17 Feb 2026

Ingenuity and innovation bring knife gate back to life

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.

9 Feb 2026

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

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.

29 Jan 2026

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

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.

27 Jan 2026

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

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.