The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers strategically delivers innovative solutions, through partnerships, and is able to provide value to the community and Nation.
The New York District is a part of the community and collaborates with other federal and state agencies, non-governmental organizations and academic institutions on projects and programs of mutual interest.
The New York District continues to maintain a proactive partnership to identify and implement innovative solutions with the goals of enhancing the environment.
During Estuary Week in September of 2016, the New York District took to the waters within the New York Harbor Estuary and hosted a “Partner Harbor Inspection” aboard the Army Corps vessel MV Hayward.
Attendees included Army Corps senior military leaders, Brig. Gen. William Graham, Commander of the North Atlantic Division and Col. David Caldwell, Commander of the New York District and over 70 representatives from Federal, State, municipal, non-Government organizations, and academia.
Senior leaders from Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers included Ray Wimbrough, of the North Atlantic Division Regional Integration Team, Leigh Skaggs of the Office of Water and Project Review, and Charles Hall and Andrew MacInnes from the Ecosystem Restoration Center of Expertise.
The MV Hayward set sail early morning and traveled down the Hudson River into the New York Harbor, westward along the Kill Van Kill Channel and into Newark Bay, NJ where the bay is dotted with various port facilities.
Col. Caldwell made the introductory remarks as the vessel traveled along waterfront with agency heads, civic leaders and partners seated on the bow.
"This harbor inspection is a celebration of our partnerships and achievements," said Col. Caldwell. "This is once again a fantastic event to bring so many partners together in one venue to discuss our programs, celebrate our successes and focus on future efforts to restore and protect the harbor estuary."
With the American flag, USACE flag and North Atlantic Division Commanding General's pennant flapping in the wind from the mast of the MV Hayward, it traveled along the waterfront route as partners took to the microphone and spoke about accomplishments, future partnering, restoration activities, and methods to continue to work collaboratively.
Individual New York District representatives provided overviews about the Corps' missions and programs of Civil Works, Operations, Sandy, and ecosystem restoration.
Specific briefings by Corps project managers and points of interest included the South Shore Staten Island Coastal Study, Hudson River Habitat, Liberty State Park, Harbor Deepening completion, Passaic-Hackensack Rivers-Newark Bay Superfund mission, Passaic Tidal, Passaic-Hackensack restoration, and Old Place Creek study.
A comprehensive overview of the Bayonne Bridge Raising Project was briefed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, along with briefings about the water syphon project by the City of New York Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Rebuild by Design Projects by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Distant Points of Interest topics included the Sea Gate-Coney Island Improvement Project, East Rockaway-Jamaica Bay Reformulation Study, Jamaica Bay Restoration perimeter sites and Marsh Islands, and discussions about the Spring Creek North Ecosystem Restoration, by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, and Spring Creek South Coastal Restoration, by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, followed by the New York Rising Howard Beach by the New York State Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery.
Col. Caldwell spoke about the recent celebration of the completion of the New York Harbor Deepening, one of the largest Civil Works projects in the nation.
Discussed also was the 50 million cubic yards of dredged material from the harbor deepening that resulted in the restoration of more than 160 acres of marsh islands in Jamaica Bay, N.Y., the stabilization of the shoreline at Plumb Beach, N.Y, the restoration at Lincoln Park in Jersey City N.J., and placement of sand along the shoreline to protect beaches.
Also discussed was Corps and partners working together on post Sandy recovery projects making significant progress to restore beaches and expedite ongoing planning efforts to manage coastal storm risks and the implementation of 59 projects throughout the region to Repair, Restore, or Plan solutions for more resilient coastlines.
"The Hudson Raritan Estuary Feasibility Study is critical to advance large scale restoration projects in the future," said Lisa Baron, Project Manager. She spoke about the latest printed version of the comprehensive restoration plan. "Version 1.0 of the Comprehensive Restoration Plan was released and the Draft Feasibility Report is scheduled for release this fall which will recommend more than $600 million worth of restoration including 33 projects for new construction authorization."
"I'm pleased to carry on this tradition of this partnership, and I thank all the partners and stakeholders for their continued support and participation," said Col. Caldwell.
The responsibility to deliver environmentally sound projects and services to customers touches every program within the Corps and the scope and magnitude of environmental issues that the Corps addresses make it stand out.
“We are proud of our special partnership. By working together to find solutions, we can accomplish so much more," said Baron.
The New York District continues to maintain a proactive partnership to identify and implement innovative solutions with the goals of enhancing the environment. This collaboration has led to many successful projects and ensures environmental efforts meet the needs of the public.