Kansas City District News

Boots on the ground: Exploring the heartland’s best trails

Lawrence Brooks IV, Public Affairs Specialist — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Throughout the thousands of acres of federal lands the Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages, there are an abundance of trails the public can access — whether they’re looking for casual exercise or satisfying the outdoorsman within you. With recreational season in full swing and National Trails Day falling on June 6, it’s time for a deep dive into the most scenic and exhilarating paths USACE has across the Midwest.

“We’re replacing everything — screens, systems, all of it,” A closer look into command center and conference room renovations

Pentagon News — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Regular meetings, presentations or briefing complex projects to high-level military and civilian leaders is foundational to the culture of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. That’s why the Kansas City District is undergoing a massive undertaking to improve technology in its emergency operations center and the plethora of conference rooms around its headquarters.

Caring for Those Who Serve: New Hospital Opens at Fort Leonard Wood

Diana McCoy — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:46:00 GMT

After six years of construction and much excitement among the community it serves, the opening of the new General Leonard Wood Community Hospital was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 31, 2026, bringing partners from across the region together to mark the important event. Drawing a large and enthusiastic crowd to the event, the ceremony marked off a milestone for the project, which provides a much needed and highly anticipated modern healthcare facility for the military community in and around Fort Leonard Wood, in Pulsaki County, Missouri.

A Life of Service Earns Top Civilian Scholastic Honor

Diana McCoy — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:49:00 GMT

Not all leaders are loud and in your face. They don’t have to demand recognition of their status or demand obedience from their subordinates, and they aren’t motivated by the number of awards they can hang on their walls. Occasionally, a leader is simply recognized and respected because of their calm and quiet way of offering advice and providing mentorship or direction. They look for opportunities to help. They ask the right questions and make those around them feel heard and seen by listening. Luckily for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Kansas City District, these leadership qualities are found in Eric Shumate, the Deputy District Engineer and the chief of Planning, Programs and Project Management Division.

Eagle Days soars on, bringing generations together at Missouri’s largest reservoir

Lawrence Brooks IV — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Hosted annually in late February and staffed by a hodgepodge of Harry S. Truman Lake personnel and volunteers from one Kansas City Districts longstanding partners, Eagle Days celebrated another year of monumental success — despite missing some of the events' traditional fan favorites.

Rebuilding where soldiers live: Inside barracks transformation at Fort Riley

Lawrence Brooks IV — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Dependable housing with modern amenities for U.S. Army personnel stationed at Fort Riley and elsewhere, is a constant priority for the top brass charged with leading our nation’s largest military branch. So, engineers from the Fort Riley Residence Office are helping U.S. Army leaders sleep a little more soundly by working diligently on a $35 million project to improve quality of life for soldiers, one quad or single barracks room at a time.

Ingenuity and innovation bring knife gate back to life

Christine E. Reinhardt, Public Affairs Specialist — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 17:49:00 GMT

In the face of a challenge, there are the doers and the dawdlers. The staff at Blue Springs Lake in Blue Springs, Missouri, are doers. When the knife gate in the dam’s outlet tower was facing a full replacement, the lake project staff suggested they attempt to rebuild it instead. Despite the obstacles they faced, the team’s ingenuity and innovation prevailed – not only improving the functionality of the knife gate but also saving taxpayers an estimated $200,000. A knife gate is a specialized low-flow valve inside of a dam’s outlet tower, which features a sharp-edged blade designed to cut through debris so water can flow freely. The knife gate at Blue Springs Lake had not been serviced since its installation, more than 30 years ago. In desperate need of attention, engineers suggested it be replaced. However, due to the conditions in the outlet tower, the cost of a replacement would have been significant.

From data to dialogue: Sharpening public communications for federal dams

Lawrence Brooks IV — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:00:00 GMT

A dedicated team of engineers, emergency management professionals and others participated in a multi-day workshop to fine-tune risk communications for Kanopolis and Wilson reservoirs.

Borrowing lessons from Mother Nature, outlet channel gets first major repair in over 70 years

Christine E. Reinhardt, Public Affairs Specialist — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 20:31:12 GMT

If your roof had a leak, most homeowners would be quick to repair it. But if there was an underlying issue with the roof itself, most people would probably agree it would be wise to address the larger issue instead of continuing to make short-term fixes. Only making small repairs would likely add up to a significant cost over time without fixing the root problem. This is the analogy Ben Johnson, hydraulic engineer and technical lead with the Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, used to describe the outlet channel repair project at Kanopolis Lake. During both regular water releases and flood events, water from Kanopolis Lake is released through the outlet channel where it flows downstream into the Smoky Hill River. However, due to the geology of the area and the force of the released water, erosion has occurred in the outlet channel since the Great Flood of 1951.

Charting the course: Completed mega project maps out lessons in partnership

Christine E. Reinhardt, Public Affairs Specialist — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 19:43:23 GMT

Group projects are almost never easy. Getting all parties to agree on everything, all the time can be a challenging feat, if not downright impossible. Now imagine trying to complete a group project on a mega scale, while still delivering it on time, within budget and safely. Mega projects within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are no small task, and certainly not for the faint of heart. As their name suggests, these are projects of an incredibly large scale – in budget, complexity or a combination of the two. Despite their challenging nature, the Kansas City District has become a leader in USACE with mega project success. In September 2025, the district celebrated the completion of one of its first military construction mega projects, setting the standard for future mega projects and leaving a lasting impact across the nation.

Hunting in the heartland: Harlan County Lake an ‘oasis’ for outdoor enthusiasts

Christine E. Reinhardt, Public Affairs Specialist — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 19:01:59 GMT

To those unfamiliar with the sport of hunting, it might seem cruel or violent. While there are certainly gray areas, for those who hunt responsibly and legally, hunting is more than just a sport. In an increasingly online world, hunting offers recreators a unique and often profound way to connect to nature. Fred Bear, a famous American bowhunter and considered by many as the pioneer of modern archery, once said, “To hunt is to understand the delicate balance of life and death and our role within it.” The U.S. offers a plethora of hunting options. From marshes and inland woods on the east coast to the mountainous terrain of the west coast, there are seemingly endless environments and species to hunt across the country. In the heartland, there is one spot that is home to some of the best and most diverse hunting in the nation: Harlan County Lake in Republican City, Nebraska.

Cold War-era rolling pin barracks undergo vital renovation

Christine E. Reinhardt, Public Affairs Specialist — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 20:47:04 GMT

Soldiers marching in uniform, drill sergeants yelling, muddy obstacle courses – these are often the images the words “basic training” evoke. Hollywood and pop culture have helped ingrain the military’s grueling boot camp experience in the minds of the average person. Whether Hollywood’s depictions of basic training are based in truth or not, one thing is for sure: the soldiers who complete Army basic combat training are some of the toughest in the world. Tucked away amongst the dense forests and scenic lakes of central Missouri lies Fort Leonard Wood, one of four installations home to the Army’s basic combat training course. Originally built in 1940 as a small World War II training site, Fort Leonard Wood is now a premier training installation within the Army, the U.S. military and the world.

Kanopolis Lake: Go for the water, stay for the land

Christine E. Reinhardt, Public Affairs Specialist — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 15:09:50 GMT

This is a story about a lake. But before you read any further, you should know this won’t be a story about water. Sure, I could tell you Kanopolis Lake has a normal pool surface of 3,460 acres and has prevented an estimated $100 million in flood damages since its construction. I could also tell you nearly 400,000 people visit the lake annually, many of whom fish, swim, boat and partake in other water-based recreation. But if I only told you about the water, you’d be missing out on what makes Kanopolis Lake truly special: the land. Stick your finger in the center of a map of the U.S. and chances are you will come within a few centimeters, or map miles, of Kanopolis Lake. Located in central Kansas, it’s about as close to the middle of the lower 48 states as you can get. Despite its location in the center of the country, Kanopolis Lake feels quite remote.

Missouri River Navigation Structure repairs continue with Cora Island flow control structures after severe damage from 2019 Flood

Lawrence Brooks IV, Public Affairs Specialist — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 17:34:00 GMT

Missouri River navigation is a critical mission of the Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to support both the American public and regional commerce. That’s why a massive construction project on the Missouri River was recently completed to repair and improve navigation support, while protecting a valuable ecosystem managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Ad astra per aspera: Kansas a global leader in solving sediment challenges

Christine E. Reinhardt, Public Affairs Specialist — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 15:34:00 GMT

The year was 1952. The world’s first rock and roll concert was held in Cleveland, Ohio, Mr. Potato Head was the first toy advertised on TV, Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected president and Elizabeth II was proclaimed Queen of England. Post-WWII America was rife with invention and innovation. New technologies and scientific advances included development of the Polio vaccine, the first commercial computer and the first airbag for cars. In the heart of America, however, communities were recovering from devastating flooding from the previous year. The Great Flood of 1951 destroyed thousands of homes, farms and businesses in the Kansas River Basin, causing over $725 million of damage. Despite the destruction it caused, the historic flood set in motion the final piece needed for the construction of one of Kansas’s most vital water resources – Tuttle Creek Dam and Reservoir.

Trot lines, and trammel nets and trawls, oh my! Trying to catch the elusive age-one pallid sturgeon

Christine E. Reinhardt, Public Affairs Specialist — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 19:05:43 GMT

It’s said beauty is in the eye of the beholder. To some, a long-snouted, murky white, boneless bottom feeder native to the Missouri and Mississippi rivers – known as the pallid sturgeon – might not sound very beautiful. To others, the endangered fish is an essential part of the river ecosystem – making it a beautiful creature worth saving. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, pallid sturgeon can live up to 40 years and weigh upwards of 100 pounds. Once harvested commercially, the pallid sturgeon is now listed as endangered, in part due to alterations to the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. However, efforts aimed at restoring the population like captive breeding, juvenile stocking and habitat restoration, have made meaningful progress over the past few decades. Still, much remains to be learned, and continued research is essential to fully recover this ancient species.

Blue-sky day training helps responders prepare for future flood events

Christine E. Reinhardt, Public Affairs Specialist — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 16:58:41 GMT

Natural disasters don’t care about chain of command or what roles and responsibilities lie with which local, state or federal government agency. The destruction caused by natural disasters can happen anytime and anywhere. So, having coordinated preparedness plans at all levels of government is vital for effective response when these events inevitably occur. On a sunny, temperate day in middle Missouri, dozens of emergency management personnel convened for a two-day event aimed at doing just this – discussing policy, operations, recovery and hands-on training for a variety of disaster scenarios. The Missouri State Emergency Management Agency hosted a regional coordinator meeting on Sept. 23 and 24 in Jefferson City, Missouri, during National Preparedness Month.

Mentorship made simple: New app helps connect employees across Kansas City District

Lawrence Brooks IV — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 16:25:00 GMT

When thinking about professional development within the Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Leadership Development Program is the gold standard. That’s why fiscal year 2024 LDP graduate, security specialist Jason Smith, took his year two LDP project to the next level — developing an internal mentorship application that focuses on leveraging the principles he and other district senior leadership learned in LDP and throughout their careers in federal service.

‘Like a detective looking for evidence in a crime scene’: How collecting high-water marks helps flood risk reduction efforts

Christine E. Reinhardt, Public Affairs Specialist — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 15:12:02 GMT

If a tree falls in a forest and no one is there to see it, does it make a sound? Similarly, if a heavy rain event causes flooding overnight and no one is awake to see it, did it happen? Of course it did. But, how do you know how high the water got if no one was there to witness it? This was the scenario facing the City of Merriam, Kansas, after a significant rainfall event occurred overnight and into the early morning of July 17, 2025. Turkey Creek, which runs through the city, is prone to flash flooding during heavy rain events. On July 17, the creek flooded, impacting parts of the city, but it all occurred overnight when most people were asleep. The flood waters receded almost as quickly as they rose, posing the question: how high did the water get?

The Kansas City District tests AI and GoPro technology to improve roadway and campground maintenance with new pilot program

Lawrence Brooks IV, Public Affairs Specialist — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 16:43:00 GMT

The Kansas City District has long played a significant role in testing and implementing new approaches to conducting work across its sprawling footprint in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa. Now, a new pilot program that leverages GoPro cameras and Artificial Intelligence technology reflects a broader commitment to using these tools for smarter, more efficient ways to serve the needs of the public it serves across the region.