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Archive: 2026
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  • June

    A USACE Walla Walla District employee guides a new bubbler onto a boat for installation. The system cools fish ladders during hot summer months, preventing warm surface water from stalling migrating Pacific salmon.

    USACE innovations increase fish survivability on the Snake and Columbia rivers

    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.
  • Active emergency preparedness in action: Walla Walla District staff navigate a realistic crisis scenario during the Lucky Peak Emergency Action Plan tabletop exercise. These exercises are critical for testing established communication channels between USACE and external partners, ensuring teams are prepared to act quickly and protect public safety.

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

    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.
  • At a March 2026 town hall, a cross-functional team led by the USACE Walla Walla District’s Regulatory Branch was named the USACE National Regulatory Team of the Year. They were recognized for successfully managing the complex Stibnite Mine Project in Idaho, an effort requiring extensive coordination with tribal nations, partner agencies, and stakeholders.

    Complex project earns Walla Walla District team national award

    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.

  • May

    View of the recently completed upgrades to Dworshak National Fish Hatchery’s medium voltage and emergency power distribution system. These modifications will address safety concerns that could impact workers and migratory fish along the Snake River.

    Electrical system upgrades at Dworshak hatchery bolster fish survival

    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.

  • March

    A 3D rendering of miter gates designed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System.

    Walla Walla District Engineers among those recognized for innovative digital design of major navigation system

    When a barge passes through a navigation lock along the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, few people think about the massive steel gates that quietly make the process possible. Behind those gates is a team of engineers and technical specialists from across the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, including experts from the Walla Walla District, using advanced digital modeling tools to design the next generation of infrastructure that keeps commerce moving along the nation’s inland waterways. Recently, the team’s work was recognized in the agency’s 2025 national awards program. Engineers and technicians supporting the project received the Computer-Aided Design/ Building Information Modeling Team Award of Excellence for their innovative design work supporting the navigation system. Personnel from the Walla Walla, Philadelphia, Mobile, Louisville, Little Rock, Tulsa and Rock Island districts collaborated to design replacement miter gates for 18 locks and dams on the navigation system.