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  • May

    Fort Worth District Emergency Management team members joined the staff from Grapevine Lake and community partners for a tabletop exercise and rehearsal of emergency action plans. Regular coordination with agencies like the Texas Department of Emergency Management and local partners ensures that response plans are aligned at every level. As district officials emphasize, planning for dam-related emergencies is no different than preparing for fires or tornadoes—it requires constant communication, exercises, and updates to ensure readiness.

    Engineering Readiness: Building Relationships Before Crisis

    The rain didn’t arrive all at once. It built, hour by hour — an unrelenting drumbeat against rooftops, roadways, and the rising surface of the reservoir. What began as a forecast turned into a threat, as water crept higher along the dam’s face, inching toward a point of no return. Sirens remained silent — for now — but behind the scenes, emergency managers were already making critical decisions that could mean the difference between a controlled release and catastrophic failure. In moments like this when nature tests the limits of infrastructure and time is measured in inches of rising water, emergency management becomes not just a function of government, but the frontline defense between order and disaster.
  • U.S. Army Col. Calvin Kroeger, Fort Worth District commander, recently met with Corps of Engineers' team members that are deployed to Maui supporting the debris cleanup mission from wildfires that swept through the small Hawaiian towns of Lahaina and Kula, Aug. 8, 2023. Pictured are members of the Recovery Field Office, the Joint Field Office and some members from the Emergency Field Office.

    A Mission Built on Service and Readiness

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Fort Worth District stands as a critical component of the nation’s disaster response and recovery framework, demonstrating how engineering expertise and a culture of volunteerism can directly impact lives in times of crisis. From hurricanes along the Gulf and East coasts to wildfires in Hawaii and California, and even international disasters such as Super Typhoon Sinlaku, Fort Worth District personnel have repeatedly answered the call—often by volunteering to deploy into challenging and austere environments.

  • April

    A groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 17, 2026, at Moore Air Base for the New World Screwworm Sterile Fly Production Facility. Once complete and fully operational, the facility will produce approximately 300 million sterile flies per week. Pictured from right to left in helmets are U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Fort Worth District Commander Col. Calvin Kroeger, USACE Southwestern Division Commander Brig. Gen. George Walter, Mortenston Vice President and General Manager Kelly McNamara, USACE Commander Lt. Gen. William “Butch” Graham Jr., Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment Dr. Jeff Waksman, U.S. Department of the Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Senator John Cornyn, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Mr. Dudley Hoskins, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Acting Administrator Kelly Moore, and USDA Deputy Director for New World Screwworm Directorate Chris Needham. Others in the photo are members of the USDA’s Veterinary Services “Tick Riders”.

    Groundbreaking Ceremony Marks New Era in Agricultural Biosecurity at Moore Air Base

    On April 17, 2026, leaders from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture gathered alongside federal, state, and local partners to break ground on a critical new facility aimed at safeguarding America’s livestock industry—the New World Screwworm Sterile Fly Production Facility.
  • The key participants in the first bead-laying ceremony for the 3D-printed buildings on Fort Bliss are pictured left to right: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Southwestern Division Commander Brig. Gen. George Walter, ICON CEO Jason Ballard, Assistant Secretary of the Army (IE&E) the Honorable W. Jordan Gillis and 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss Commander Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor. Using a tablet, they initiated the construction-scale 3D printer to lay the next level of a future barracks. In total, 10 new barracks will be constructed over a six-month period. Each of the barracks will house up to 56 soldiers deployed to the West Texas Army base.

    Laying the Future of Barracks Construction

    In the high desert of West Texas, a milestone in military construction and innovation took shape under the dusty sky at Fort Bliss as leaders, engineers, soldiers, and contractors gathered for the first bead-laying ceremony of 10 new 3D-printed buildings. The event marked not just the start of construction, but a transformation in how the Army builds for the future.

  • February

    Modern cartographers for the United States Army Corps of Engineers’ Fort Worth District Real Estate Division have decades of maps stored in wooden cabinets. The maps show the different phases of projects including the district’s 25 lakes, military construction, as well as flood risk mitigation projects with local, county and state governments from throughout the district’s boundaries. Using the old two-dimensional maps along with current surveys allows the cartographers to produce new maps using modern software such as MicroStation and ArcGIS Pro that clearly depicts each and every project in a clearer, multi-dimensional view that was not available before.

    Mapping the District’s Future - Cartography

    In a utilitarian structure of reinforced concrete, a bastion of pragmatism near the Trinity River, there worked a group of government employees, cartographers not of lands, but of interventions. They are assets of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, and their charge is a solemn one: to translate USACE’s immense, earth-altering projects from the sterile domain of engineering schematics and hydrological models into the authoritative and comprehensible form of the map. Theirs is not an art of mere illustrations, but of sober visualization, a critical bridge between the raw power of engineering and the human landscapes it was designed to protect or create.

  • December

    In April 2025, the Fort Worth District joined Fort Bliss, Texas personnel and contractors for a groundbreaking for a much-needed railyard expansion. The expansion is essential for future deployment and redeployment operations at the installation. It will allow units to mobilize more swiftly in response to global conflicts and emergencies. The project includes a substantial expansion of the existing railhead. Key upgrades include an extension and connection of existing dead-end tracks to the yard line, the addition of north rail access to Union Pacific track, and the construction of new loading spurs with concrete aprons.

    Building the Future: Military Construction Program in Texas

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has long been a cornerstone of military readiness, and nowhere is this more evident than in Texas. With its vast landscapes and strategic importance, the region hosts some of the nation’s largest military installations, each fortified by the Corps of Engineers’ expertise in infrastructure and innovation. From historic World War II expansions to cutting-edge sustainable projects, the Corps of Engineers’ work in Texas, led by the Fort Worth District, is a testament to engineering excellence, economic development, and community partnership.

  • November

    Col. Kroeger signs the beam used for the topping off ceremony

    Topping Off and Giving Back

    The air over the construction site was crisp, carrying the familiar scents of wet concrete, diesel, and fresh steel. For months after the groundbreaking for the Veterans Administration’s El Paso Health Care Center, the symphony of progress had been one of deep percussion—pile drivers hammering into the earth—and the grating whine of saws. But today, a crescendo of voices rose together to celebrate the next major accomplishment, the topping off ceremony.

  • August

    Jennifer Plair, a civil engineering technician at Fort Worth District’s Somerville Lake, holds her two dogs. In May of 2025 she was inducted into the Somerville High School Hall of Honor.

    Teamwork and Mentorship in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

    In the high-stakes world of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where infrastructure projects and disaster response demand precision and innovation, Jennifer Plair, a civil engineering technician at Fort Worth District’s Somerville Lake, learned that individual expertise alone cannot guarantee success. A decorated long-distance runner, Plair discovered that true leadership lies in fostering teamwork and mentorship.

  • July

    Webb Family

    The Family That Powers On: Generations and Decades of Hydropower Dedication

    For over six decades, two generations of Webb men have harnessed the power of water—first with calloused hands and steel resolve, then with hydropower and a quiet, unyielding desire to serve their fellow man.

  • May

    “Lucky,” the horse sits atop a roof in Fort Worth during the historic flooding of the Clear Fork of the Trinity River in 1949. In the background is the former Montgomery Ward department store. The photo was taken by Hillis Miessner, a Fort Worth resident. Flooding like this in the 40s was the reason the Fort Worth District was created, and flood-risk mitigation remains a key role of the district today. With 25 dams and reservoirs, along with 373 miles of levees and bank protection, the district civil works projects have prevented an estimated $170 billion in damages since its inception.

    75 Years of Service to Fort Worth and Beyond

    From its humble beginnings in the wake of the devastating 1949 floods that inundated Fort Worth to the support of the recovery efforts after the Hawaii and Los Angeles wildfires, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District has successfully met every mission head-on.

  • February

    Stanly “Easy” Frerich, in red, is recognized as the 2024 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Volunteer of the Year. Easy, who volunteers at Lake Georgetown, is the first volunteer from Fort Worth District in more than 10 years to be named the USACE volunteer of the year. In 2024 USACE had more than 37,900 volunteers across the command supporting natural resource management. In total, the volunteers served 1,751,141 hours, equivalent to 842 full-time employes. The total estimated value of volunteer hours is $58.6 million. Pictured from left to right are Scott Blank, lake manager at Lake Georgetown, Easy, Josh Houghtaling, a park ranger at Lake Georgetown, Madeline Karickhoff, a park ranger at Lake Georgetown, Col. Calvin Kroeger, Commander of the Fort Worth District.

    2024 USACE Volunteer of the Year

    Can you keep a secret? The lake staff at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District’s Lake Georgetown can, at least for two weeks. That’s how long they knew Stanley “Easy” Frerich had been selected as the 2024 USACE Volunteer of the Year. The trick was keeping it a secret until an appropriate ceremony could be planned.
  • An aerial view of San Angelo during the floods of September 1936. This flood, and others like it over the previous decade, led to the authorization of O.C. Fisher Dam and Lake by the Flood Control Act of 1941. Since its completion, through fiscal year 2023, the cumulative amount of damages prevented by the dam during rain events is $21.3 million.

    O.C. Fisher – A Lake That Needs to Be

    As the clouds begin to darken and the thunder starts to rumble in the distance, the bison and longhorn herds at San Angelo State Park become restless. The first drops of rain begin to hit the parched landscape surrounding the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District’s O.C. Fisher Dam and Lake as the storm rolls in.
  • Elyssa Mendez, a park ranger with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District’s Proctor Lake, checks on an automatic deer feeder in one of the many wildlife management areas that surround the lake. Mendez serves as the hunting coordinator for the lake and calls the outdoors her second office.

    An Office in the Great Outdoors

    As the sun rises over the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District’s Proctor Lake, nature comes alive. A flight of cormorant lands on the lake, blue heron and a pelican search the shallows for their next meal, and two white-tailed deer scurry across the dam road.
  • Ronald Morris is a park ranger with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District. Morris has been a park ranger at Hords Creek Lake since April 2022. He started his career with the Corps of Engineer at 62 years of age after serving in the Army and Navy for more than 40 years.

    A Late Start - Continuing to Serve

    At 62 years of age, most people are thinking about what to do in retirement. Some are even enjoying the fruits of their labor that comes with it. But at 62, Ronald Morris decided to start a career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District.

  • December

    - A view of the emergency spillway, 1950’s and today, from Overlook Park at Lake O’ the Pines. The lake’s mission is to provide water to the Northeast Texas Municipal Water District and flood risk mitigation to communities along the Red River. (Illustration by Pat Adelmann)

    Lake O’ the Pines Celebrates 70 Years

    Lake O’ the Pines and Ferrells Bridge Dam, in eastern Texas, will soon mark its 70th anniversary since ground was broken and construction began in January of 1955. Authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1946, the dam and reservoir were originally known as the Ferrells Bridge Dam and Reservoir, with construction managed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ New Orleans District.
  • Col. Calvin Kroeger, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Fort Worth District commander, presents Bob Morris with the Civil Service Commendation Medal during his retirement ceremony.

    Retiring from the Corps of Engineers: A Fond Farewell

    For many long-serving U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employees, retirement is a bittersweet moment. On one hand, there is a sense of pride and accomplishment in having served the nation and contributed to important infrastructure projects. On the other hand, there is a sense of loss in leaving behind the camaraderie and a sense of purpose that comes with being part of a military organization.
  • Timber Management for Habitat Management, forestry support photo

    Timber Management for Habitat Management

    In a small town nestled in an East Texas forest, there lives a skilled group of Army Corps of Engineers foresters and forestry technicians. These individuals are responsible for overseeing the sustainable harvesting of trees on USACE property, ensuring that the delicate balance of the ecosystem and the habitat for the native wildlife species is maintained.

  • November

    A southern view of building 1093 on Fort Bliss, Texas circa 1962 when it housed two Nike Hercules surface-to-air missile laboratories and classrooms. The launch rack on the left and radar trailers on the right link the missile system to the building. Building 1093 has been a part of the Army’s Air Defense Artillery since before the branch’s inception on June 20, 1968.

    Renovating History

    Building 1093 on Fort Bliss, Texas has been a part of the Army’s Air Defense Artillery since before the branch’s inception on June 20, 1968. Originally built in 1959 and housing two Nike Hercules surface-to-air missile laboratories, the newly renovated building is now home to the U.S. Department of Defense, Missile Defense Agency’s Terminal High Altitude Area Defense Academy. The academy is a partnership between the DOD and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to train Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces soldiers on how to operate and maintain the THAAD battery.

  • October

    Team members from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Southwestern Division Regional Planning and Environmental Center meet with enlisted personnel at U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. The meeting was part of a visioning workshop for future infrastructure development on the installation.

    Live Locally and Plan Globally

    From Texas to Tokyo and almost everywhere in between, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Southwestern Division’s Regional Planning and Environmental Center’s Master Planning Branch, is planning the way ahead for operations, civil works and military construction projects.

  • September

    VA Groundbreaking

    Breaking Ground in the Sands of Texas

    In the August heat of Texas, a group of dedicated individuals came together with a common goal – to break ground and build a Veteran Affairs healthcare center that will provide top-notch care for the brave men and women who have served their country. From the first shovels to meet dirt, the clinic will rise from the dust of the Chihuahuan Desert near the William Beaumont Medical Center.