25 Nov 2025

Rebuilding Resilience: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Restores Flood Protection Project in Pittsburgh’s West End

When torrential rains hit Pittsburgh’s West End in 2018, the Saw Mill Run surged with more force than the neighborhood had seen in years. Within eight hours, more than four inches of rain funneled down the steep watershed into a narrow urban channel. The storm did not just test the system – it critically damaged portions of the Saw Mill Run local flood-protection project, a 4,717-foot channel built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District (USACE) in 2000 to defend thousands of residents and commuters just across the river from downtown Pittsburgh.

5 Dec 2023

Headwaters Highlights: Elizabeth Locks and Dam crews keep navigation afloat through one of the oldest locks in the Nation

The quiet waters of the Monongahela River may experience some explosive rumblings next summer. One of the oldest navigation dams in the nation is planned to go out with a blast in Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, after more than a century of service to the region.

22 Nov 2023

We Will Rock You: Pittsburgh District sinks stones into Monongahela River to raise fish habitats

Each time the excavator picked up a load of rocks and swung its booming arm to dump the stones into the water, the barge rocked from side to side, swaying with the heavy machinery’s momentum.

21 Nov 2023

Headwaters Highlights: How the real estate office powers Pittsburgh District’s federal lands mission

In the heart of the Pittsburgh District lies a realty office working quietly behind the scenes to support the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ mission.

7 Nov 2023

Headwaters Highlights: Shenango River Lake team works year-round to improve federal lands

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District constructed Shenango River Lake to reduce flooding, save lives and protect property. However, in the years since, the dam, reservoir and federal lands have become a major hotspot for outdoor recreation.

20 Oct 2023

From Classroom to Conemaugh: Pittsburgh Students Dive into Dam Engineering

Park Ranger April Richard's sturdy boots crunched on the gravel path as she led the tour group up a hillside to an overlook platform. Richards, the ranger at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District’s Conemaugh River Lake, welcomed a group of students and began their guided tour. She started by discussing the fundamental nature of the dam.

18 Oct 2023

Year in Review: Pittsburgh District reflects on FY23 accomplishments

The Pittsburgh District had an unprecedented fiscal year in 2023, and we accomplished a tremendous amount of work for the region and the nation, thanks to our employees.

11 Oct 2023

From analog machines to machines learning: the Pittsburgh District’s nascent relationship with artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) took the world by storm in 2023 when various rapidly-improving text-language models became publicly available. Since then, the human race has delved into the wacky, wild world of AI and faced some pressing questions: how do I trust the content I find online? Is my self-driving car plotting world domination? Will my toaster have a midlife crisis?

3 Oct 2023

Digging deeper: Geotechnical team drills down for purpose and discovery in their ‘boring’ jobs

The geotechnical team boarded the barge before sunrise during a shift change. As they climbed aboard, the drilling crew met them with good news. “Looks like we’re ready to drill this morning,” the crew leader said.

28 Sep 2023

Volunteers bridge generations through conservation during National Public Lands Day

On a crisp autumn day, volunteers gathered at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District sites to honor National Public Lands Day (NPLD). Spearheading this collaborative endeavor for our public lands, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District was pivotal fostering connections among community members and organizations.