U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is a federal agency that was established on March 16, 1802, primarily to train military engineers at West Point, New York, while also addressing coastal defense needs. Over the years, its role has evolved significantly, particularly regarding water resource management and infrastructure development in the United States. In the early 19th century, the Corps gained responsibilities for river navigation and civil works following a Supreme Court ruling that expanded federal power in interstate commerce. Initially focused on development without much regard for conservation, the Corps later began to incorporate environmental considerations into its planning and operations, especially after the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 emphasized environmental factors in project planning.
Throughout its history, the Corps has been involved in various projects, including flood control, canal construction, and water resource management, playing a key role in building levees and infrastructure essential for numerous communities. However, by the late 20th century, the agency faced increased scrutiny regarding the environmental impacts of its projects. Today, the USACE is recognized not only for its engineering capabilities but also for its commitment to balancing development with environmental stewardship, reflecting a broader perspective on resource management in the context of sustainable development.
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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
- DATE: Established 1802
The US Army Corps of Engineers has historically been one of the most important government agencies affecting the development, use, and conservation of natural resources, especially water resources. Since its founding in 1802, the organization has engaged in a multitude of civil and military activities. It has sometimes been in conflict with other agencies with overlapping responsibilities.
Background
The US Army Corps of Engineers was established by an act of Congress on March 16, 1802. This legislation stationed the group at West Point, New York, where, in addition to performing work on coastal defenses, it was to operate a military academy that would train critically needed engineers.
Impact on Resource Use
The US Army Corps of Engineers’ relationship to natural resources, particularly water resources, came into focus gradually. One important statement of national responsibility concerning water came in 1824 when the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government had broad interstate commerce regulatory power, covering river navigation. Following this Court decision, Congress gave the Corps of Engineers important responsibilities relating to the development of civil works. During this period, and for a long time thereafter, natural resources were seen as virtually inexhaustible, and the emphasis was overwhelmingly on development, not on conservation.
The General Survey Act of 1824 seemed to represent a commitment to engage in professional and systematic national planning for resource development. However, this was not to be the case. Congress, operating according to procedures that encouraged individual congressional members to promote localized projects of benefit to their particular constituencies, essentially converted the Corps of Engineers into a tool for spending sizable amounts of federal money in congressional members’ own states and districts. The funds were spent on river and harbor improvements and on roads. Sometimes the engineers lobbied Congress for permission to participate in projects in which they were especially interested. Corps activities related to canal-building were most visible. Construction of large and increasingly controversial waterways continued until the late twentieth century.
By the late twentieth century, support for costly public works projects was far less than it had once been. For fiscal as well as environmental reasons, approval for such projects became more difficult than had been the case previously. An important piece of legislation bearing on the missions of the US Army Corps of Engineers was the Water Resources Development Act of 1986. It states explicitly that environmental factors are crucial in all planning related to water resources. All projects are subject to modification to produce environmental benefits. The Corps became committed to an enlightened handling of environmental concerns and to safeguarding as well as developing natural resources. When the problem of water pollution first began to be perceived as an important area of government concern, the Army Corps of Engineers’ position typically was that the problem should be handled at state and local levels. Later, however, the Corps considered its antipollution activities to be among its most important responsibilities.
The Corps started promoting flood control in the years following the Civil War. Not until 1936 did Congress officially state that flood control was a legitimate federal function. The Corps played an important role in the building of levees affecting the hurricane-ravaged coastal regions of the states adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico. The Corps has also developed ways for many areas throughout the country to obtain water, and many communities draw their water from Corps projects.
Bibliography
"Army Corps of Engineers: Workforce Planning Follows Most Leading Practices but Could Be Enhanced with Additional Actions." US Government Accountability Office, 9 Dec. 2021, www.gao.gov/products/gao-22-104054. Accessed 6 Jan. 2024.
"US Army Corps of Engineers." Britannica, 16 Dec. 2024, www.britannica.com/topic/US-Army-Corps-of-Engineers. Accessed 6 Jan. 2024.
"US Army Corps of Engineers Starts Bid Process for Massive JBER Training Center." Alaska Business, 6 Jan. 2025, www.akbizmag.com/industry/government/us-army-corps-of-engineers-starts-bid-process-for-massive-jber-training-center/. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.