ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Headquarters, selected St. Paul, Minnesota, resident and St. Paul District water resource planner Jill Bathke for its Corps of Engineer’s 2025 Planning Excellence Award.
Bathke received the award for her work on the Upper Mississippi River’s Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program, or NESP. This program works to increase the capacity and improve the reliability of the inland navigationsystem while restoring, protecting and enhancing the environment.
Bathke was recognized alongside her coworker, Jesse Ray, an environmental specialist with the St. Paul District, for their vital contributions to NESP's ecosystem program, seamlessly integrating science and policy, interagency expertise, and public engagement to strengthen river and floodplain forest restoration.
Bathke began her Corps of Engineers career in 2007 as a biologist. Since 2023, she has been the plan formulation lead for NESP.
“Jill [Bathke] is an exceptional planner who is incredibly reliable when facing Corps of Engineers’ most complex and demanding tasks,” said Natalie Mcglinch, Bathke’s supervisor. “She is proactive in her work, adaptable when challenges arise and innovative in her planning approaches. Her dedication, consistency and commitment to excellence drive outstanding results and elevates all who have the opportunity to work with her.”
The St. Paul District serves the American public in the areas of environmental enhancement, navigation, flood risk management, water and wetlands regulation, recreation and disaster response. Our employees work at 49 sites in five Upper Midwest states.
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