Flood Area Engineer Leads the Way

Photo By Kelcy Hanson | Nic Patterson, Lead Flood Area Engineer, speaks with Sarah Jones, Emergency Operations Chief about the projected flood levels along the Mississippi River.  

ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, IL, UNITED STATES

06.15.2023

Story by Kelcy Hanson 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District

Nic Patterson started working for the Rock Island District in January 2015. Working with levee systems was a primary factor when Patterson was looking for employment and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers seemed like a good fit. Experience gained while working in the Rock Island District’s Hydrology and Hydraulics Branch and Civil and Environmental Engineering Section now assists Patterson with their current position as project engineer and technical lead for a variety of projects.

While working as a project engineer, Patterson is responsible for leading teams that produce project deliverables such as plans, specifications and cost estimates that will be used to award a construction contract. Once awarded, they follow the project through construction and work with the contractor to review submittals and respond to requests for information. If the project is for a levee system, Patterson also works with other departments to get necessary documents, such as operations and maintenance manuals, updated after the project is complete.

One of the most memorable projects Patterson has worked on, was the floor stabilization and relief well project at Lock and Dam 18 on the Mississippi River. The floor of the lock was not stable enough to allow dewatering for the scheduled lock rehabilitation so they had to design a way to stabilize the floor with relief wells that could be installed without dewatering the lock. The dive team had to be involved in the installation and normal barge traffic also had to be factored in.

“I enjoy the different projects I get to work on and being able to come up with solutions to unique problems,” said Patterson when asked what they enjoy most about their job. “I like the options to explore different offices and find the position that fits, as well as the opportunity to be on a flood team to meet the local sponsors and become familiar with levees.”

As a child, Patterson lived in a floodplain, so floods and sandbagging was a normal part of growing up. Working with flood related projects and levees has always been an interest so becoming a Flood Area Engineer (FAE) for the District only made sense. This gave them the opportunity to work with levee sponsors, help monitor systems during a flood, and help communities better prepare for floods in the future.

As a lead FAE, Patterson serves as a main point of contact for all the levee districts, cities and county emergency management offices in the Burlington Flood Area which starts downstream of Andalusia, Illinois, on the Mississippi River and extends down river to Keokuk, Iowa. Assisting with levee inspections and providing technical support are their primary roles but they also aid levee districts with submissions for levee modifications and repairs when needed.

During a flood season, lead FAEs, like Patterson, spend a significant amount of time in the field with levee sponsors and city officials helping to ensure their flood protection systems are prepared. They also organize teams that go out and inspect systems for issues or concerns and provide technical assistance as needed.

Although the flood fight in the Burlington Flood Area this year was not as significant, Patterson says the river levels were high enough that all the levee systems enacted flood fighting measures and USACE FAE teams were prepared to assist. “It is very satisfying to be able to help the sponsors successfully prevent damage from a flood event.”

• Date Taken: 06.15.2023
• Date Posted: 06.15.2023 15:06
• Story ID: 447312
• Location: ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, IL, US