Partnering Opportunities

Through its Civil Works Mission, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is able to partner with non-federal entities to complete water-resource development activities, including navigation safety, hurricane and storm risk management, ecosystem restoration, hydropower, and recreation. Authorities give the Corps permission to complete certain types of projects.  Appropriation provides funds for a project.

The authorities that the Corps works under include:

  • General Investigations Direct funding by Congress
  • Planning Assistance to States
  • Floodplain Management Services
  • Continuing Authorities Program

For an in-depth look, see Partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, A Guide for Communities, Local Governments, States, Tribes, and Non-Governmental Organizations.

General Investigation Study

These projects are directly funded through Congress and allow the Corps to assist a community in addressing large-scale, complex water resource problems related to navigation, flood risk management or ecosystem restoration. This is sometimes referred to as a “3 x 3 x 3” study, intended to be implemented for a cost of $3 million, be completed in three years and have three concurrent levels of review.  A feasibility study assesses the federal interest, engineering feasibility, economic justification and environmental acceptability of a project.  These projects are cost-shared with the non-federal sponsor 50/50. 

Planning Assistance to States (PAS)

This authority allows the Corps to provide technical assistance to non-federal partners on things such as water supply studies, stormwater management studies, watershed studies, water resources and recreation planning, data collection, maters drainage planning, surveying floodplain inventories and pipe network analysis. These projects are cost-shared with the non-federal partner 50/50. This authority does not allow for design or construction. For more, view the Planning Assistance to States Fact Sheet with a sample letter to request support.

Floodplain Management Services (FPMS)

The FPMS program provides a full range of information, technical services and planning guidance and assistance on floods and floodplain issues that are needed to support effective floodplain management. The types of activities that are appropriate under this authorization include floodplain delineation, dam failure analysis, hurricane evacuation, flood warning, flood damage reduction, stormwater management, flood proofing and inventories of flood prone structures. For non-federal partners, these studies are conducted at a 100% Federal expense. For more, view the Floodplain Management Services Fact Sheet with a sample letter to request support.

Silver Jackets Program: Silver Jackets teams are collaborative state-led interagency teams, continuously working together to reduce flood risk at the state level. Through the Silver Jackets program, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, additional federal, state and sometimes local and Tribal agencies provide a unified approach to addressing a state’s priorities. To learn more, view the Silver Jackets Program.

Continuing Authorities Program (CAP)

CAP is a collection of nine water resource authorities that allow the Corps to plan design and construction projects without specific permission from Congress. These projects are typically of limited scope and complexity.

Authority Project Purpose Learn More
Section 14: Flood Control Act of 1946 (As Amended) Streambank and shoreline erosion protection of public works and non-profit public services Fact Sheet & Letter of Request
Section 103: River & Harbor Act of 1962 (As Amended, Amends Public Law 79-727) Beach erosion and hurricane and storm damage reduction Fact Sheet & Letter of Request
Section 107: River & Harbor Act of 1960 (As Amended) Navigation improvements Fact Sheet
Section 111: River & Harbor Act of 1968 (As Amended) Shore damage prevention or mitigation caused by Federal navigation projects Fact Sheet & Letter of Request
Section 204: Water Resources Development Act of 1992 (As Amended) Beneficial uses of dredged material Fact Sheet & Letter of Request
Section 205: Flood Control Act of 1948 (As Amended) Flood damage reduction Fact Sheet & Letter of Request
Section 206: Water Resources Development Act of 1996 (As Amended) Aquatic ecosystem restoration Fact Sheet & Letter of Request
Section 208: Flood Control Act of 1954 (As Amended, Amends Section 2, Flood Control Act of August 28, 1937) Removal of obstructions, clearing channels for flood control Fact Sheet & Letter of Request
Section 729: Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (As Amended) Watershed assessment to address integrated water resources
management
Fact Sheet & Letter of Request
Section 1135: Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (As Amended) Project modifications for improvement of the environment Fact Sheet & Letter of Request

 

 

 

Contact Us

To reach the Planning & Environmental Branch, email cesac-planning@usace.army.mil or call (843) 329-8050.