Walla Walla District News

The Walla Walla District welcomes Lt. Col. Douglas Droesch

Joshua Glenn — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 21:41:00 GMT

On July 15, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District held its change of command ceremony at the Marcus Whitman Hotel, where Lt. Col. Kathryn Werback relinquished command to Lt. Col. Douglas Droesch.

USACE innovations increase fish survivability on the Snake and Columbia rivers

Elijah Wittum — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 18:58:04 GMT

KAHLOTUS, Wash. – Beneath the surface of the Snake River, an ever-changing aquatic environment dictates the survival of some of the region's most iconic wildlife, Pacific salmon and steelhead. To protect these vulnerable species, personnel with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District are deploying innovative “fish bubblers” to combat rising temperatures.

Vigilance 24/7: How the Walla Walla District prepares dams – and communities – for the unexpected

Joshua Glenn — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 22:29:42 GMT

WALLA WALLA, Wash. – What does it take to keep a dam safe? For the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District the answer goes far beyond replacing concrete and steel. Through continuous training and detailed safety inspections, USACE has created a culture of learning from real-world events to stay prepared for emergencies.

Complex project earns Walla Walla District team national award

Elijah Wittum — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 21:33:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District is part of the first team ever to receive the USACE National Regulatory Team of the Year, recognized during the 2025 USACE National Awards ceremony earlier this year.

Electrical system upgrades at Dworshak hatchery bolster fish survival

Elijah Wittum — Wed, 27 May 2026 20:03:00 GMT

AHSAHKA, Idaho – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District is completing significant upgrades to the electrical distribution system at Dworshak National Fish Hatchery, addressing aging infrastructure and enhancing safety and operational reliability.

Remote regulatory team provides local answers for rural Idaho

Marcy Sanchez — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 23:16:00 GMT

In a corner of the Idaho Department of Water Resources office at Idaho Falls, a remote regulatory team from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, guide Idahoans through the complexities of land management on waterways.

USACE, Teton County partnership shields $1 billion in property from floods

Marcy Sanchez — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 18:46:00 GMT

Along the Snake River, the sound of heavy equipment echoes off the Teton and the Gros Ventre mountains as crews place fresh riprap along the Jackson Levees. For the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Walla Walla District, it is the latest effort in more than a decade-long undertaking to protect lives and property in Wyoming, part of USACE’s broader national mission to safeguard communities against flooding.

Walla Walla District-led health initiative scales across USACE to strengthen Workforce readiness

Glenn Joshua — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 18:32:11 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District is emphasizing a proactive approach toward workforce readiness by making medical surveillance a key component of its occupational health strategy.

Dworshak’s “Skeleton Bay” flooded in key step toward regional energy growth

Marcy Sanchez — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 20:44:00 GMT

On the banks of the North Fork Clearwater River, a new chapter is being written for one of the Pacific Northwest’s most important hydropower resources. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Walla Walla District, in partnership with the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), has taken a key step toward expanding the Dworshak Dam powerhouse with a fourth generating unit.

Lower Granite Lock and Dam marks 50 years on the Snake River

Marcy Sanchez — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 18:03:00 GMT

On July 10, 2025, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, celebrated the 3,200-feet-long Lower Granite Lock and Dam’s 50 years of service to the Pacific Northwest along with the generations of people who made it possible. Lower Granite Lock and Dam, located on the Snake River in southeastern Washington, includes a dam, navigation lock, powerhouse, fish ladder, and associated facilities. The project provides hydropower, navigation, flood risk management, fish and wildlife habitat, recreation, and incidental irrigation. The dam spans approximately 3,200 feet and has an effective height of 100 feet. It is a concrete gravity structure with an earthfill right abutment embankment.

Washington native finds calling as USACE park ranger

Glenn M. Joshua — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 21:56:00 GMT

Kye Carpenter’s love for the outdoors began on the quiet banks of Washington’s rivers, fishing alongside his grandparents near Pasco. This year, as the nation celebrates National Park and Recreation Month, Carpenter is also being recognized on World Ranger Day, June 31, for his exemplary service as a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Park Ranger with the Walla Walla District.

USACE crew acts fast aiding visitor during April rollover

Marcy Sanchez — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 20:15:00 GMT

On April 23, a serious vehicle rollover near Lucky Peak Dam, of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Walla Walla District, tested the resolve and readiness of project staff, also revealing a team united by training, trust, and the will to help.

Quick actions by USACE staff help prevent tragedy

Marcy Sanchez — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 19:58:00 GMT

A potentially tragic situation at Lucky Peak Dam was narrowly avoided thanks to the swift actions, situational awareness, and deep commitment of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Walla Walla District staff and Ada County law enforcement.

Strengthening community resilience through engineering

Marcy Sanchez — Mon, 05 May 2025 20:04:00 GMT

In spring 2025, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Walla Walla District Water Management team conducted its annual snow flight across southeastern Washington, Oregon, and Idaho—using aerial surveys and ground sampling to assess mountain snowpack’s depth, density, and melt stage. These measurements underpin precise runoff forecasts months in advance, guiding reservoir refill schedules, flood risk mitigation, hydropower release timing, and environmental flow requirements for the Columbia River Basin. The resultant forecasts support farmers’ irrigation planning, municipal and industrial water supply management, endangered fish flow scheduling, and recreational water‑level stability—strengthening regional resilience and community well‑being.

New innovation earns Ice Harbor Lock and Dam recognition

Matthew R. Cole — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 21:26:00 GMT

Ice Harbor Lock and Dam has been honored as the Infrastructure Project of the Year by the American Shotcrete Association, due to a groundbreaking initiative to enhance hydroelectric efficiency and improve fish survival.

Don’t bet on the weather: The role hydropower plays in balancing the grid during extreme circumstances

Hannah Mitchell — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 19:10:34 GMT

The power grid produces as it is consumed. Energy production rises and falls in tandem with human activity, allowing electricity to flow continuously into homes and businesses . However, this flow can be interrupted.

Reviving Boise’s Barber Pool

Marcy Sanchez — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 22:33:35 GMT

Efforts to restore the Barber Pool Conservation Area in Boise, Idaho, are discussed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District personnel during a public scoping meeting held at Boise, Nov. 20, 2024. The initiative aims to rejuvenate the area’s ecosystems while enhancing public awareness and education. The meeting invited the public to hear more about the scope of the feasibility study and proposed efforts for restoration of the BPCA under the Continuing Authorities Program (CAP).

Reinventing the Ladder: How a local engineer is making waves throughout the Division

Joshua Glenn — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 20:31:00 GMT

Born and raised only 30 miles away from the Walla Walla District headquarters, a young Dayton native never knew much about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It wasn’t until after college that Ryan Laughery, hydraulics engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, would come to realize the world of opportunities awaiting him one town over.

USACE Walla Walla District celebrates Veterans Day

Joshua Glenn — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 19:00:00 GMT

World War I officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, outside the town of Versailles, France. Seven months prior, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, went into effect between the Allied nations and Germany on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Today, and every Nov. 11, we celebrate this armistice, the end of World War I and all the brave men and women who vowed to protect our country.

“I’ll keep trying;" A journey from Mexico to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Noe Gonzalez — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 20:31:00 GMT

It started in 1979 on the dirt streets of Zacatecas, Mexico, where a young boy named Juan Gaytan dreamed of a better life in the United States.