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  • February

    Dive Supervisor Shanon Chader assists Diver Steve England to exit the water.

    Technical Services Dive Team inspects the Chicago Fish Barrier

    In a cooperative effort between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago District and the Technical Services Dive Team, consisting of members from the Corps of Engineers Buffalo, New England, and Philadelphia, and Headquarters, dives were conducted to inspect the Chicago Fish Barrier and provide an overall condition assessment to Chicago District’s operation and maintenance teams. More specifically, the team was inspecting the condition of Barriers IIA and IIB and the parasitic structures located upstream and downstream of the barriers.
  • Neil Miller conducts a gamma walkover survey at Great Skills State Park, Staten Island, New York.

    USACE Buffalo District supports nationwide hazardous, toxic, and radioactive waste efforts

    USACE Buffalo District supports nationwide hazardous, toxic, and radioactive waste efforts. The Buffalo District takes these environmental concerns head-on with a team of individuals who specialize in HTRW investigation and clean-up. The well-trained team performs environmental investigation and human health risk assessments, remedial actions to remove or control exposure to hazardous materials, and monitoring of completed remedies to ensure they are protective into the future.

  • January

    Roseanne Weidner, Occupational Safety and Health Specialist of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District provides safety training to a class on OSHA’S HAZWOPER (Hazardous Waste Operations Emergency Response) Standard.

    High standards of industrial hygiene are a hallmark of Corps of Engineers projects

    The Corps of Engineers Buffalo District is working on completion of a safety audit. Safety is a priority for all projects and developing comprehensive safety programs ensures the health and wellbeing of employees and contractors.
  • Photo shows work done for slope stabilization. Native seeds have been planted and eventually the site will show healthy, supportive vegetation.

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Interagency & International Services program provides specialized services around the world

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is a great example of a capability-rich organization that provides a wide variety of services to other non-Department of Defense federal agencies, international organizations, foreign governments, tribal nations, and state and local governments. Through the Interagency and International Services (IIS) program, the Corps of Engineers offers assistance with managing natural resources such as land and water, environmental restoration and management, engineering and construction, relief and recovery, research and development, along with a host of other technical services (i.e., technical editing).
  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed repairs to the Cleveland Harbor East breakwater which was damaged by Hurricane Sandy. The project was one of nine structures scheduled for repair under supplemental Superstorm Sandy funds provided by Congress.

    Last round of Sandy-damaged breakwater repair projects come to an end

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has completed the last of nine structural repair projects related to damages caused by Hurricane Sandy. Among the most recently completed projects were repairs to breakwaters located in Cleveland Harbor, Fairport Harbor, Lorain Harbor, and the Port Clinton East jetty.

  • November

    Biologist Kathleen Buckler takes a moment to review the sampling area she set up.

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers biologist shows value of fieldwork in higher education

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers boasts a highly educated staff. In the Buffalo District alone, employees collectively have over 60 different types of certifications, more than 30 master’s degrees, and four doctorate degrees. Buffalo District biologist Kathleen Buckler recently obtained a Master of Science degree in Wetland Ecology from SUNY Brockport and is already using her education on the job.
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District Chief of Counsel Michelle Barczak is retiring after 33 years of Federal service.

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District Chief of Counsel Retiring

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District Chief of Counsel Michelle Barczak is retiring after 33 years of Federal service.
  • The U.S. Army Corps of has approximately 30 volunteers in the Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) program and five of the volunteers reside within the Buffalo District. The cadre of Structures Specialists provide technical expertise in the area of structural engineering. The deployment of Structures Specialists is imperative in disaster situations in which disaster victims may be trapped in collapsed buildings and rescuers require assistance with securing safe access to locate them.

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District is Active in Urban Search and Rescue

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approximately 30 volunteers in the Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) program and five of the volunteers reside within the Buffalo District. The cadre of Structures Specialists provide technical expertise in the area of structural engineering. The deployment of Structures Specialists is imperative in disaster situations in which disaster victims may be trapped in collapsed buildings and rescuers require assistance with securing safe access to locate them.

  • October

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District Project Management Chief Tom LaVean is deploying to Afghanistan on October 30, 2016.

    Corps of Engineers Project Management Chief deploying to Afghanistan

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District Project Management Chief Tom LaVean is deploying to Afghanistan on October 30, 2016. This is Mr. LaVean’s third civilian deployment since starting with the Corps of Engineers in 2009.
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District Safety Manager, William Pioli (left), and Engineer Diver Brian Dockstader (right) recently completed dive school at the NASA Neutral Buoyancy Lab in Houston, TX.

    Dive school prepares Corps of Engineers for high-risk projects

    Two employees from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District staff recently completed dive school at the Sonny Carter Training Facility at NASA Neutral Buoyancy Lab in Houston, TX. For Safety Manager William Pioli, taking the one-week course was a refresher course required for his position, but for engineer Brian Dockstader, his three-week course provided specialized training to work on construction sites that require diving expertise.
  • Under the authority of the Great Lakes Tributary Modeling program, the Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District is poised to assist state and local resource agencies in evaluating their watershed planning needs and alternatives for soil conservation and non-point source pollution prevention. USACE employees Michael Voorhees and Michael Snyder stand in front of a class at Ft. Drum in August 2016 conducting a web-based tools training.

    Sediment transport modeling is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers critical skillset

    The Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District is poised to assist state and local resource agencies in evaluating their watershed planning needs and alternatives for soil conservation and non-point source pollution prevention. If your organization would like to learn more, of get involved with the program contact: 716-879-4488 or Michael.E.Voorhees@usace.army.mil or visit our web page: http://www.lrb.usace.army.mil/Missions/Interagency-Support/Sediment/
  • COL Christopher Drew (left), LTC Dennis Sugrue (middle), and LTC Adam Czekanski (right), all served with the 10th Mountain in combat and now serve the Nation as leaders of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Great Lakes districts, September 9, 2016.

    Former U.S. Army 10th Mountain soldiers now leading the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Great Lakes region

    COL Drew, LTC Czekanski, and LTC Sugrue each wear the unit patch of the 10th Mountain Division on the right arm of their uniform, signifying their time with the Division during tours of duty in combat. It is symbol of their commitment to protect our Nation in a time of war, a commitment they continue today serving with the Corps of Engineers during a time of peace.

  • September

    Repairs to Buffalo CDF#4 (bottom) after severe wave action damaged the lakeside dike (top), September 2016.

    Corps of Engineers completes a major dike repair effort in Buffalo Outer Harbor

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District recently completed repairs to a confined disposal facility (CDF) at the Buffalo Outer Harbor, Buffalo, NY.
  • USACE Buffalo District staff members Laura Ortiz, Paul Cocca, and Bob Remmers met with reporter Erica Brecher from WGRZ, Channel 2 on Wednesday, August 31 to discuss the role of the Corps in the multiagency flood mapping effort involving the Smokes Creek Flood Control Project in Lackawanna, NY.

    Corps provides update on Smokes Creek flood mapping

    USACE Buffalo District staff members Laura Ortiz, Paul Cocca, and Bob Remmers met with reporter Erica Brecher from WGRZ, Channel 2 on Wednesday, August 31 to discuss the role of the Corps in the multiagency flood mapping effort involving the Smokes Creek Flood Control Project in Lackawanna, NY.

  • August

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District Emergency Operations office held a training for the Buffalo District Flood Fight Team, August 18, 2016. The purpose of the training was to prepare the team of volunteers to respond in the event of a flood incident.

    USACE launches annual flood fight team training program

    A common mantra of the military is “be prepared” and the same applies to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) civilian personnel. To maintain an elevated level of preparedness, the Emergency Management Office of the Buffalo District provided a training class for the organization’s Flood Fight Team this month.

  • June

    Buffalo Fire Department Rescue 1 truck on display for the Safety Day events, June 24, 2016.

    Safety Day highlights summer safety, engages families

    When it comes to safety, engaging employees on a regular basis and encourage them to share that information with family members, save lives and grows a strong community. Which is why the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District safety office combined the Safety Day with the annual Corps Day events.
  • The Buffalo District staff supports the “Ready, Set, Wear It” campaign, May 20, 2016.

    Water safety reminder comes as warm weather begins

    It is still a few week away from the official start of summer, but across the Great Lakes warm weather has already arrived putting boaters and swimmers back in the water; and members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District on the water safety offensive.

  • May

    Robert Lichvar, Director of the National Wetland Plant List, treats Buffalo District Regulatory Biologists to plant ID training.

    USACE Buffalo District Biologist Selected to Assist Research Lab

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District Biologist Melissa Tarasiewicz has been selected to assist with the development and management of the National Wetland Plant List (NWPL) at the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), Hanover NH.
  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District maintenance crew dedicated to the Soo Locks, located at Sault Ste. Marie in the upper peninsula of Michigan, have arrived at the Buffalo District to repair a portion of the 100-year old Black Rock Lock, Buffalo, NY.

    Soo Locks Maintenance Crew Arrives to Work on Black Rock Lock

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District maintenance crew dedicated to the Soo Locks, located at Sault Ste. Marie in the upper peninsula of Michigan, have arrived at the Buffalo District to repair a portion of the 100-year old Black Rock Lock, Buffalo, NY.
  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District Environmental Analysis Biologists Richard Ruby and Jay Miller, along with the Floating Plant Crew captained by Tim Colburn, were at the Ashtabula Harbor east breakwater, Ashtabula Ohio, May 4 repairing storm-damaged common tern (Sterna hirundo) habitat.

    USACE Buffalo District Biologists Repair Common Tern Nesting Habitat

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District Environmental Analysis Biologists Richard Ruby and Jay Miller, along with the Floating Plant Crew captained by Tim Colburn, were at the Ashtabula Harbor east breakwater, Ashtabula Ohio, May 4 repairing storm-damaged common tern (Sterna hirundo) habitat.