Table of ConTenTs

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REDUCING FLOOD RISK

BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR OUR ARMED FORCES

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

THERE WHEN AMERICA NEEDS US

TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE

OUR MISSIONS (PULLOUT INFOGRAPHIC)

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CAREER OUTREACH

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CARING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

DISTRICT COMMANDERCOL. Michael J. FARRELL

EDITORIAL BOARDChris GRAY-GARCIAJohn PRETTYMANPatrick BRAY

STAFFBob KIDDTodd PLAINLuke BURNSTyler STALKERCapt. Mike MEYER

The Prospector is an unofficial publication authorized under the provisions of Army Regulation 360-1. It is published by the Public Affairs Office, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, 1325 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. Telephone: (916) 557-5100; Fax (916) 557-7853; e-mail: spk-pao@usace.army.mil. This publication is available on the Sacramento District’s Internet homepage at www.spk.usace.army.mil, and will be printed and mailed to those requesting it in writing. Editorial views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Corps of Engineers or the Department of the Army.

I’m excited to share with you some fantastic highlights from 2014. The past year pre-sented unique challenges, changes and opportunities, and the Sacramento District team achieved some re-markable accomplishments. As you read this annual edi-tion of The Prospector, recognize there are many more stories and many other innovative solutions to complex problems that we are simply unable to share in this for-mat. We are committed to sharing all of our accomplish-ments, and reflecting on the challenges that remain, so I encourage you to follow our communication efforts on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and the rest of our social media presences for regular updates on all of the impor-tant work we are doing. We have an incredible array of opportunities to serve the public and our nation’s mili-tary, and I want everyone to enjoy the feeling of pride and accomplishment that comes from learning about our new projects, current challenges and the directions our work is heading. The Prospector highlights our progress on helping the Department of Defense achieve energy conservation goals, our significant strides toward lowering flood risk here in Sacramento and the many different ways we are protecting and restoring the environment – accomplishments we all share. I’m particularly pleased that we’ve found room to showcase the fantastic work of our Park Rangers in fostering a strong bond with the communities we serve - something that’s even better appreciated when you see for yourself the service they provide every day at our parks and reservoirs.While the excitement and activities of 2015 undoubtedly demand our focused attention, please take the time to share and enjoy the accomplishments across this superb orga-nization included in The Prospector. I look forward to continuing our progress together as we Build Strong and Take Care of People. Michael J. FarrellColonel, U.S. ArmyDistrict Commander

Col. MiChael J. Farrell

Table of ConTenTs

TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE

The highlight of progress on the new auxiliary spillway at Folsom Dam in 2014 can

best be described, quite literally, as a journey. In March, the first of 12 giant gates for the new dam made the three-night, 600-mile voyage by truck from Vancouver, Washing-ton, to the project site to significant fanfare. News reporters and local residents waited to catch a glimpse of the giant gate as it slowly rolled through temporarily-closed Sacra-

mento streets with a police escort. By November, all 12 gates made the trek to their new home.

For those who travel across the ad-jacent Folsom Lake Crossing bridge, progress became as clear as ever in March when the new dam was topped out, which means the struc-ture was built up to its designed height. As the calendar flipped to 2015, the gates have all been in-stalled and the concrete chute steps

that will guide water from the spill-way to the American River below are now visible.

“2014 was the first real opportuni-ty for the public to see the scope of what we’re trying to accomplish with the new spillway, and the milestones we hit were staggering,” said David Thomas, director of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Joint Federal Project. “Our focus remains on 2017 and completing this tremendous

Topping off the new spillwayStory by Tyler StalkerPhotos by Tyler Stalker, Todd Plain and Capt. Mike Meyer

Auxil iaryContinued on page 6

6 By Tyler Stalker Tyler Stalker, Todd Plain and Capt. Mike Meyer

flood risk reduction project for the Sacramento region.”

The Joint Federal Project, which encompasses the auxiliary spillway project, is an approximately $900-million, cooperative effort with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, California’s Central Valley Flood Pro-tection Board and the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency. Along with levee improvements downstream, it’s designed to help reduce flood risk for nearly 700,000 people by providing more flexibility to release water sooner and more safely from Folsom Dam. Work is on schedule to complete the spillway’s dam in 2015, and making steady progress to keep the spillway on track for completion in October 2017.

Continued from page 5

The first of 12 giant gates for the new auxiliary spillway at Folsom Dam traverses Folsom Lake Crossing towards its final destination in Folsom, California, March 13, 2014, after a 600-mile journey from the Oregon Iron Works facility in Van-couver, Washington. The auxiliary spillway project is part of the Joint Federal Project, a $900-million cooperative effort to improve the safety of Folsom Dam and reduce flood risk for the Sacramento area. (Photo by Chris Gray-Garcia)

Aerial view shows construction on the new auxiliary spillway at Folsom Lake. The secondary spillway will work in tandem with operation of the main dam to be able to release water sooner and more safely during large storm events. In 2014, major concrete placement on the control structure was completed in March and the 12 massive gates have all been installed. Spillway construction is scheduled to be complete in 2017. (Photo from Kiewit Infrastructure West Co.)

Jackie Steiner (right), lead quality assurance inspector for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District, inspects a Tainter gate trunnion Jan. 31, 2014. Components for the six Tainter gates, which control the flow of water through the spillway, and the six bulkhead gates, which can be lowered to allow for main-tenance on the facility, were all fabricated at facilities near Portland, Oregon, before being trucked more than 600-miles to Folsom Dam for installation. (Photo by Tyler Stalker)

A worker smoothes out freshly-placed concrete on top of the new spillway dam. More than 100,000 cubic yards of concrete was placed on the structure between May 2012 and the last mass concrete placement on July 11, 2014. (Photo by Capt. Mike Meyer)

THE PROSPECTOR REDUCING FLOOD RISK

In March 2014, the Sacramen-to District set up a Twitter hashtag, #FolsomGateWatch,

so our followers could receive real-time updates as the bulkhead gates to Folsom Dam’s auxiliary spillway project arrived. Soon, #Folsom-GateWatch came to life with re-porters and followers sharing what they saw as the massive new gates approached.

“Follow” along as the gates arrive

Napa’sdry bypass

For more than a decade, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been working to change the way water moves through Napa, California, to re-

duce the risk of flooding in the region. The latest effort, construction of a new dry bypass, will create a shortcut through a large bend in the Napa River that backs up and overtops the banks, causing flooding into down-town. The new park-like area will be dry most of the year, but is expected to fill during larger storms every few years. It’s the latest in a string of projects completed by the Corps to create sustainable flood risk manage-ment features in what’s known as a “living river” con-cept.

After breaking ground in April, the first of more than 1,200 truckloads of excavated dirt was hauled off in May and steady progress has followed. More than 1,500 feet of flood walls, a low flow channel and an energy dissi-pating feature will help guide water through the chan-nel without causing damage to infrastructure. Comple-tion of the bypass is on schedule for summer 2015.

Napa has historically experienced major flooding ev-ery five to 10 years. Related projects completed in recent years include building a flood wall along the Napa River in the heart of downtown, relocating the railroad bridge across the Napa River and installing underground cul-verts along Napa Creek - all designed to help lower that risk.

Story and photos by Tyler Stalker

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A stepped-concrete energy dissipater is nearly complete as construction continues on a new dry bypass Sept. 24, 2014, in down-town Napa, California. The energy dissipater is designed to help maintain safe water speeds to prevent erosion to river banks and damage to infrastructure as floodwaters pass through downtown. It’s expected that the bypass, which is scheduled for completion in summer 2015, will be needed to help reduce the risk of flooding during storm events approximately every 2-5 years. (Photo by Tyler Stalker)

The bypass will shortcut flood-water to avoid a horseshoe-like bend in the river that often backs up and causes flooding into downtown Napa. Construc-tion of the bypass is the latest of several Corps projects to reduce the risk of flooding in Napa, and is scheduled for com-pletion in summer 2015. (Photo by Tyler Stalker)

President Obama signed the Water Resources Development Act of 2014, or WRRDA, into law June 10, authorizing 34 new U.S. Army Corps

of Engineers projects nationwide – with four of the nine total flood risk reduction projects belonging to the Sac-ramento District. WRRDA is the primary legislation by which Congress authorizes the Corps of Engineers’ key civil works missions, including navigation, flood risk reduction and environmental restoration. Before WRRDA 2014, a water resources development act bill was last passed in 2007. While WRRDA authorizes the Corps to participate in these projects, funding must still be provided through Congressional appropriation be-fore work can begin.

“The projects WRRDA authorizes represent so much of the future workload for the district,” said Sacramen-to District Commander Col. Mike Farrell. “It will take years and years to build them, but they will provide tre-mendous benefits to their communities for decades to come.”

But WRRDA isn’t just about construction. Several provisions stand to change the way the Corps does business, including making planning modernization – which the Corps initiated in 2012 to shorten and speed up feasibility studies – law. Corps headquarters has sought input from the public and partner agencies as they develop plans for implementing WRRDA’s chang-es, with guidance expected in 2015.

“The Corps has made great strides toward modern-izing project planning and the Sacramento District has been at the forefront of that process,” said Alicia Kirch-ner, Sacramento District planning division chief. “We worked very hard to complete planning studies in time to see them authorized in this WRRDA. This is why we undertake studies and see through to completion: to see good projects authorized for construction.”

The Sacramento District’s newly authorized flood risk reduction projects are:

Understanding the new WRRDAStory by Chris GraySacramento District file photos

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American River Common Features, Natomas (Chief ’s Report - December 2010): Improving the levees surrounding Sacramento’s Natomas basin is critical to reducing flood risk in one of America’s most flood-prone areas.

Orestimba Creek (Chief ’s Report - September 2013): The Orestimba project would build a new levee for the City of Newman, California, plagued by fre-quent floods since the 1950s.

Sutter Basin (Chief ’s Report - March 2014): A pilot study accelerated under the planning modernization initiative, the Sutter project would improve 41 miles of levees along the Feather River in Northern California, reducing flood risk for the Central Valley communi-ties of Yuba City, Live Oak, Gridley and Biggs.

Truckee Meadows (Chief ’s Report - March 2014): One of the district’s longest-running studies, Truckee was approved by the Chief of Engineers in April 2014 – just in time to be included in WRRDA 2014. The proj-ect would reduce flood build recreation features along the Truckee River near Reno, Nevada.

In Utah’s quickly developing Wasatch Valley, flooding is a big problem. But how and where that flooding is likely to happen has been hard to predict. Until 2014.

In February, the Sacramento District and the Utah Geological Survey signed an agreement to map all flood hazards in the region, home to the majority of Utah’s population. The study is expected to last about two-and-a-half years and cost $240,000, split evenly be-tween the state and the Corps.

“These maps are geologically-based and show de-bris flow and alluvial fan flooding hazards that are not shown on the FEMA maps,” said UGS Director Richard Allis.

Mapping flood risk in Utah’s Wasatch Valley

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The new maps won’t affect FEMA flood insurance rate maps – they’re intended instead to increase public awareness of flood hazards and eventually inform pru-dent land-use planning to reduce flood risk. By the end of the year, the Sacramento District had produced digi-tal flood maps for the entire study, and was at work on digitizing geological maps.

“We’re proud to join Utah in taking proactive steps to reduce the risk and consequences of flooding,” said Col. Mike Farrell, Sacramento District commander. “Aware-ness is the first step in reducing flood risk, and these efforts are going to make Utah safer and help build re-siliency against natural disasters for years to come.”

Story by Chris Gray

Flickr photo by Don LaVange

Flickr photo by Photo Dean

Flickr photo by Bring Back Words

THE PROSPECTOR REDUCING FLOOD RISK 13

The 2014 construction season marked the be-ginning of the end of an era of levee improve-ment work in Sacramento, California. Since

2000, the Sacramento District has worked steadily at improving levees along the American River – build-ing seepage cutoff walls into 12 miles of levee reach on both sides to strengthen them and help inhibit seepage. While most of the major construction was completed by the end of the decade, around 30 sites were set aside for later—leaving gaps—where construction was com-plicated by utilities, power lines or bridges. The district began construction on the last of these gaps in 2014 and is on schedule to complete them in 2015.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District contract workers check the quality of a recently completed seepage cutoff wall Aug. 22, 2014, near the River Park neighborhood of Sacramento, California. The project, near the City of Sacramento’s Sump Station 10, fills a gap in the levee’s existing cutoff wall where construction was complicated by the station’s pipes, which run through the levee. Now that the wall is done, crews will reinstall the city’s sump lines that were moved to complete the project and then rebuild the levee. Work at the sump and six other locations along the lower American River represent the last of this river’s levee-gap fixes scheduled to be completed in 2015.

Sacramento levee improvementsStory and photo by Todd Plain

They were tricky jobs, requiring temporary closures of major traffic throughways, drilling through bridges to reach levees beneath, and re-routing of the Ameri-can River Parkway trail, the city’s well-loved and highly trafficked bicycle and jogging path. Finishing them is a major milestone in a decades-long collaboration of the Corps, state of California and the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency to modernize Sacramento’s flood infrastructure. But much more work – including finishing the new auxiliary spillway and other upgrades at Folsom Dam and a major study proposing addition-al levee improvements throughout the city – remains before the job of comprehensively and sustainably im-proving the system is done.

Building a sustainable future for our

Armed Forces

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Solar panels on the roof of the nearly complete system support facil-ity for the F-22 and F-35 aircraft, shown Feb. 14, 2014, are just one of many features that will make the building at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, LEED-Silver. Under the LEED program, which stands for Lead-ership in Energy and Environmental Design, projects are recognized for efficient design and construction in categories including sustain-able sites; water efficiency; energy and atmosphere; materials and resources; indoor environmental quality; and innovation in design. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District is overseeing construction of the 36,500-square-foot facility, which will serve as an administration and operations support building to the adjacent F-22 and F-35 industrial facilities on base. (Photo by John Prettyman)

Above: Construction is near completion on the new system support facility for the base’s F-22 and F-35 fighter jets at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, shown Feb. 14, 2014. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramen-to District is overseeing con-struction of the 36,500-square-foot facility, which will serve as an administration and opera-tions support building to the adjacent F-22 and F-35 indus-trial facilities on base. (Photo by John Prettyman)

Solar panels cover the roof of the fitness center at Presidio of Monterey in Monterey, California, May 8, 2014. Answering the Army’s call for cleaner energy, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District installed the solar panels in 2012. The $1.7 million grid-tied system sends excess energy back to the grid and can draw power even during cloudy or winter months. The fitness center is the first facility at the Presidio to have a solar photovoltaic system; generating 600 megawatt-hours of electricity per year and reducing energy costs by nearly $70,000 annually. Presidio has a goal to be net zero energy by 2030, which means that the entire installation will produce as much energy over the course of a year that it consumes.(Photo by Capt. Mike Meyer)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District broke ground in October for an op-erational readiness training complex at Fort

Hunter Liggett in Monterey County, California.

The $61 million complex will consist of three bar-racks to accommodate over 800 soldiers, a battalion headquarters building, a company headquarters build-ing, dining facility and vehicle maintenance facility. The project is expected to be completed by fall 2016.

The entire complex will be LEED-Silver certifiable when completed. The Leadership in Energy and Envi-ronmental Design rating system classifies a building’s balance of economy, quality, energy and water efficien-cy, occupant health and waste generation characteris-tics. Buildings can be rated as LEED-Certified Silver, Gold or Platinum.

Some of the complex’s sustainability features include generation of hot water from solar panels, energy-effi-cient lighting, high-performance glazing on windows to maintain the interior temperature, and a roof designed for future construction of additional solar arrays.

“This project shows that the Corps not only builds projects to sustain the readiness mission at Fort Hunter Liggett, but we also build to sustain the environment, as well,” said Jon Revolinsky, Sacramento District resident engineer for Fort Hunter Liggett. “Fort Hunter Liggett is a leader in the Army to become one of the first Army net-zero bases.”

This project is in tune with other environmentally-friendly projects currently ongoing at Fort Hunter Liggett. The Army selected the installation as one of several to achieve net-zero waste and net-zero energy consumption as a pilot program by 2020. By then, Fort Hunter Liggett will create as much energy as it uses, and reuse and recover all of its waste products. The Sacra-mento District is helping Fort Hunter Liggett by build-ing several environmentally-sustainable projects under the Army’s Energy Conservation Incentive Program.

The contract for the complex was awarded and man-aged by the Corps’ Louisville District under the U.S. Army Reserve military construction program. The Sac-ramento District will provide construction oversight from groundbreaking through completion of the proj-ect.

Construction begins on environmentally-friendly training complex at Fort Hunter LiggettStory by Patrick Bray

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New instruction building at the Presidio of Monterey

saves water, energyWhen the Defense Language Institute at the

Presidio of Monterey, California, asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento

District for a modern instruction building to improve their campus but also be environmentally friendly, the Corps looked no further than Mother Nature.

With natural features in mind such as rain and sun-light, the Corps constructed an environmentally sus-tainable building that stands out from the others on the Presidio.

Lighting efficiency was as achieved by installing sky-lights, constructing the building so that it contained an open courtyard in the center, and installing windows in every classroom and faculty office space. Natural light illuminates al-most every inte-rior space, cut-ting electricity costs. The open courtyard pro-vides light to all interior-facing classrooms and the large confer-ence room be-low it through skylights.

Water that will become waste water from toilets will not be pulled from the local water supply, but instead the building will collect it. Rainwater from the roof is filtered and gravity fed into two 35,000-gallon under-ground cisterns. The water is then pumped back into the building for use in toilets.

Working closely with the Presidio, the Sacramento District was able to officially turn over the project in October.

“There was a tremendous team effort by all of us to get

us to where we are today and being able to do this ribbon cutting,” said Capt. Andrew Boggs, project engineer for the Corps’ Sacramento District. “It was a far bigger project than just construction.”

The new environmentally-friendly building will help the Presidio meet its goal of being net-zero energy by 2030. The building was constructed to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system classi-fication or LEED-Silver certification. LEED classifies a

building’s balance of economy, quality, en-ergy and water efficiency, occupant health and waste generation characteristics. Buildings can be rated as LEED-Certified Silver, Gold or Platinum.

“This move gets us closer to our vision of having a walkable campus in the mid-dle of the Presidio,” said Steve Collins, the Foreign Language Center’s chief of staff. “Additionally, we are meeting Department of Defense standards for building green, while providing students with a state-of-the-art facility that is equipped with the

most modern technology.”

This building, along with two others constructed by the Corps, adds 205 classroom spaces to a more cen-trally located campus on the Presidio. Previously these classrooms were spread out among several buildings. Faculty, staff and students moved into the new 110,000 square-foot four-story building mid-September.

The classrooms, where students will spend the major-ity of their time, are also designed to provide an opti-mum learning environment.

16 By Patrick Bray Patrick Bray and Capt. Mike Meyer

“There was a tremendous team effort by all of us to get us to where we are today and being able to do this ribbon cutting. It was a far bigger project than just construction.”

Capt. Andrew Boggs

How it works

THE PROSPECTOR BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR OUR ARMED FORCES

The interior courtyard of the new general instruction building for the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center at the Presidio of Monterey in Monterey, California, Oct. 16, 2014. The skylights are designed to provide natural light to the conference room below it, cutting electric-ity costs. The building incorporates the latest energy and water conservation technologies in order to operate more efficiently and in a sustainable, environmentally-friendly manner. (Photo by Patrick Bray)

Water that will become waste water from toilets will not be pulled from the local water supply, but instead the building will collect it by recycling rainwater.

The rainwater is filtered and gravity fed into two 35,000-gallon underground cisterns. The water is then pumped back into the building for use in toilets.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District has completed an $18 million ground-water cleanup and environmental restora-

tion project at the former Naval Auxiliary Air Station in Monterey, about 15 years and $4.5 million ahead of schedule.

To celebrate the completion the Corps held its final public meeting for the project March 19 at the Casano-va-Oak Knolls Community Center, attended by nearly 25 residents, local officials and U.S. Rep. Sam Farr. The meeting marked the end of active cleanup work for the Corps.

“These kinds of projects can last someone’s lifetime,” said Farr at the meeting. “I’ve been here from the start and tonight we’re all here to celebrate the finish. I’m glad it could be done while I’m still in office and that we built the trust that the community needed--that indeed this job was going to get done and there’d be a safe place for children to grow up in--and we’ve done that.”

The U.S. Navy used the air station, now known as Monterey Regional Airport, from 1942 to 1989. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had been investigating groundwater contamination at and around the airport since the early 1990s under a federal program to clean up contamination resulting from military activities.

The groundwater cleanup project, initially expected to take about 30 years, was completed in about half the time, thanks to an influx of funding for formerly-used defense sites like the air station. With the additional federal funding, the project team, led by the Corps’ Jerry Vincent, employed cutting-edge technologies to test and treat the contaminated groundwater sites, re-turning them to strict regulatory standards in around 15 years - including four years of study.

“Normally, we use what they call pump and treat; it’s where you pump the water up, treat it and discharge the water,” said Vincent regarding the groundwater cleanup technology. “The cutting- edge part was that we pumped the water up and added elements to it and re-injected it so it would accelerate the process of cometabolic bio-degradation—we basically got the contaminated water to feed on itself.”

In all, about 243 million gallons of groundwater were pumped, treated and returned to the ground. “And, we didn’t waste any water in the process,” said Vincent.

Monterey groundwater cleanup project completed ahead of scheduleStory and photos by Todd Plain

“I’ve been here from the start and tonight we’re all here to celebrate the finish.”

U.S. Rep. Sam Farr

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District project manager Jerry Vin-cent (left) converses with U.S. Rep. Sam Farr (far right) during the final public meeting for former Naval Auxiliary Air Station Monterey groundwater cleanup project March 19, 2014 at the Casanova-Oak Knolls Community Center in Mon-terey, California. (Photo by Todd Plain)

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Yuba River recon study determines scope of fish habitat issue, feasibility for improvements

A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District team completed a reconnaissance study in 2014 and found there is federal inter-

est in examining Yuba River habitat issues and possible improvements.

With the recon study achieved, the next phase, the feasibility study, could begin as early as spring 2015 if Congressional funding is approved. Some $200,000 for the study was included in the 2014 continuing resolu-tion omnibus spending bill, still awaiting final approval.

Partnering discussions to help fund the next phase continue to move forward with the Yuba County Water Agency, the study’s non-federal partner.

To lend historic perspective to the issue, it is impor-tant to note that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is re-sponsible for management of two dams -- Englebright and Daguerre Point -- on the Yuba River. These dams were built in the early 20th century by the California Debris Commission.

The Corps is responsible for maintaining these dams to ensure they continue to function in accordance with their Congressionally-authorized purposes. The Corps

must also ensure that its maintenance activities do not jeopardize fish species listed by federal resource agen-cies as threatened.

The reconnaissance study enabled the Corps to more fully identify the scope of an ecosystem restoration problem, begin to develop possible solutions and to identify potential cost-share partners who would par-ticipate in the more detailed feasibility study and ulti-mately assist in implementing the solution.

Given that the Corps cannot remove the dams or make major structural modifications or changes to the authorized purposes without Congressional authoriza-tion and appropriation, the reconnaissance study has investigated what more can be done to improve fish passage conditions.

The Corps has already implemented several conser-vation measures. Changes to the operation and main-tenance of the fish ladders at Daguerre Point Dam have helped improve conditions for fish. A program to add gravel to the river to provide spawning habitat, de-signed by Dr. Greg Pasternack of the University of Cal-ifornia-Davis, has been underway since 2007. To date,

22 By Bob Kidd Bob Kidd

THE PROSPECTOR CARING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Above: From left to right, Tom Johnson, Yuba County Water Agency consultant, answers questions from Joana Savinon, project manager; and Melissa Hallas, lead planner; during a visit to the Yuba River immediately downstream of Eng-lebright Dam June 18, 2014. Members of the Sacramento District team assess-ing possible federal projects for ecosystem restoration along Northern Cali-fornia’s Yuba River reviewed the water’s route from Daguerre Point Dam up to Downieville. The Corps team was accompanied by members of the Yuba County Water Agency and several YCWA consultants in this initial trip to gather data on the overall state of the Yuba and water facilities along the route. (Photo by Bob Kidd)

Inset and above right: Water flows past Daguerre Point Dam during a June 18, 2014, site visit by a study team from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacra-mento District. Members of the Sacramento District team assessing possible fed-eral projects for ecosystem restoration along Northern California’s Yuba River reviewed the water’s route from Daguerre Point Dam up to Downieville. The Corps team was accompanied by members of the Yuba County Water Agency and sev-eral YCWA consultants in this initial trip to gather data on the overall state of the Yuba and water facilities along the route. (Photo by Bob Kidd)

more than 15,000 tons of gravel have been added to the lower Yuba River, just downstream of Englebright Dam, to enhance spawning habitat for threatened fish. The Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission has documented that Chinook salmon have been using the spawning habitat.

And in early December 2013, the Corps placed large woody materials into the lower Yuba River upstream of Daguerre Point Dam as part of ongoing conserva-tion measures to further improve habitat. This pilot program is intended to improve cover and diversity of in-stream habitat for rearing juvenile anadromous sal-monids, food sources and micro-habitat complexity.

“We care very much about the health of the Yuba Riv-er and this feasibility study is a momentous opportunity for us to take this effort to the next level,” said Joana Savinon, Sacramento District project manager.

Hydraulic mining in the Yuba River watershed during the mid-1800s contributed large quantities of sediment to the Yuba River. About 600 million cubic yards of ma-terial exposed by hydraulic mining entered the river between 1849 and 1909. The sediment deposited in the

channel raised the channel bed to the point that in 1868 it was higher than the streets in Marysville. Subsequent flooding of Marysville in the late 1800s led to attempts to mitigate the adverse effects of hydraulic mining.

Both Englebright and Daguerre Point dams were authorized by Congress for the purpose of retaining hydraulic mining debris to protect navigation in the Feather and Sacramento rivers and were built in the first half of the 20th century by the California Debris Commission.

The primary purpose of both dams was to control de-bris from hydraulic mining pursuant to the California Debris Commission’s duty under the California Debris Act to restore the navigability of rivers in the Sacramen-to and San Joaquin river systems.

Clarifying the Clean Water Act

In March 2014, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers jointly released a proposed rule to clarify protection un-

der the Clean Water Act for streams and wetlands that form the foundation of the nation’s water resources.

The proposed rule will benefit businesses by increas-ing efficiency in determining coverage of the Clean Wa-ter Act. The agencies conducted discussions around the country and gathered input to shape a final rule.

Determining Clean Water Act protection for streams and wetlands became confusing and complex following Supreme Court decisions in 2001 and 2006. For nearly a decade, members of Congress, state and local officials, industry, agriculture, environmental groups, and the public asked for a rulemaking to provide clarity.

The proposed rule clarifies protection for streams and wetlands. The proposed definitions of waters will apply to all Clean Water Act programs. It does not protect any new types of waters that have not historically been cov-ered under the Clean Water Act and is consistent with the Supreme Court’s more narrow reading of Clean Wa-ter Act jurisdiction.

“We are clarifying protection for the upstream waters that are absolutely vital to downstream communities,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “Clean water is essential to every single American, from families who rely on safe places to swim and healthy fish to eat, to farmers who need abundant and reliable sources of wa-ter to grow their crops, to hunters and fishermen who

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depend on healthy waters for recreation and their work, and to businesses that need a steady supply of water for operations.”

“America’s waters and wetlands are valuable resourc-es that must be protected today and for future gen-erations,” said Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) Jo-Ellen Darcy. “Today’s rulemaking will bet-ter protect our aquatic resources, by strengthening the consistency, predictability, and transparency of our ju-risdictional determinations. The rule’s clarifications will result in a better public service nationwide.”

About 60 percent of stream miles in the U.S. only flow seasonally or after rain, but have a considerable impact on the downstream waters. And approximately 117 million people – one in three Americans – get drink-ing water from public systems that rely in part on these streams. These are important waterways for which EPA and the Army Corps is clarifying protection.

Specifically, the proposed rule clarifies that under the Clean Water Act and based on the science:

• Most seasonal and rain-dependent streams are pro-tected.

• Wetlands near rivers and streams are protected.

• Other types of waters may have more uncertain con-nections with downstream water and protection will be evaluated through a case specific analysis of whether the connection is or is not significant. However, to pro-vide more certainty, the proposal requests comment on options protecting similarly situated waters in certain geographic areas or adding to the categories of waters protected without case specific analysis.

The proposed rule preserves the Clean Water Act exemptions and exclusions for agriculture. Addition-ally, EPA and the Army Corps have coordinated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop an in-terpretive rule to ensure that 56 specific conservation practices that protect or improve water quality will not be subject to Section 404 dredged or fill permitting re-quirements.

More information: www.epa.gov/uswaters

Story courtesy of Julia Q. Ortiz, Environmental Protection Agency

File photo by Mike Nevins

Corps proposes restoration of California Delta tractreduction strategies of varying scope and complexity. The study found that the cost of even the most efficient flood risk reduction project considered would be nearly double the expected benefits, and does not recommend Corps investment in levee improvement work for now.

The Delta is a critical link in the Pacific Flyway, and habitat for 35 threatened and endangered species in-cluding Chinook Salmon, Steelhead and Delta Smelt.

Approximately 95 percent of the Delta’s natural tidal marsh has been lost to land reclamation since the late 1800s. Natural resource specialists agree that the re-maining ecosystems in the Delta no longer maintain the functions and richness that defined the pre-channelized system, and that the measures of ecological health will continue to decline without preventive action.

“The scope of the issues facing the Delta is sizable and may warrant additional federal interest and analysis in lieu of what is being evaluated now,” said Alicia Kirch-ner, Sacramento District planning chief. “However, current Corps actions are a start to what could be the framework for future restoration plans and actions.

“The Delta Study will resume in spring 2015 and we’re hopeful that this project will illustrate potential.”

Story by Bob KiddSacramento District file photo

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Demonstrating a way forward toward a healthy future for the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District released a draft study report in April recommending restoration of 90 acres of Delta to its natural tidal marsh state.

The proposed project would fill the sunken interior of areas near Antioch, using dredged material from the nearby deep water ship channel navigation projects. The Corps used the same method in 1987 to restore vibrant tidal marsh conditions for Donlon Island, an-other nearby tract in the same area of the Delta.

“This is an important first step for the Corps in help-ing with the critical problem of ecosystem degradation in the Delta,” said Col. Mike Farrell, Sacramento Dis-trict commander. “This plan would use a proven, sus-tainable restoration method that we hope can serve as a model for more Delta restoration work in the future.”

Co-funded by study partners the California Depart-ment of Water Resources, this study examines the fea-sibility for Corps ecosystem restoration and flood risk

Building strong together

“This is a terrific example of a community organization investing in a public park facility.”

Bill Miller Black Butte Lake senior ranger

We are called the U.S. Army Corps of Engi-neers. But really we are the U.S. PEOPLE’s Corps of Engineers. From billion dollar

wonders of modern construction to clean bathrooms at our campgrounds, all of our projects are funded by tax dollars. And the public has a unique opportunity to play an active role in expanding our facilities.

If you want to build something yourself at a Corps recreation facility, call us! As long as it’s done right, and in conjunction with the local park staff, anybody can use these public lands to build facilities or structures that improve the experience for visitors to the park.

Jon Friedman, head park ranger for the Sacramento district, asks, “What better way to develop our lands and provide opportunities for recreation than to work with those very grassroots organizations from our local communities? Working with private organizations who frequent our parks to use the extra space improves the experience for every visitor and makes a lot of sense.”

Have a problem? Let’s work together to fix it.

Problem: I have a bunch of Frisbees and a basic knowl-edge of golf but nowhere to combine the two.

Solution: Contact the park staff at your local Corps lake and build a disc golf course like the Orland ACES did at Black Butte Lake. The ACES -- which stands for Army Corps of Engineers Supporters (which is pretty cool) – are a group of disc golf enthusiasts from the area around Black Butte who built a top-notch course that draws visitors from all over Northern California.

“It was great being able to work with the Glenn Medi-cal Foundation and the Rangers at Black Butte Lake to bring the dream of a disc golf course at the Corps fa-cility to life,” said Rick Leis, president and founder of the ACES. “Our partnership has already benefited hun-dreds of local and regional outdoor enthusiasts and will continue to provide free recreational opportunities for many years in the future.”

“This is a terrific example of a community organiza-tion investing in a public park facility,” said Bill Miller, Black Butte Lake senior ranger. “Visitation in this part of our park has risen 200 percent since the ACES built the disc golf course.”

Problem: I love the outdoors and supporting activities that get people moving is my passion, but it’s like 273 degrees every summer in the Central Valley.

26 By Luke Burns Bob Kidd

(Photo by Jim Snyder)

THE PROSPECTOR THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Solution: Rally my compadres at the Tulare Sports-men’s Association and secure a grant to help build a spacious covered pavilion in Success Lake’s wildlife area that will shade and shelter a wide variety of events throughout the year. Completed at the end of 2014, the structure will give new life to a little used area of the park and now makes Success Lake a new hot spot for local equestrians.

“The new pavilion offers a structure as a base of op-erations for the numerous special events that cater to all the unique users who visit Success Lake,” said park manager Chad Stuart. “Plus having some shade when it’s 110 (degrees) doesn’t hurt, either.”

Not a lot of people know the Corps is the nation’s number one provider of federal outdoor recreation and that we have more than 4,000 recreation sites across the country spanning 12 million acres. Let alone that they can build cool stuff on our park property if it makes the facility better.

Black Butte Lake senior ranger Bill Miller poses for a picture with the Orland ACES, a local disc golf club that worked with park staff to build the course on Corps owned property. The course now draws disc golfers from all over Northern California. (Photo by Bob Kidd)

A participant shoots for the ninth hole during the charity disc golf tournament at the Corps’ Black Butte Lake July 1, 2012. More than $4,000 dollars was raised for the Glenn Medical Founda-tion this past weekend as 77 disc golf-ers from throughout California traveled to Black Butte Lake for the third annual Banging Chains for Charity disc golf tournament. (Bob Kidd)

More than 1,000 volunteers pitched in at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento Dis-trict parks across central California for the

21st annual National Public Lands Day Sept. 27.

The Corps has been involved with National Public Lands Day since its inception in 1994 and has consis-tently been one of the event’s largest providers of sites and volunteers. The event is the largest single-day com-munity service project in the country.

National Public Lands Day

28 By Luke Burns Luke Burns, Chris Gray and Patrick Bray

Pounds of litter removed: 2,120 lbs.

Volunteer hours: 4,193

Volunteers:1,079(Photo by Patrick Bray) (Photo by Luke Burns)

(Photo by Chris Gray)

Amount of work ($22.50/hour): $94,552.15

(Photo by Patrick Bray)By the numbers:

Warrior Take a Warrior Fishing -- a laidback day of free

fishing, food and fun for wounded veterans and their families was held May 3, 2014, at

Pine Flat Lake, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers park near Piedra, California.

Veterans gathered early in the morning at Deer Creek recreation area, where all fishing equipment, including a fishing license, was provided.

“We had a terrific team of volunteers from Central Valley Veterans, local fishing clubs and other service groups to host our veterans and their families,” said event coordinator Zachary Montreuil, Corps park ranger. “We were honored to host this event as a small token of our thanks to our veterans and their families for all they have given.”

“Take a Warrior Fishing” is one of the more visible projects funded by Central Valley Veterans – but CVV works all year to assist returning vets who may be strug-gling with day-to-day issues.

Story and photos by Bob Kidd

A volunteer boat captain and his newest fishing buddy display their catch. Pine Flat Lake, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District park near Pie-dra, California, hosted Take a Warrior Fishing on May 3, 2014. The recreational event sponsored by Central Valley Veterans and their corporate donors, plus bright sunshine and good fishing, attracted 68 veterans and their families. A team of over 100 volunteers made sure veterans and their families enjoyed a day of fishing, fun and food. (Photo by Bob Kidd)

Pine Flat Lake, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District park near Piedra, California, hosted Take a Warrior Fishing on May 3, 2014. The recre-ational event sponsored by Central Valley Veterans and their corporate donors, plus bright sunshine and good fishing, attracted 68 veterans and their families. A team of over 100 volunteers made sure veterans and their families enjoyed a day of fishing, fun and food. (Photo by Bob Kidd)

29

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Image of Haiti during recovery efforts after the devastating earthquake of January 2010. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Qunell)

Maj. Gen. Darryll D. M. Wong, Adjutant General of Hawaii, surveys damage done after Hurricane Iselle Aug. 10, 2014 on the Big Island of Hawaii. (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Katie Gray)

A disaster strikes, buildings crumble and as search and rescue workers dig into the debris, special volunteer rescue engineers are there

beside the first responders to help prevent rescuers from also becoming victims.

A rescue engineer, also called a structures specialist, on one of the Federal Emergency Management Agency National Urban Search and Rescue Task Force teams requires a special blend of skills and a mindset that combines structural science with a rescuer’s dedication to act decisively and save lives.

“The average engineer has a science-driven mindset that is perfect for their day-to-day tasks,” said Tom Niedernhofer,” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers urban search and rescue program manager since 2002. “But we put them in a disaster environment, potentially exposing them to scenes of death, hard-ship and hazards that are usually experienced only by firefighters, police and other first responders.

“When you’re presented a problem in the day-to-day engineering world, in the relative calm of your office, you have enough time for several assessments before you make a decision,” said Niedernhofer. “Being decisive amid death and chaos … it’s not for everybody.”

The Corps is responsible for training all structures specialists for FEMA’s National Urban Search and Res-cue response system. The Corps augments this system with a select cadre of structures specialists. Six of these specialists belong to the Corps’ Sacramento District.

Once trained and equipped, these rescue engineers are poised to respond to natural or manmade disasters

anywhere across the nation through the Department of Homeland Security’s National Response Framework or in support of military humanitarian missions -- within six hours’ notice.

The primary mission for structures specialists is to quickly assess damaged structures, mitigate hazards and recommend temporary shoring. This defends against

further structural collapse and potential loss of life during res-cue operations.

To become an accredited rescue engineer requires a minimum of 120 hours of training, a host of medical assessments and the ac-quisition of specialized gear and equipment, said Niedernhofer.

“I became interested in this af-ter coming out from St. Louis in 1989 to help with the Corps’ ef-forts towards damaged building assessments following the Loma Prieta earthquake (in San Fran-

cisco),” said Niedernhofer. He maintained that initial interest and was in the first official graduating class of structures specialists in 1992.

“After two solid weeks of training, I thought they would never call me,” he said. Then came Hurricane Andrew, the Northridge quake, the Oklahoma City bombing and the World Trade Center response.

“The very best structures specialists require moderate physical strength and agility, a solid understanding of building structures and load paths and possess a Type-A-driven personality,” said Niedernhofer.

Engineers with a rescuer’s heartStory by Bob KiddPhotos courtesy of Jeff Qunell

“Firefighters and other rescu-ers have to have confidence in the rescue engineers. When you establish that faith and trust between these two play-ers, disaster operations pro-ceed much better.”

Tom NiedernhoferRescue engineer

Scott Acone, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers rescue engineer, emerges from wreckage of the Hotel Montana in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, during recovery efforts after the devastating earthquake of January 2010. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Qunell)

31

Colorado landslide missionOn May 25, a massive, muddy landslide ripped

down the Grand Mesa mountains in Colo-rado, claiming the lives of three people and

smothering an area three miles long and nearly a mile wide.

Just four days later, Brigid Briskin with the Sacramen-to District’s emergency operations center arrived with district hydraulics and geotechnical experts Todd Rivas and Michael Ramsbotham to help Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and U.S. Geological Survey officials assess water pooling at the top of the landslide area - threatening to cause sig-nificant flooding or more landslides if released.

While the landslide had not been declared a federal disaster, the Corps has authority to provide technical assistance to states under Public Law 84-99 to help pre-vent or mitigate a potential disaster.

“The first thing we did was use Todd’s on-site hydro-logical features estimates along with Michael’s geotech-nical data, and sent it back to the district,” said Briskin. “Then we used the data to build a computer model to help in the recovery efforts already in progress.”

Using the model, the team recommended key loca-tions for USGS and the U.S. Forest Service to place personnel and equipment; helping them safely and ef-fectively evaluate and monitor the current landslide’s status and predict possible future slides. In the end, the pool was determined to be stable and the slide caused no further damage.

Back in Sacramento, training for the next disaster continues, because they never know exactly what may lie in store and when. As Briskin says, “If you’ve been to one disaster, you’ve been to one disaster.”

32 By Todd Plain Courtesy of Sacramento District emergency operations

A massive landslide ripped down the Grand Mesa mountains in Colorado may 25, 2014. The Sacramento District’s emergency operations team responded to assist a few days afterward. (Photo courtesy of Sacramento District emergency operations)

THE PROSPECTOR THERE WHEN AMERICA NEEDS US

Major natural disasters were relatively few in 2014, thankfully. But things were far from quiet in the Sacramento District’s emergen-

cy management office.

Paige Caldwell is our readiness section chief, and it’s up to her to keep the district’s emergency response ca-pabilities sharp through participation in tabletop and functional exercises. Among many other training exer-cises in 2014, Caldwell and her staff put on two of the district’s largest field exercises ever, including a multi-agency flood fight simulation in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.

“I’m thankful for the many collaborators throughout the Corps’ emergency operations community of prac-tice who supported the development and execution of our exercises in 2014, and I look forward to incorporat-ing the lessons learned to improve our future response efforts,” said Caldwell.

Because you never know when the next disaster is go-ing to strike.

Ready for the next disaster

A massive landslide ripped down the Grand Mesa mountains in Colorado may 25, 2014. The Sacramento District’s emergency operations team responded to assist a few days afterward. (Photo courtesy of Sacramento District emergency operations)

Above: Paige Caldwell, the readiness section chief for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District, deployed to Oakland, California, Aug. 7, 2014 to help support FEMA’s effort in Hawaii for hurricane emergency operations and di-saster response. (Photo courtesy of Sacramento District emergency operations)

Below: The Sacramento District’s deployable tactical operations system, an emergency operations vehicle with communication capabilities. (Photo courtesy of Sacramento District emergency operations)

Story by Todd Plain

Sharon Caine reflects on a career

of determination, mentorship and

charity

Sharon Caine, Sacramento District real estate division chief, re-tired at the end of 2014 after serving the U.S. Army Corps of En-gineers for 54 years. Most of that time was spent with the Corps’

Sacramento District.

Caine worked her way up from a clerk typist handling day-to-day office work in 1960, to a Sacramento District corporate board member respon-sible for advising the commanders of two districts on real estate matters. After so much experience in the district, she has some advice for anyone who may be considering a career with the Corps of Engineers.

Throughout her experience, some of Caine’s fondest memories of the Corps of Engineers are of her fellow employees and working on the Combined Federal Campaign.

George Waddell, her former supervisor in engineering division and mentor, taught Caine that as a supervisor she needed to be friendly with her employees, but she cannot always be their best friend.

“From George I learned just from observing him that he was always very friendly with everybody, but you never really knew who his best friends were,” said Caine.

Caine credits Waddell for her friendly attitude toward everyone.

Throughout her service to the district, Caine was very involved with the Combined Federal Campaign and remembers the district winning awards for reaching campaign goals on several occasions. However, she believes that it is not about the awards but the good that the district em-ployees are doing.

“There is so much need in the community and you want to do some-thing to feel like you are helping your fellow man or woman,” said Caine.

Caine comes from very humble beginnings in the Corps of Engineers. She spent nearly 30 years in the district’s real estate branch and 15 years

34 By Patrick Bray Courtesy of Sharon Caine

THE PROSPECTOR TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE

in engineering division, but it was in 1960 at a Corps supply and maintenance depot in Granite City, Illinois, that she got her start as an entry-level clerk typist in shipping and receiving.

Caine remained in that position for only a year before moving on to another position in supply and mainte-nance as a stock record clerk. While in this position she met her former husband, a U.S. Army reservist from Sacramento, also serving at the depot in Illinois.

In 1961 President John F. Kennedy ordered additional troops to Europe and Caine’s husband mobilized to ac-tive duty. He returned to the U.S. in 1962 and settled back in Sacramento to finish studying for his degree. Caine moved out to California to be with him and was quickly picked up by the Corps again in the Sacramento District.

Caine anticipated working in the district’s engineer-ing division, but almost didn’t get hired when she was found to be three months pregnant during a physical. However, the special assistant to the chief of engineer-ing division was able to convince the branch chief oth-erwise.

“Major Roan Aicklen went to bat for me and said, ‘You could always hire a clerk typist. Give her an op-portunity,’ and so that was the beginning of my career in the Sacramento District,” said Caine.

After Caine had her son she returned to work and this was enough to convince her supervisors that she was here to stay. From then on she would be a part of excit-ing and busy times in the Sacramento District.

In the 1960s, the Sacramento District had a lot of military projects, but also received projects supporting

“The Corps can take you around the world. I’ve seen people really progress and build great careers for themselves within the Corps of Engineers.”

Sharon Caine

Continued on page 39

Above: Sharon Caine, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District real es-tate division chief, enjoys lunch with George Waddell, her former supervisor in engineering division and mentor, at a district function in the 1980s. Caine retired at the end of 2014 after serving the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for 54 years. Most of that time was spent with the Corps’ Sacramento District. (Photo courtesy Sharon Caine)

Below: Sharon Caine, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District real es-tate division chief, is pictured working at her desk in the 1980s when she was a section chief in the real estate branch. Caine retired at the end of 2014 after serv-ing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for 54 years. Most of that time was spent with the Corps’ Sacramento District. (Photo courtesy Sharon Caine)

Previous page: Sharon Caine, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District real estate division chief, holds an award presented by the Combined Federal Campaign. Throughout her service to the district, Caine was very involved with the Combined Federal Campaign and remembers the district winning awards for reaching campaign goals on several occasions. (Photo courtesy Sharon Caine)

Bring your dog to work day...every day

I love puppies. Doesn’t everyone? Show me some-one who doesn’t love puppies and I’ll show you the empty space where their cold black heart once re-

sided. When a puppy enters a room, conversation stops and all anyone wants to do is touch it. Maybe to make sure it’s real and not some childhood dream come to life.

So imagine my surprise when I saw a puppy cruising the halls of the district headquarters building. The first thing I wanted to do was touch it, obviously. But after petting it so vigorously I thought MY back leg was go-ing to get moving, I decided I had to learn how this was possible. How someone was authorized to bring in the only thing more distracting at work than Facebook.

That’s when I set up a meeting with Brian Poole. Brian is the Sacramento District’s architect-engineer adminis-tration section chief and he’s also the GREATEST DAD EVER!!!!!!!!! Well, according to his daughter Brianne. You see, Brianne wanted a dog. But not just any dog. A dog that could change someone’s life.

When she asked for a puppy, she got the daddest dad answer any dad ever gave.

“We already have a dog,” replied Poole.

Is it a muzzle?

“It’s actually called a gentle leader and is the preferred way to teach a dog how to walk on a leash. It’s painless for the dog and she can still eat, bark and lick.”

Brian Poole

36 By Luke Burns Luke Burns

That’s when the young Ms. Poole went into her pitch. She wanted to raise a dog for Canine Campaigns for In-dependence; a non-profit organization started in 1975 whose mission is to enhance the lives of people with disabilities by pairing them with highly trained assis-tance dogs.

I guess when your 13-year-old princess researches how to make people’s lives better, fills out the applica-tion and does the interview with the program organiz-ers, you pretty much have to say yes.

“Having a daughter with such a big heart, I can proud-ly share that with people,” said Poole.

It’s a rather intense process once you agree to be a “puppy raiser.”

First it’s train the trainer. They have very specific things they need the dogs to learn and detailed instruc-tions on how you go about teaching them.

Then you receive an 8-week-old Labrador, Golden Retriever or a mix between the two known as an LGX.

Training continues with weekly visits to a professional canine instructor. But the real learning comes from liv-ing together on a daily basis. These dogs will go every-where with their partners once they finish training and the only way to get them that experience is to have them go everywhere with their trainers for the first year and a half of their lives. Pro trainers can’t replicate that at a kennel.

They need exposure to as many people as possible, comfort with loud sounds found on city streets and anything else their trainers can expose them to in order to best prepare them to serve as a 24-hour companion to someone with special needs.

That’s why we see Brian and little Filly here in the building. She’s using US for training.

Brian has trained several dogs now for Canine Cam-paigns for Independence, and although he has loved ev-ery one of them, he says it’s how people always want to chat he enjoys the most.

“It’s just nice. The human interaction. There is no hes-itation for people to come talk to you,” said Poole.

Colby Conrad agrees.

“Most people just look at the numbers in the elevator. No one talks and then it’s like, oh wow your dog is so well behaved,” she said.

THE PROSPECTOR TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE

Continued on next page

Colby Conrad works at her desk as Destry sits quietly nearby. Having accom-modating leadership that allows the service dogs to stay by their trainer’s side is vital to the success of the Canine Companions for Independence according to Conrad. (Photo by Luke Burns)

You can also see Colby and her pup Destry within the walls of headquarters. She was inspired by Brian’s com-mitment as a puppy raiser and decided to get involved.

One of the first things she learned was that not every puppy makes it through the program. The standards are exceptionally high to be a canine companion and most dogs don’t make it.

Destry is the third puppy Colby has trained along with her mom, Holly. Their first puppy didn’t pass. The good news is they got to keep him.

“You get a little disappointed, but then you have a re-ally great dog,” said Conrad.

And their second dog is still in the running.

“He’s in advanced training. I really want him to pass because he’s a really great dog. I mean I miss him. But he can really change someone’s life,” said Conrad. “These dogs have changed my life, and I’m an able-bodied per-son, so I can just imagine the impact they can have on others.”

Raising puppies has had a profound impact on Colby in another way, too: She has more confidence with a service dog by her side. She attends a bunch of events promoting Canine Companions for Independence and whether it’s a local celebrity or professional athlete, Col-by feels WAY more comfortable chatting them up while holding a leash.

“I feel like I’m getting the better end of the deal,” Con-rad said.

So next time you see one of these gorgeous puppies in the lobby or at a work function, feel free to relive your childhood with a good petting session. Because you are only helping them become better prepared for their ca-reer as a life-changing service dog.

Continued from previous page

Filly and Brian Working: Brian takes Filly all over the city to practice her skills. Here they are at one of their favorite spots next to Memorial Auditorium in Sacra-mento to work on some basic up and down commands. (Photo by Luke Burns)

39 38

39

President Kennedy’s challenge to go to the moon. The district constructed launch facilities at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, NASA’s alternate launch site af-ter Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The rockets which would eventually carry the first as-tronauts to the moon were test fired in California and the Sacramento District built the rocket stands at the launch site.

“This district was involved in many projects that are probably long forgotten,” said Caine. “The behind the scenes design and project engineer work was all done here.”

On the civil works side, Caine remembers the impres-sive size of several dam construction projects.

In 1978 a position in the Sacramento District real es-tate branch opened, which would lead Caine to where she is today, but at first she was not going to apply.

George Waddell, Caine’s supervisor, recommended that she consider positions in other technical offices to learn other skills and add value to her career. To her surprise, she got the job.

“I walked into real estate as a new section chief know-ing very little about real estate,” said Caine.

At first it was a little tense. Caine had to prove her mettle in a branch where she had practically no experi-ence. Not to be discouraged, she took home regulation manuals and studied at night while also taking care of her two-year-old son.

Caine went on to become acting branch chief before being selected for the position permanently. One of her first goals as chief was to increase her employees’ train-ing, which she believes would improve performance and success.

“I don’t believe people come into work with the in-tent of failing,” said Caine. “They come in wanting to do the best they can and go home really pleased with what they’ve accomplished.”

Although Caine went to work right away leading the real estate branch, it took her about two years for it to sink in that she had become the branch chief.

“I kept thinking that the boss will arrive,” said Caine. “Oh, I am the boss.”

Looking back, Caine is pleased with her career and the many opportunities.

Continued from page 35

Sharon Caine, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District real estate di-vision chief, attends a training class near Seattle in the 1970s. (Photo courtesy Sharon Caine)

Sharon Caine, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District real estate divi-sion chief, is seen here in the mid 1960s while working in the district’s engineer-ing division, civil defense branch. At that time, the district surveyed buildings to determine suitability for fallout shelters. (Photo courtesy Sharon Caine)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Sacramento District

1325 J. Street

Sacramento, ca 95814