by Martie Cenkci
Southwestern Division Public Affairs
DALLAS--The Southwestern Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, marked a year of accomplishments in Fiscal Year 2014, brought about in large part by solid partnerships and extraordinary efforts of the SWD workforce, according to SWD officials.
In addition to executing $492 million in investigation, construction and operations and maintenance, SWD initiated the first news start studies and construction projects since Fiscal Year 2010. These included the Houston Ship Channel and Comprehensive Coastal Texas studies; the Lower Colorado River Basin Phase I, Onion Creek, Austin, Texas; the Project Partnership Agreement for the Onion Creek Study and the Half Moon Reef Nature Conservancy; and completion of the Dam Safety Modification Studies for Addicks and Barker Dams in Houston and Pine Creek Dam in Oklahoma.
“These projects reflect the direct impact that the Southwestern Division and the Army Corps of Engineers have on the communities we serve, and the value we bring to them every day,” said Brig. Gen. David C. Hill, SWD commander. “Working with our partners, our dedicated and professional workforce brings their engineering and management expertise to bear, resulting in this kind of success.”
The Division also focused Public/Private Partnerships on infrastructure sustainability through several initiatives that support regional priorities. It executed nine sub-agreements with the Southwestern Power Administration for acceptance of $12.4 million for major capital improvements at existing hydropower projects, and received $6 million of contributed funds from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation for the replacement of the Tenkiller Spillway Bridge. Additionally, in support of two key focus areas, Southwestern Division’s Districts held visioning sessions with stakeholders and users associated with the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, Multipurpose Reservoirs, and Texas Coastal Initiatives.
In the military missions area, SWD awarded 11 military construction projects with a combined programmed amount of $233 million, including four in support of the Air Force bed down of the new KC-46A refueling tanker at Altus AFB, Okla. Through its Districts, SWD also executed more than $208 million in environmental compliance, remediation and restoration support and services for the Department of Defense, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Homeland Security and executed contract awards for over $600 million in Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization work for installations. Significant projects included Repair Runway at Little Rock AFB. Through its International and Interagency Services program, SWD executed $130 million in projects for the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Energy, Drug Enforcement Administration, Environmental Protection Agency Region 6, and Veterans Affairs.
“All of these actions directly support our Nation and our national security,” said Hill. “Through support to these organizations, SWD helps strengthen our Nation and brings the value right back to our communities.”
The SWD Real Estate Program managed 17,707 active outgrant contracts, the highest number among USACE divisions, and representing almost a third of all USACE outgrants, with a total annualized rent of $3.78 million. It was responsible for real property inventory and reconciliation of 14,910 individual real property assets from all programs, representing a quarter of the total USACE asset count.
The Division made its mark in other areas in Fiscal Year 2014. In Small Business, SWD was first in the Army Corps of Engineers in the category of Small Disadvantaged Businesses with more than $607 million, and second in Women-owned Small Businesses with more than $188 million. Its regulatory program completed more than 6,600 permit actions division-wide and made nearly 4,000 jurisdictional determinations, while its recreation program continued to host almost 75 million visits at its nearly 1500 recreation areas. Across the Division, SWD people hosted or participated in 180 STEM events and 20 Wounded Warrior outreach events.
“It’s very gratifying to look back on the accomplishments of Fiscal Year 2014, knowing the strength of our partnerships and the great capabilities of our workforce,” Hill said. “I look forward to even more accomplishments in Fiscal Year 2015, as we fulfill our vision of a respected organization that develops and cares for our people while engineering solutions for our Nation's toughest challenges."
These Fiscal Year 2014 accomplishments and others can be found in the SWD Fiscal Year 14 Snapshot, available online at www.swd.usace.army.mil/