The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers commemorated the 200th anniversary of the Civil Works program April 30 and the Louisvile District celebrated by hosting Mr. Michael Connor, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. Mr. Connor visited the district to tour key civil works projects throughout Kentucky and Indiana, April 30 and May 1.
The first day, Mr. Connor, along with USACE Louisville District Commander Col. Reyn Mann and other Louisville District representatives, toured two high priority civil works projects including the Rough River Lake Dam Safety Modification Project in Falls of Rough, Kentucky, and the Green River Lock and Dam No. 5 near Roundhill, Kentucky.
At Rough River Lake, the team discussed Phase II construction of the Dam Safety Modification Project—a major rehabilitation project that includes construction of a new outlet works and a full-depth cutoff wall across the dam.
Along the Green River, Mr. Connor was able to meet with the Edmonson County Water District, The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and local, state, and federal officials to discuss the upcoming removal of Green River Lock and Dam No. 5, which will restore free-flowing conditions to 73 miles of the Green River.
The following day, the Louisville District team, along with Louisville and Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD), briefed Mr. Connor on the $230 million project to replace MSD’s Paddy’s Run Flood Pump Station before receiving a tour of the project site.
The Louisville Metro Flood Protection System consists of more than 26-miles of levee and floodwall, with 15 federally constructed pumping stations for maintaining interior drainage in times of flooding.
The Louisville District recently received $5.3 million in federal funding to advance the Louisville Metro Flood Protection System Reconstruction Project. The funds, which were included as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 Work Plan for the Army Civil Works program, will be used to initiate the construction phase of the project.
Mr. Connor was also able to visit Clarksville, Indiana, where the Louisville District continues to coordinate with the Town of Clarksville on riverbank erosion in the area.