Winter 2024 - Vol. 1, Issue 1

Dam Good News is published quarterly by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, Public Affairs Office under the authority of AR 360-1 to provide the staff and families of NWW with information on people, policies, operations, technical developments, trends and ideas of and about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Walla Walla District. The views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Army. Direct communication is authorized to Public Affairs, Dam Good News, 201 North 3rd Avenue, Walla Walla, WA 99362. Phone: 509-527-7020. Or send an email to cenww-pa@usace.army.mil. Unless otherwise indicated (and except for “by permission” and copyright items), material may be reprinted provided credit is given to the author. All photographs by U.S. Army except as otherwise credited. The appearance of advertising in this publication does not constitute endorsement of the products or services advertised by the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

01

McNary turns 70!

Dedicated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on Sept. 23, 1954, McNary is one of the oldest dam projects in our district! Today, we celebrate the...

02

McNary turns 70!

Dedicated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on Sept. 23, 1954, McNary is one of the oldest dam projects in our district! Today, we celebrate the...

03

McNary turns 70!

Dedicated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on Sept. 23, 1954, McNary is one of the oldest dam projects in our district! Today, we celebrate the...

Commander's Comments

Wonderful Walla Walla District,

Since taking command in July, I have been impressed by this district. We have incredible people working on incredible challenges with limited resources. It was great to walk the projects on my initial visits and I look forward to meeting with more people on future visits. It’s an honor to represent this great district to the enterprise and beyond.

During the latest organizational climate survey, there were many responses concerning the lack of vision shown by leadership. To address this trend, I am working with district leadership to dig into “who is the Walla Walla District” and clarify our district’s mission, vision, and values. We’ll continue to have these conversations to ensure every member of this team can see themselves in our vision and our values.

From these discussions, we have identified the following values: safety, integrity, collaboration, and delivery. I have seen these values already at work across our district.

Safety is imperative in our operations. At Ice Harbor, the normal start to the day is a safety talk. When McNary lost power in September, no one was hurt, and I commend the staff at the dam for their professionalism and quick work to get systems back online. We also engage the public through safety. Teaching water safety is one of the many ways we serve our communities.
Integrity is about doing the right thing, always. It’s about holding people accountable, for when the standard is not met as well as celebrating successes. We are better as an organization when we require everyone to hold the standard. We will continue to engage at the necessary level to address concerns. Keeping our word, being transparent, and acting ethically is what we are about.

Collaboration exists between the people we see every day, within our project delivery teams, across the district, across the enterprise, and with our partners. Recent examples include the fishing docks at Hood River and ongoing efforts to permit Stibnite mine in Idaho, to in-processing new employees and connecting with district support offices. We can achieve so much more when we work together.

We deliver on our commitments – whether it’s the Yakima Delta, hydropower, recreation access, or lease information for our external partners. Internally we are continuing to improve our security posture and medical surveillance. All of this is a part of delivering the mission.

Our USACE commanding general LTG William H. “Butch” Graham has tasked us with delivering today, innovating for tomorrow, and focusing on people always. I know that the Walla Walla District continues to rise to the occasion and I’m excited to be a part of this team.
 

From the Field


 Regulatory Roundup​


Ice Harbor Lock and Dam

Continuing to improve lamprey passage

Installation of the lamprey screens in the scroll cases of our main generating units prevents lamprey from getting trapped in the cooling water strainers. This installation will help to improve lamprey passage for lamprey traveling downstream.


Lucky Peak Dam


Lower Monumental Lock and Dam


McNary Lock and Dam


Little Goose Lock and Dam


Mill Creek Project

 

 

From the HQ

Executive Office

 

Employees of the First Quarter - FY25

Field Offices:

Casey Thomas is chosen as Employee of the Quarter due to his exceptional problem-solving skills and ability to work independently with minimal supervision. He consistently demonstrates professionalism and initiative, making him a key asset to the team.

Casey is a reliable "fire-and-forget" employee at Ice Harbor, handling tasks with little follow-up needed. He manages delays in materials efficiently, either resuming work as soon as materials arrive or requesting alternative assignments to maintain productivity. Currently, Casey is working on the installation of new brake indication switches. Noticing recurring issues with faulty signals, he proactively researched and sourced higher-quality switches. He also addressed a common brake system problem by creating a centralized indication panel to reduce troubleshooting time, improving system efficiency and minimizing downtime.

Casey’s technical expertise, initiative, and proactive problem-solving have significantly enhanced operational efficiency, making him highly deserving of this recognition.

HQ Office:

Nikole “Nikki” Lorvick is chosen for Employee of the Quarter due to her exceptional contributions to NWW and NWD. As a lead structural design engineer for several projects, she has demonstrated invaluable dedication and expertise.

Nikki led the Mill Creek Low Flow Channel Notching project, addressing numerous contractor delays and expediting design reviews to ensure completion ahead of schedule. She also contributed significantly to the Mill Creek Diversion Dam Fish Ladder project, providing critical feedback and input based on her previous project experience. In the Ice Harbor Navigation Lock Culvert Bulkhead project, Nikki overcame challenges including failed welding procedures and payment delays, while also introducing innovative field testing for paint systems. She will present this work at the Hydraulic Steel and Composite Structure Workshop in December 2024.Additionally, Nikki has worked regionally with the Inland Navigation Design Center (INDC) on the McLellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System and Markland miter gate replacement projects. Her work earned her recognition from the structural lead at INDC, who specifically requested her for further projects. Nikki has also contributed at the national level, volunteering for extended deployment with the NWW Power Planning and Response Team (PRT) during Hurricane Helene. Even while deployed, she continued to support other projects, traveling to a critical fabrication inspection in Alabama.

Her continued dedication and exceptional performance have earned her recognition as a key asset to the NWW, NWD, and USACE, with her talents being recognized regionally and nationally.

 

 

NWW Knowledge Management: Advancing Together

The NWW Knowledge Management (KM) Team is making strides in several process improvement initiatives, including the development of an NWW File Management Process aligned with OPORD 2024-04 [NWD Knowledge Management Strategy Implementation].

Training Development:

To facilitate upcoming file migrations from NWW locally hosted drives to online repositories, the KM Team is creating training resources for Microsoft OneDrive, Teams, and SharePoint. These tools aim to ensure a smooth transition and maximize efficiency.

Pilot Program Launch:

In collaboration with the Leadership Development Program (LDP) Team, we are launching a pilot program designed to capture lessons learned and vital data. This initiative will help refine our approach, making future migrations seamless and effective.

Engagement and Insights:

The NWW Knowledge Manager recently conducted site visits to Mill Creek and Ice Harbor, engaging with Operations Division Project Sites to better understand their business practices and collaboration with NWW Headquarters. These insights will inform tailored solutions to meet diverse operational needs.

Welcoming New Expertise:

We are excited to welcome Glenn Joshua as our new Technical Writer-Editor. Glenn joined the NWW team on August 25, 2024. If you haven’t had the chance to meet him yet, drop by the library and say hello!

Updates and Innovations:

A big congratulations to Samuel Brown, NWW Library Technician, for his exceptional work reviving the NWW Oral History Program. Samuel’s efforts have garnered praise from visiting USACE Headquarters Historians. Well done, Sam!

Together, we’re shaping a future rooted in collaboration, innovation, and excellence. Stay tuned for more updates and opportunities to engage with the KM Team.

Contracting Updates and Engagements: SAME Conference and Clearwater Power Meeting

NWW Team at the SAME Conference

The NWW Team participated in the SAME (Society of American Military Engineers) Conference held in New Orleans from November 20–22, 2024. This conference provided an excellent opportunity to connect with small businesses, recruit new partners for the Walla Walla District, and identify vendors capable of meeting current and upcoming project needs.

Clearwater Power Utilities Meeting: Modernizing Agreements

On October 28, 2024, the NWW Team met with Clearwater Power Utilities Counsel and Leadership to discuss updates to the 1972 Power Wheeling Agreement.

Attendees:

Kara Morgan, Project Manager
Michaela Murdock, Deputy Counsel
Brooke Moore, Contracting Officer
Victoria Conway, Contract Specialist
Lucian Stewart, Operating Project Manager, Dworshak

Purpose:

The meeting focused on modernizing the decades-old agreement to enhance reliability and efficiency. Key discussions included consolidating feed capacities and establishing performance standards for outage response times to better serve both parties’ evolving needs.

These engagements reflect NWW’s commitment to fostering productive partnerships and optimizing operational agreements for future success.