Corpstruction

When the Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers engages for disaster response missions, they do so under a tasking from the Federal Emergency Management Agency outlined by the National Response Framework.

Michael Cappannari, director, External Affairs for FEMA Region 7 in Kansas City, spoke with Corpstruction about the communication effort between FEMA, federal, state and tribal agencies during disaster responses. Region 7 covers Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri.

Tulsa District, works with both FEMA Region 7, and FEMA Region 6, which covers Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas to coordinate emergency response activities.

Dr. Christine Altendorf is the Director of Military Programs for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. An Oklahoman who earned undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral engineering degrees from Oklahoma State University, Altenforf is a recipient of the OSU engineering program’s prestigious Lohman Medal.
Altendorf visited the Tulsa District, USACE resident offices on Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Nov. 27 to tour ongoing and recently completed projects.
Whether it’s providing housing for... read more

Dr. Christine Altendorf is the Director of Military Programs for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. An Oklahoman who earned undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral engineering degrees from Oklahoma State University, Altenforf is a recipient of the OSU engineering program’s prestigious Lohman Medal. Altendorf visited the Tulsa District, USACE resident offices on Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Nov. 27 to tour ongoing and recently completed projects. Whether it’s providing housing for military recruiters, remediating Formerly Used Defense Sites, or interagency engineering projects for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and other agencies, the USACE Military Programs mission is robust and active in its support of federal and international activities around the world. During her visit, Altendorf sat down with the Corpstruction Podcast to talk about Military Programs, engaging the USACE workforce and attracting talent to the Corps of Engineers.   show less

Joey Cabay is the metalworker leaderman at the Ensley Engineer Yard of the Memphis District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He spoke to the Corpstruction Podcast about his team performs and why dredging and infrastructure maintenance efforts help keep the navigation industry afloat.

In 2019, more than 500 million tons of freight, worth $134.1 billion annually flowed through the marine highways of the United States, saving between $7 billion and $9 billion on transportation costs.

Geotechnical Engineers and civil engineers throughout the world celebrate “Terzaghi Day” each year, Oct. 2. Jarrod Breuer, a geotechnical engineer and subject matter expert at the Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, joined Corpstruction to talk about the field and Terzaghi’s impact on civil engineering.
Born October 2, 1883 in Prague, Terzaghi is considered the “Father of Soil Mechanics & Geotechnical Engineering.” His work in geology, soil mechanics and engineering led to the creation of the field. Many consider his greatest contributions to be the codification and experimentation to flesh out concepts.

Colonel Tim Hudson, Tulsa District Commander, interviewed Tavaras Jones, a project manager at the Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Tavaras is approaching his first full year at the Tulsa District, and he's overseeing project delivery teams that are working on repairing the stilling basin at Webbers Falls Lock & Dam 16, and improving efficiency for the Lugert-Altus Irrigation District's irrigation system. The system is part of the Bureau of Reclamation's W C Austin Project which provides water for cotton crops. The project helps Oklahoma maintain its status as the nation's sixth leading producer of cotton.

Col. Tim Hudson is the commander and district engineer of the Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He joined the Corpstruction Podcast to talk about his observations and vision for the Tulsa District.

Hudson is from Allentown, Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and holds masters degrees from George Mason University and the U.S. Army War College.

His past assignments includes service as a mathematics instructor at West Point, a platoon... read more

Col. Tim Hudson is the commander and district engineer of the Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He joined the Corpstruction Podcast to talk about his observations and vision for the Tulsa District. Hudson is from Allentown, Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and holds masters degrees from George Mason University and the U.S. Army War College. His past assignments includes service as a mathematics instructor at West Point, a platoon leader, company commander, battalion and brigade operations officer, Professor of Military Science at North Carolina State University for the Wolfpack Army Reserve Officer Training Corps, and later as a battalion commander of the 20th Engineer Battalion at Fort Hood, Texas. Prior to his assignment at the Tulsa District he was the Deputy J4 for Engineering and Logistics at U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Hudson has deployed to various locations in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Hudson took command of the Tulsa District July 8, 2022.   show less

Over the Memorial Day weekend, we sat down with Cassi Free to talk about her son Andy, who fell out of the family boat and drowned after a day of wakeboarding and boating on Lake Eufaula on June 9, 2020.
When her two other sons were sent to the hospital that same day, the family discovered they were exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide while out on the water. Tests revealed that Andy, who was nine years old, had been exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide.
Cassi was kind enough to... read more

Over the Memorial Day weekend, we sat down with Cassi Free to talk about her son Andy, who fell out of the family boat and drowned after a day of wakeboarding and boating on Lake Eufaula on June 9, 2020. When her two other sons were sent to the hospital that same day, the family discovered they were exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide while out on the water. Tests revealed that Andy, who was nine years old, had been exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide. Cassi was kind enough to sit down and share her experience and talk about the family’s efforts to raise awareness of carbon monoxide while boating. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that is a byproduct of burning fuel. If a flame or combustion is present, carbon monoxide is being produced. Carbon monoxide displaces oxygen in the blood depriving the heart, brain, and other vital organs of oxygen. It can kill within minutes. Initial carbon monoxide toxicity symptoms often mirror fatigue typical of being out in the sun, and since it’s lighter than air, it can remain in an area for long periods, especially in highly trafficked areas. Be aware of the risks of exposure. Take frequent breaks away from the lake, and if you observe lethargy or confusion in others, seek medical attention.   show less

Park Ranger Randi Clifton joined Corpstruction to talk about staying safe on the water and the work of a park ranger in the Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Abby Jones joined the Corpstruction Podcast to talk about safety as June is National Safety Month.

The U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center in Huntsville, Alabama is a unique U.S. Army Corps of Engineers organization. Whereas USACE Districts and Divisions have geographical areas of operations for mission execution, the Huntsville Center has functional and highly specialized mission sets that transcend geographic boundaries. For this reason, the Center works within the boundaries of other USACE districts. They truly are Ingénieurs sans frontières.
We sat down with Bill Craven, the... read more

The U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center in Huntsville, Alabama is a unique U.S. Army Corps of Engineers organization. Whereas USACE Districts and Divisions have geographical areas of operations for mission execution, the Huntsville Center has functional and highly specialized mission sets that transcend geographic boundaries. For this reason, the Center works within the boundaries of other USACE districts. They truly are Ingénieurs sans frontières. We sat down with Bill Craven, the Deputy Director of the Installation Support and Program Management Directorate to learn about the work the Huntsville Center is doing within the Tulsa District’s AOR, and better understand this unique USACE organization with a diverse, yet specialized mission set.   show less

Stephanie Woods is a registered interior designer at the U.S. Army Engineering & Support Center in Huntsville, Alabama - also known as the Huntsville Center.
Woods is from Florence, Alabama and is a graduate of the Auburn University Interior Design program.
Woods is one of approximately 60 interior designers in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. About half of them are assigned to the Huntsville Center.
Woods spoke to Corpstruction about how the interior designers at the Huntsville Center support missions in the Tulsa District, Southwestern Division, the Army and throughout the world.

Park Ranger Audrey White took time during the Severe Weather Expo in Tulsa, April 15, to talk to Corpstruction about water safety, and recreation. White is assigned to the Lake Texoma Project Office. She talks about how her perspectives on life jacket wear and water safety evolved after becoming a park ranger, and about the work the staff at Lake Texoma are doing to promote recreation.
Lake Texoma is a Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Project constructed for flood control. The dam was completed in 1944. In addition to flood control, the structure and reservoir have hydropower, recreation, water supply missions.
Lake Texoma receives more than 6 million visitors annually.

Taft Price is a forecaster in the Hydraulics and Hydrology section of the Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Prior to joining USACE he spent 25 years in television as a meteorologist for local news stations in Oklahoma.

Price's interest in weather and severe weather began when the roof on his family's home was blown off by a tornado. He joined us for the Corpstruction during the Severe Weather Expo at Woodland Hills Mall in Tulsa to talk about how it all began and how he enjoys his new career at the Corps of Engineers.

Dan Carney and Tim Paulus of USACE Headquarters visited with Corpstruction to talk about the upcoming Fire Protection, Mechanical, Electrical and Control Systems Community of Practice Meeting in Tulsa in May.

We joined Brad Clark, the lead engineer of the project delivery team for the Pre-Engineering and Design phase of the Tulsa West Tulsa Levee rehabilitation project in Little Rock, Arkansas. Clark is the Geotechnical Branch Chief of the Dam Safety Production Center and oversees geotechnical engineers working on various projects in the Southwestern Division.

Johnny Bray is the powerhouse manager at Eufaula Dam. He oversees the maintenance of the structure and hydropower facilities to ensure the powerhouse can reliably produce its 90 Megawatts of Electricity when needed. He recently received the De Fleury Medal, the highest honor a USACE civilian can receive, in honor of 40 years of service to the nation. Bray began his career at the Webbers Falls Powerhouse in December 1982 and served at Denison Dam on Lake Texoma and eventually returned to the Lake Eufaula powerhouse only a few miles from where he grew up.
At the end of calendar year Bray will leave the powerhouse for the last time as a USACE employee. We spoke with him about his career and upcoming retirement.

Brannen Parrish interviews Michael Ware about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Regulatory Authority under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.

Ware is a supervisory regulatory specialist at the Tulsa District. He is a graduate of Langston University and began his career with the Tulsa District as a Park Ranger in the 1990s. In 1995 he became a regulatory specialist based upon his biology background.

He talks about the Regulatory Program's role in minimizing human impacts to natural habitats and ecosystems as well as its other Congressionally protected mandated authorities and responsibilities.

After graduating from Memphis University (formerly Memphis State University), Lee Conley embarked on a 10 year career of active duty service with the U.S. Army. He then went on to work for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at various locations while advancing to positions of progressively greater responsibility within the Southwestern Division. He started out with the Fort Worth District and worked at the Southwestern Division in Dallas, Texas, then the Little Rock District and eventually arrived at the Tulsa District where he served as the Deputy District Engineer for Programs and Management.
We spoke to Lee Conley about his 35 year career, what he helped the District accomplish, and his future plans.

Eugene Goff is the Operations Project Manager for the Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Kansas Area. The area includes eight reservoirs that provide vital flood risk mitigation, recreation and water supply for the Kansas communities. Eugene talked with Corpstruction about the many initiatives and activities taking place in Kansas and how he works with state and federal officials in the area to ensure the Corps effectively meets its mission requirements and takes advantage of opportunities to improve services.

Marion Lake Manager, Brock DeLong, talks about the impacts of a harmful algal bloom on recreation at Marion Lake and the reopening of campgrounds and boat ramps after the Kansas Department of Health and Environment lowered the risk rating level from "Hazard" to "Warning". Marion Reservoir is located in Marion, Kansas and is one of eight Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoirs in the "Sunflower State."

Dr. Tony Clyde, a project manager at the Tulsa District, spent the majority of his career as a limnologist studying lakes. Clyde, talks about the impacts of blue green algae, harmful algal blooms, and what's being done to address it at the federal and state level.

Chris Abner came to work for the Army Corps of Engineers in 2020, but prior to that he served on four deployments to the Middle East with the Marine Corps. On October 8, 2007, then Staff Sgt. Abner, was a vehicle commander in Al Qaim, Iraq when an improvised explosive device exploded killing his driver, Lance Cpl. Jeremy Burris of Liberty, Texas. Abner was severely injured and ultimately medically retired from the Marine Corps. On May 22, 2022 Abner completed the Tulsa IronMan competition in... read more

Chris Abner came to work for the Army Corps of Engineers in 2020, but prior to that he served on four deployments to the Middle East with the Marine Corps. On October 8, 2007, then Staff Sgt. Abner, was a vehicle commander in Al Qaim, Iraq when an improvised explosive device exploded killing his driver, Lance Cpl. Jeremy Burris of Liberty, Texas. Abner was severely injured and ultimately medically retired from the Marine Corps. On May 22, 2022 Abner completed the Tulsa IronMan competition in honor of Burris. Abner ran the 26.2 mile marathon portion while carrying an American flag with a streamer bearing Lance. Cpl. Burris' name. When he reached the finish line he presented the flag to Burris' parents who drove more than seven hours from their home in Texas to see Abner cross the finish line in honor of their son.   show less

Park Ranger Joshua Springer of the Lake Eufaula Project Office of the Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, nearly drowned when he was four years old. If it weren’t for the quick thinking of his older sisters, Springer might have died in his family’s swimming pool at their home in Siloam Springs, Arkansas.

Nearly two decades removed from the near-drowning experience, Springer remaines committed to educating youth about water safety. He believes in the importance of water safety education and to encourages parents to make sure children have properly fitted, US Coast Guard-approved flotation device.

By the time the first shovels break ground on a new civil works or military construction venture, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has already invested thousands of hours into studying, planning, designing and contracting the project.

Kalli Egan, the regional acquisition program manager at Southwestern Division, focuses on strategies and technical integration. She works with districts to improve engineering and construction activities.

Kalli is a true success story and model USACE... read more

By the time the first shovels break ground on a new civil works or military construction venture, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has already invested thousands of hours into studying, planning, designing and contracting the project. Kalli Egan, the regional acquisition program manager at Southwestern Division, focuses on strategies and technical integration. She works with districts to improve engineering and construction activities. Kalli is a true success story and model USACE leader. She grew up in Amarillo, Texas but spent a lot of time in Oklahoma and attended Oklahoma State University from which she holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, and a Master of Science in Engineering Technology. Kalli’s career with the USACE began in 2001. She started as a student intern at the Tulsa District and by 2015 had become the Deputy Chief of the Engineering and Construction Division at the Tulsa District. In 2015, Kalli left Tulsa to return to Texas. She spent two years working in the private sector supporting local, state and federal projects.   show less

Brittany Cranor is a structural engineer at the Dam Safety Production Center, Southwestern Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The DSPC is co-located with the Tulsa District. Cranor talked to Corpstruction about why she chose to work for the Corps of Engineers after a couple of years in the private sector and how mentoring has benefited her career decisions.

Anthony Semento is the Chief of the Regional Contingency Operations and Disaster Response for the Southwestern Division located in Dallas, Texas.

When people think of disaster response, they often think about the Federal Emergency Management Agency but what they might not realize is that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is often tasked by FEMA to execute disaster response activities.
Managing disaster response is challenging for a single district but imagine overseeing that response for... read more

Anthony Semento is the Chief of the Regional Contingency Operations and Disaster Response for the Southwestern Division located in Dallas, Texas. When people think of disaster response, they often think about the Federal Emergency Management Agency but what they might not realize is that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is often tasked by FEMA to execute disaster response activities. Managing disaster response is challenging for a single district but imagine overseeing that response for a region consisting of portions of five states & a population of more than 35 million people. Southwestern Division is comprised of four USACE districts, including Tulsa District, Galveston, Little Rock and Fort Worth. He works with Emergency Managers at those districts to keep the Division Commander apprised of what’s going on and enable needed resources are received. Combined, the Southwestern Division covers all of Texas and Oklahoma and portions of Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas.   show less

Throughout written history, water has been a vital resource for requirement for the growth of cities. For Nathan Westrup and Richard Rockel of the Kansas Water Office, water supply is a primary concern. The questions that keep them up at night revolve around How the "Sunflower State" will meet the water supply needs of residents and industry.

February 20-26 is Engineers Week and we interviewed some of our engineers to find out why they decided to come work for the Corps of Engineers.

Justin Cox of the Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers worked as an engineer in the commercial sector fo years before coming to the district.

Justin is from Haskell, Oklahoma. He is a graduate of Oklahoma State University.

We spoke with Justin about his work at the Tulsa District.

He also owns 15 head of cattle and explained to us the finer points of ranching.

Engineers Week is Feb. 20-26 and for the Corpstruction Podcast we are sharing our interviews with USACE engineers to learn more about who they are.

Jeff Rickfelder is a cost engineer for the Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Rickfelder grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan and attended Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo.

Rickfelder worked for the Nashville District before moving to Tulsa.

As a cost engineer, Rickfelder identifies components and material costs for USACE construction projects.

Ean Bonjour is an engineer assigned to the Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Ean conducts inspeactions of Tulsa District's dams throughout the year so the district can address and remediate any discrepancies. Ean is a graduate of Oklahoma State University.

Russell Wyckoff talks about working as an engineer in the USACE. He works in the Dam Safety Production Center of Southwestern Division.
Wyckoff grew up in Oklahoma, attended Oklahoma State University, and has been an engineer with USACE nearly 35 years.

Unless you live on a mountain top, you’re probably within a few miles of a levee. Communities in every state and the District of Columbia rely on levees for flood prevention and mitigation.
Nearly two-thirds of Americans live in a county with at least one levee.
Because flood risk reduction is in the federal interest, many miles of those levees are inspected and monitored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and flood risk reduction is the primordial mission of many USACE districts.
In... read more

Unless you live on a mountain top, you’re probably within a few miles of a levee. Communities in every state and the District of Columbia rely on levees for flood prevention and mitigation. Nearly two-thirds of Americans live in a county with at least one levee. Because flood risk reduction is in the federal interest, many miles of those levees are inspected and monitored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and flood risk reduction is the primordial mission of many USACE districts. In this episode of the Corpstruction podcast, Tammy Conforti, special assistant for levee safety at USACE Headquarters, talks to us about the National Levee Safety Program initiative, and how the USACE and FEMA are working together to activate communities so that they understand their flood risk and get involved in the initiative. To learn more about the National Levee Safety Program, visit www.leveesafety.org and provide comments or feedback by March 31, 2022. To help ensure comments are related to the scope of the initiative, please review the five associated fact sheets on the website before submitting comments or suggestions.   show less

Since its beginning at the Tulsa District in 2016, the Innovations Team has attracted employees who want to improve the business processes and experience with the Corps of Engineers. The program has grown from a Tulsa District initiative to a nationwide program with 22 Districts represented by more than 50 employees.
Innovations Teams have partnerships with Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, University of California – Davis and the Corps Foundation.
Jason Knight spoke with Corpstruction about the partnerships and the great work the teams are doing to improve processes and the overall visitor experience with the USACE.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently updated its National Inventory of Dams database and website.
The updated site features user-friendly tools and search capabilities as well as flood maps to enable communities to be prepared for emergencies.
Rebecca Ragon, manages the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers’ National Inventory of Dams program. She joined us to talk about the updates and the NID program.
There are more than 92,000 dams accounted for in the NID, which equates to one dam every 40 square miles. About 70 percent of dams are managed or regulated by states while six percent of dams are regulated by federal agencies.

Two Tulsa District civilians are supporting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ newest district from Kuwait.
Ron Goodeyon is serving as the Chief of Counsel and Eddie Mattioda is serving as the Chief of Resource Management at the Transatlantic Expeditionary District.

The TED was established May 15 from Task Force Essayons Command and the Transatlantic Afghanistan District.

Goodeyon provides legal advice to the commander related to construction management, and Mattioda provides... read more

Two Tulsa District civilians are supporting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ newest district from Kuwait. Ron Goodeyon is serving as the Chief of Counsel and Eddie Mattioda is serving as the Chief of Resource Management at the Transatlantic Expeditionary District. The TED was established May 15 from Task Force Essayons Command and the Transatlantic Afghanistan District. Goodeyon provides legal advice to the commander related to construction management, and Mattioda provides financial and resource management advice to assist the commander with policy implementation. Both men volunteered for the assignment and have deployments under their belt. Goodeyon was in Kuwait two decades ago serving as a Staff Judge Advocate with the U.S. Air Force and Mattioda has deployed in support of multiple Federal Emergency Management Agency Missions with Tulsa District’s Power team as an action officer and mission manager. October 26 is National Day of the Deployed and Eddie and Ron took time to talk about their experiences, the reasons they deployed and interview for the Tulsa District’s Corpstruction Podcast. The Corpstruction Podcast is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.   show less

An interview with Dr. Paul J. Tikalsky of Oklahoma State University. Dean of the College of Engineering Architecture and Technology.

The US Army Corps if Engineers is supporting states and local communities under a Federal Emergency Management Agency emergency response tasking.

You probably never think about this product but it’s nearly impossible to travel anywhere in modern-day United States without encountering it at some point in your journey.
Whether you use personal, public, or private transportation the odds of you going anywhere without it are relatively low.

Our host, Brannen Parrish, visited the Fears Laboratory at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma and observed testing on concrete beams.

On this episode of Corpstruction, he... read more

You probably never think about this product but it’s nearly impossible to travel anywhere in modern-day United States without encountering it at some point in your journey. Whether you use personal, public, or private transportation the odds of you going anywhere without it are relatively low. Our host, Brannen Parrish, visited the Fears Laboratory at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma and observed testing on concrete beams. On this episode of Corpstruction, he interviewed Dr. Royce Floyd an engineering professor whose focus is on testing concrete, and Omar Yadik, an engineering student about their findings. OU engineers are making some fascinating discoveries about how corrosion, weather and other elements impact the strength of construction industry’s most prolific product. They also discuss how these findings could affect critical infrastructure down the road.   show less

Blake Cannon of the Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Real Estate Division visits to discuss available public land leases for agricultural and grazing purposes. Cannon also talks about the programs managed by the Real Estate Division at the district as well as the 1.8 million acres of public land the district is charged with managing. Approximately 60 percent of that land is out-granted or leased.

The notices of availability are at the Tulsa District Public website at... read more

Blake Cannon of the Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Real Estate Division visits to discuss available public land leases for agricultural and grazing purposes. Cannon also talks about the programs managed by the Real Estate Division at the district as well as the 1.8 million acres of public land the district is charged with managing. Approximately 60 percent of that land is out-granted or leased. The notices of availability are at the Tulsa District Public website at https://www.swt.usace.army.mil/Business-With-Us/Notices-of-Availability/. The bid openings will take place at 2 p.m. on October 6, 2021. The Pre-bid conference will begin at 1:30 p.m. on October 6, 2021. All bids must be in before the start of the bid opening. Available properties are: Fort Gibson, Oklahoma NOA DACW56-9-22-005 John Redmond, Kansas NOA DACW56-9-22-003 Newt Graham L&D, Oklahoma NOA DACW56-9-22-004 Tenkiiller, Oklahoma NOA DACW56-9-22-001 Texoma, Oklahoma NOA DACW56-9-22-006 Wister, Oklahoma NOA DACW56-9-22-002   show less

Ranger Matt Sexton of the Lake Eufaula Project Office talks about being a park ranger at the largest lake in Oklahoma. Sexton is originally from North Carolina and moved to Oklahoma to work for the Tulsa District.
Sexton talked to us about boat docks, recreation and working at his dream job.

Tulsa District engineer, Levi Rundell is working on the Eufaula Dam bridge replacement project. Rundell talks about the Ultra High Performance Concrete being used to practically "weld" concrete panels together. When completed the Eufaula Dam bridge will have the highest concentration of Ultra High Performance Concrete in the State of Oklahoma. Rundell also provided an update about expected reopening of the roadway.

Christopher Strunk of the Tulsa District recently returned from a deployment in support of the rescue and recovery mission at the Champlain Tower collapse in Surfside, Florida.

Strunk is the Chief of Military and Interagency International Services, Design and a former Senior Structural Engineer and Subject Matter Expert, Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He oversees Interagency and International Service projects for the Tulsa District.

In November 2018, a tornado struck Elk Creek and Snake Creek Campgrounds on Tenkiller Lake in Oklahoma. The tornado caused considerable damage. Less than two months earlier, Dennis Covey had taken over as the new lake manager for Tenkiller which includes more than 11,000 surface acres of water and much more land. In 2019, the Tenkiller Lake Office found itself in the middle of a flood fight that lasted the entire summer. The COVID pandemic struck in 2020 and caused additional delays to repair work. Covey talked to us about the campgrounds, where they are in the process and when he thinks they might reopen based upon the current conditions.

WELCOME TO CORPSTRUCTION, A PODCAST ABOUT THE MISISONS OF THE TULSA DISTRICT U S ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.

IT’S FRIDAY, JULY SIXTENTH TWENTY TWENTY ONE AND THIS IS THE WEEKEND ROUNDUP WHERE WE GO OVER THE MAJOR NEWS EVENTS AND ISSUES IN THE TULSA DISTRICT.

LETS START WITH A TALK ABOUT THE BIRDS AND THE BEES.

THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS IS TAKING ACTION TO COMBAT THE DECLINING POLLINATOR POPULATION AND THE TULSA DISTRICT IS ON THE FOREFRONT OF THAT EFFORT.

POLLINATORS ARE SPECIES... read more

WELCOME TO CORPSTRUCTION, A PODCAST ABOUT THE MISISONS OF THE TULSA DISTRICT U S ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS. IT’S FRIDAY, JULY SIXTENTH TWENTY TWENTY ONE AND THIS IS THE WEEKEND ROUNDUP WHERE WE GO OVER THE MAJOR NEWS EVENTS AND ISSUES IN THE TULSA DISTRICT. LETS START WITH A TALK ABOUT THE BIRDS AND THE BEES. THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS IS TAKING ACTION TO COMBAT THE DECLINING POLLINATOR POPULATION AND THE TULSA DISTRICT IS ON THE FOREFRONT OF THAT EFFORT. POLLINATORS ARE SPECIES THAT TRANSFER POLLEN BETWEEN PLANTS. BELIEVE IT THAT INCLUDES BEES, BIRDS, BEATLES, BUTTERFLIES, BATS, WASPS AND EVEN FLIES. AT KEYSTONE LAKE THE STAFF ARE CREATING AN AREA FOR POLLINATORS BY REMOVING INVASIVE VEGETATION LIKE JOHNSON GRASS AND EASTERN RED CEDAR AT BRUSH CREEK CAMPGROUND. AT OOLOGAH LAKE, RANGER RANDI CLIFTON IS DEVELOPING A ONE ACRE POLLINATOR HABITAT NEAR BLUE CREEK CAMPGROUND IN A PARTNERSHIP WITH PHILLIPS 66 THE KAW LAKE OFFICE HAS ESTABLISHED VARIOUS POLLINATOR FIELDS. THE TULSA DISTRICT’S LAKE OFFICES HAVE DEVELOPED ABOUT EIGHT ACRES OF WILDLFLOWER FIELDS TO REVERSE AT MARION RESERVOIR, THE STAFF ARE PLANTING POLLINATOR STRIPS FIVE FEET WIDE BY UP TO 120 YARDS LONG TO CREATE MORE DIVERSE VEGETION. AT CANTON LAKE RANGER JOHNNIE DUDLEY INCORPORATED SEVERAL ACRES OF WILDFLOWER SPECIES INTO THE DESIGN OF THE NEW DISC GOLF COURSE THERE. AMONG THE WILDFLOWERS RANGER DUDLEY AND THE LAKE OFFICE STAFF SEEDED NATIVE WILDFLOWERS IN AND AROUND THE BORDERS OF THE COURSE. AMONG THE WILDFLOWER MIX IS GALLARDIA, ALSO KNOWN AS INDIAN BLANKET, FIREWHEEL AND SUNDANCE WHICH ATTRACTS POLLINATORS LIKE BEES AND BUTTERFLIES. COLONEL SCOTT S. PRESTON, TULSA DISTRICT COMMANDER AND TODD KILPATRICK DRAINAGE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER FOR TULSA COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT 12, SIGNED A DESIGN AGREEMENT THAT WILL ALLOW USACE TO COMMENCE WITH PRE-ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN PHASE OF THE TULSA WEST TULSA REPAIR PROJECT. THE TULSA DISTRICT’S PROJECT DELIVERY TEAM CAN DESIGN THE TULSA WEST TULSA LEVEE REHABILITATION PROJECT. IN 2020 THE PROJECT WAS APPROVED AND RECOMMENDED FOR INCLUSION INTO THE USACE WORK PLAN BY THEN CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, LIEUTENANT GENERAL TODD SEMONITE. SOME OF THE FEATURES OF THE REPAIR PROJECT FOR THE NEARLY 80 YEAR OLD LEVEE INCLUDE: 11.3 MILES OF FILTERED BERM WITH A TOE DRAIN, A TWO THOUSAND FOOT CUT OFF WALL AND THE RECONSTRUCTION OF FIVE PUMP STATIONS. TULSA DISTRICT’S HERO OF THE WEEK IS LINDSEY BYFIELD, A CONTRACTING SPECIALIST HERE. BYFIELD EXECUTES A VARIETY OF COMPLEX CONSTRUCTION AND ENGINEERING PROJECTS AND PROCUREMENT CONTRACTS FORTHE ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING SECTION. ARE YOU A CONTRACTOR INTERESTED GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS WITH A TULSA DISTRICT PARK OR AGENCY OR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT? VISIT WWW.SAM.GOV TO SEARCH FOR CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES. TWO OF THE TULSA DISTRICT’S KANSAS LAKES ARE EXPERIENCING HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS. THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT HAS PLACED MARION LAKE IN MARION KANSAS AND BIG HLL LAKE IN CHERRYVALE, KANSAS UNDER HARMFUL ALGAE BLOOM WARNINGS. AS A RESULT ALL SWIM BEACHES AT MARION RESERVOIR AND BIG HILL LAKE ARE CLOSED. WHEN LAKES ARE UNDER AN ALGAE BLOOM WARNING IT MEANS HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS ARE EXPECTED OR PRESENT. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HARMFUL ALGAE BLOOMS VISIT THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT WEBSITE AT K D H E K S DOT G O V. HERE ARE THE CURRENT RECREATION CLOSURES HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND. STARTING WITH THE KANSAS AREA: AT COUNCIL GROVE LAKE SOME SITES AT CANNING CREEK PARK, SANTA FE TRAIL AND NORTH RICHEY COVE ARE CLOSED. AT JOHN REDMOND LAKE THE DAM SITE LOW WATER BOAT RAMP IS CLOSED OTTER CREEK IS CLOSED. THE BOAT RAMPS AT HICKORY CREEK EAST, HICKORY CREEK WEST AND HARTFORD ARE CLOSED. AT FALL RIVER LAKE, DAM SITE EAST IC SLOSED. AT MARION LAKE ALL SWIM BEACHES ARE CLOSED DUE TO BLUE GREEN ALGAE COTTONWOOD POINT HAS SEVERLA CAMPSITE CLOSURES DUE TO FLOOD DAMAGES AND ELECTRICAL REPAIRS. HILLSBORO COVE ALSO HAS SEVERAL SITE CLOSURES. OVERLOOK IS OPEN BUT RESTROOMS ARE CLOSED. AT BIG HILL LAKE THE SWIM BEACH IS CLOSED DUE TO BLUE GREEN ALGAE WARNING. IN OKLAHOMA: AT KEYSTONE LAKE WHITEWATER OFFROAD VEHICLE AREA AND DAMSITE ARE CLOSED. FOR DOWNSTREAM CONTSTUCTION. BRUSH CREEK CAMPGROUND IS CLOSED. AT WASHINGTON IRVING THE BOAT RAMP AND SITES ONE THROUGH 16 ARE OPEN. AT LAKE TENKILLER SNAKE CREEK AND ELK CREEK CAMPGROUNDS REMAIN CLOSED FROM TORNADO DAMAGE. At FORT GIBSON LAKE MALLARD BAY IS CLOSED TAYLOR FERRY BEACH IS CLOSED. TAYLOR FERRY NORTH AND TAYLOR FERRY SOUTH ARE PARTIALLY OPEN. WAHOO BAY IS CLOSED. AT BIRCH LAKE TWIN POINT COVE IS CLOSED. AND AT BIRCH COVE SITES 25 TO 31 AND 85 TO 91 ARE CLOSED. DOWN AROUND THE RED RIVER AT LAKE TEXOMA RECREATION CLOSURES INCLUDE AS OF TODAY THE LAKESIDE PARK BOAT RAMP IS CLOSED ALONG WITH SEVERAL CAMPSITES WITHIN THE PARK AT EAST BURNS RUN THE BOAT RAMP AND SEVERAL CAMPSITES ARE CLOSED. BOAT RAMPS AT WEST BURNS RUN, JUNIPER POINT EAST, PLATTER AND CANEY CREEK ARE CLOSED. THIS CONCLUDES THE RECREATION CLOSURE ROUNDUP. AS WITH ALL WATER PROJECTS THE SITUATION IS FLUID AND MAY CHANGE. FOR RESERVATION INFORMATION CONTACT THE RECREATION DOT GOV WEBSITE OR CONTACT THE LAKE OFFICE DIRECTLY. A LIST OF LAKE OFFICE PHONE NUMBERS IS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE AT WWW DOT SWT DOT USACE DOT ARMY DOT MIL. THE CORPSTRUCTION PODCAST IS A PRODUCTION OF THE TULSA DISTRICT PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE. THIS EPISODE WAS WRITTEN, AND PRODUCED BY BRANNEN PARRISH. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TULSA DISTRICT AND THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW DOT SWT DOT USACE DOT ARMY DOT MIL YOU CAN REACH OUT TO US VIA OUR WEBSITE OR BY FOLLOWING US ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS WHICH INCLUDE FACEBOOK, TWITTER, LINKED IN AND INSTAGRAM. THANKS FOR LISTENING AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.   show less

Interview with Dr. David Williams Tulsa District Chief of Hydrology and Hydraulics Engineering

Dr. David Williams, chief of Hydrology and Hydraulics Engineering Branch, Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers talks about water releases during floods and the variety of missions his branch oversees. The Hydrologists, Engineers and Technicians in H&H, ensure reservoir water managers know how much water is entering the reservoir, how much water is downstream of the dams and how much water they need to release during storms and flood events.

Adam Smith, Jeffrey Stevens and Daniel Morales of the Dam Safety Production Center, Southwestern Division, sat down with Brannen Parrish of the Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to discuss the Veterans Administration Hospital project at Muskogee, Oklahoma.

The Dam Safety Production Center works out of the Tulsa District but is assigned to the Southwestern Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and provides support to other districts in the Southwestern Division and throughout the USACE.

The engineers discussed various topics including civil engineering, structural engineering and geotechnical engineering. They also talked about how engineering and construction work have changed through the years.

Adam Smith, Jeffrey Stevens and Daniel Morales of the Dam Safety Production Center, Southwestern Division, sat down with Brannen Parrish of the Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to discuss the Veterans Administration Hospital project at Muskogee, Oklahoma.

The Dam Safety Production Center works out of the Tulsa District but is assigned to the Southwestern Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and provides support to other districts in the Southwestern Division and throughout the USACE.

The engineers discussed various topics including civil engineering, structural engineering and geotechnical engineering. They also talked about how engineering and construction work have changed through the years.