy streets and drive east
  • May

    Spotlight on USACE Galveston District’s Mark Garza

    Spending time outdoors and learning about nature has always been a hobby for Mark Garza, a biologist in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District’s Environmental Section.
  • What is ecosystem restoration?

    Q.        What is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Ecosystem Restoration Program?A.         The
  • What is a seismic survey?

    Q: What is a seismic survey? A. Seismic surveys are conducted by sending a seismic wave, generated by an energy source, into the subsurface of the earth and recording the reflection wave back on the earth’s surface. The intensity and timing of the reflected wave are used to three-dimensionally map the subsurface geologic features to the desired depth, and these maps are used to assess geological features that could potentially contain hydrocarbon reserves deep below the earth’s surface.
  • What is dredging?

    Q: What is dredging? A. Dredging is essentially the underwater excavation of a channel. Throughout the year, sediments within the water column will settle and accumulate within the channel, a process that is known as shoaling. The shoaled material is removed to the authorized project depth (plus advance maintenance and allowable overdepth) to allow for safe navigation between dredging cycles, a process known as maintenance dredging.
  • Contracting with Corps: What constitutes a small business?

    In these tough economic times, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District encourages small businesses to expand their customer base and consider the federal government as a source of business. – USACE Galveston District Ken Adams, Deputy for Small Business
  • What is permitting?

    “We are neither a proponent nor opponent of projects. As a steward of the public trust, our mission is to make permit decisions based on the best available information and policies set forth by the federal government to ensure compliance with the primary goal of protecting the nation’s overall aquatic environment.” -- Fred Anthamatten, USACE Galveston District Regulatory Branch chief
  • What is levee flood protection?

    Q. What is a levee? A. The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) defines a levee as a “man-made structure, usually an earthen embankment, designed and constructed in accordance with sound engineering practices to contain, control, or divert the flow of water so as to provide protection from temporary flooding.” The terms dike and levee are sometimes used interchangeably. A few examples of levee systems in the Houston area are the USACE-constructed Texas City Hurricane Protection Structure, Freeport Hurricane Protection Structure, the Port Arthur Hurricane Protection Structure and the locally constructed levee systems in Fort Bend County.
  • What is a dredging placement area?

    “We work with our partners to manage resources and dredging activities in a sustainable manner, one which leaves behind the smallest footprint, while continually seeking ways to reduce, mitigate or eliminate potential negative impacts.” Alicia Rea
  • What is an Environmental Impact Statement?

    When an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is necessary in making a Corps permit decision, it provides staff with a comprehensive document to gain an understanding of environmental consequences that a proposed project may have and allows us to make balanced public interest decisions to protect, restore, and enhance the environment.” -- Fred Anthamatten, Chief, Regulatory Branch
  • What is required for debris removal?

    “The Corps provides strong protection of the nation’s aquatic environment by ensuring compliance with federal laws and regulations.” - Fred Anthamatten, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District Regulatory Branch Chief
  • What are the Colorado River Locks?

    Q. What are the Colorado River Locks? A. USACE Galveston District locks provide navigation access through the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, assisting vessels crossing the intersection of the Colorado River.