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Kansas City District News

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Author: Christine E. Paul, Public Affairs Specialist
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  • April

    A group of people stand staggered on steps outside of a building with a blue sky in the background.

    ‘More than one plus one’: Cost engineers play critical role in USACE construction projects

    Before making a big purchase, whether a product or a service, many people conduct research to ensure they pay a fair price. Comparing prices, reading reviews and even calling to get real-time quotes can help inform consumers before pulling the trigger and making a purchase. The same is true for the federal government. Before approving taxpayer dollars to be used to construct military facilities, improve the nation’s infrastructure or implement flood risk reduction projects, Congress must ensure the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ project cost estimates are as accurate as possible. At the Kansas City District, a highly skilled team of cost engineers is tasked with the challenging job of estimating the cost of a project before Congress will agree to fund it.
  • Eight people stand in front of a large white water tank with trees and grass in the background.

    ‘Like going to the dentist’: Perry Dam tests innovative preventative maintenance system to clean relief wells

    Preventative maintenance is important for many things—cars, homes and even our bodies. Keeping things healthy and running smoothly helps prevent major breaks or failures throughout the course of a life. The same is true for dam and levee relief wells. Some dams and levees are built with a system of water wells, which are constructed downstream to relieve excess pressure in the foundation. These relief wells experience natural build-up and need to be cleaned, roughly every three to five years, to ensure water can flow freely.

  • January

    A man in a black shirt has his back turned and a woman in a black shirt with green cacti on the shoulders looks at him and smiles.

    Construction Management Technology Modernization Office: The future of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

    For the last 250 years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been tasked with delivering vital engineering solutions to secure the nation, energize the economy and reduce disaster risk. While the mission has evolved over time, USACE has always been America’s engineers, serving the country by providing solutions for the nation’s toughest challenges. Like USACE’s mission, the nation’s toughest challenges have also evolved over time, but perhaps never more quickly than the rate at which they evolve today. To keep up with constantly evolving challenges, USACE must also keep up with industry partners and stakeholders technologically. This is no small feat since the federal government is often disparaged as being slow, outdated, difficult to work with or posing unnecessary barriers to its industry partners.
  • A body of water with green trees and a cloudy sky in the background and green grass in the foreground.

    It’s electric! One-of-a-kind fish barrier project aims to preserve walleye population

    From a young age, most are taught electricity and water don’t mix. While there is certainly truth to this statement, there are some exceptions. At Rathbun Lake in southern Iowa, engineers and scientists are working to design a one-of-a-kind electric barrier to deter fish from escaping downstream of the reservoir—all happening under water. The Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates and maintains the dam and reservoir at Rathbun Lake, but the Iowa Department of Natural Resources maintains the fish hatchery and fish population found there. Together, along with partners from Iowa State University and the private sector, USACE and the Iowa DNR are hard at work to make the seemingly impossible happen—create a safe, effective underwater electric fish barrier to keep walleye in the reservoir.

  • November

    Dozens of people stand behind eight formula one race cars with grey concrete in the foreground and blue sky in the background.

    In the fast lane: Partnership helps collegiate motorsport team bring home trophy

    Many kids dream of one day becoming a race car driver. Few will actually achieve it, but for those who have a knack for science and technology, designing a race car might be a more achievable goal – a chance to live life in the fast lane. For students involved in Powercat Motorsports at Kansas State University, this dream is a reality. Powercat Motorsports is the university’s Society of Engineers Formula Race team. Open to any student enrolled at Kansas State University, the team designs and builds a brand-new formula one race car every year. They compete with their car at various events throughout the year, but the biggest competition occurs at Michigan International Speedway.
  • A grey helicopter sits next to red tool storage carts with windows in the background.

    Operation renovation: Chinook hangar undergoes vital modernization efforts

    Originally built in the 1940s as a U.S. Navy Reserve facility, the Aviation Support Facility Olathe located in New Century, Kansas, is currently home to Bravo and Delta Companies, 7/158th General Support Aviation Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve. Supporting U.S. military missions across the nation and around the world, the units provide critical maintenance to a fleet of CH-47 Chinook helicopters and consist of the pilots and crew members who execute the mission.
  • An aerial view of a lake with grass and trees on the left, water on the right, and blue sky in the background.

    Collaboration and creative thinking lead to $1 million savings on ecosystem restoration project

    The past few years have seen significant increases in the cost of many things like labor, materials and supplies. Construction projects have not been immune to these rising costs. So, when federally funded construction projects can save taxpayer money, it’s worth celebrating. The government is a steward of taxpayer dollars and as such, has the responsibility to spend those dollars in the most cost-effective way. Sometimes this requires thinking outside the box.

  • September

    A man in a grey shirt walks through waist high grass with blue sky in the background.

    ‘We have the responsibility’: Missouri River fish and wildlife mitigation project a vital undertaking

    After Lewis and Clark ended their journey westward in 1806, an expedition known as the Corps of Discovery, the Missouri River would prove to be a vital link between the east and west. Flowing right through the heartland, the Missouri River is the longest river in the U.S. and is an important economic resource to the region, the nation and the world. Before the Missouri River became the navigation hub it is today, it was an untamed, wild body of water prone to flooding, known for changing paths, with a floodplain as wide as a mile in some places. By the late 19th century, the government realized the value the river could have on westward expansion and began the process of taming the river.
  • Two large rock formations stand with water to the right and grass to the left.

    A trip through geological time: Wilson Lake’s unique topography makes it a must-see destination

    Standing over 20 feet in the air, the red, striped sandstone formations tower over the surrounding landscape, casting long shadows into the water they sit next to. Where can these majestic rock formations be found? It’s not Utah or New Mexico, but Kansas. That’s right – Kansas. Known for its agriculture (cows outnumber people, after all) and its flat prairies, it might be surprising to learn there are areas of the state with large geological formations like those found in Utah, New Mexico and other areas of the American Southwest. Wilson Lake, located in central Kansas, is home to some of the most unique topography in the state.

  • August

    A man in a grey shirt and green pants touches the keypad of an orange machine with greenery in the background.

    Ranger leads the way: Kansas City District park ranger a proponent of cashless fee system

    In the U.S. Army, they say “Rangers lead the way.” In the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, it’s often park rangers leading the way at our nation’s lake projects. At Rathbun Lake, located in southern Iowa, one park ranger is leading the way by being a proponent of the cashless fee system at the lake’s campgrounds and boat ramps. Since 2020, Ryan Vogt, natural resource specialist and park ranger at Rathbun Lake, has led the way in the Kansas City District for adopting a cashless fee system at both the lake project’s campgrounds and boat ramps. While many lake projects in the district’s area of responsibility have automated fee machines from which recreators can purchase recreation passes, Rathbun Lake is one of the first to have a cashless reservation system at its over 400 campsites.