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  • February

    Evan Brashier, a conservation biologist, and Adam Weatherford, chief of the Forest, Fish and Wildlife Section for the J. Strom Thurmond Dam and Lake Project, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, plant bald cypress trees at hazardous shoal locations at J. Strom Thurmond Lake on Jan. 12, 2026.

    Strong Roots, Safer Waters: Cypress Trees Planted at Thurmond Lake

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Savannah District recently planted bald cypress trees at J. Strom Thurmond Lake, also known as Clarks Hill Lake. The trees were installed at six hazardous shoal locations to improve safety, stabilize shorelines and create long-term habitat for fish and other wildlife.
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, refresh fish attractor sites at J. Strom Thurmond Lake on Jan. 12, 2026.

    USACE refreshes fish attractor sites at J. Strom Thurmond Lake

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Savannah District recently refreshed five fish attractor sites in J. Strom Thurmond Lake, also known as Clarks Hill Lake. The Savannah District maintains a network of strategically placed fish attractor sites across the lake that improve fish habitat and create productive fishing locations for anglers.

  • January

    Participating youth and Outdoor Dream Foundation staff pose for a photo at the Richard B. Russell Dam and Lake Project during a deer hunting event hosted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District on October 11, 2025.

    Guided hunts at Russell Lake offer hope and healing for children facing illness

    Every Saturday during Georgia’s 2025–2026 youth deer hunting season, which runs from Oct. 11, 2025, through Jan. 11, 2026, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District partners with a foundation to provide hunting opportunities for children diagnosed with terminal or life-threatening illnesses at Richard B. Russell Lake.

  • November

    The Employee Recreation Association for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, hosted a Veterans Legacy Exhibit November 3-21, 2025, in honor of its Veterans. The exhibit features a variety of memorabilia and artifacts, including photographs, coins, patches, medals, military service uniforms, and other items of historical or sentimental value.

    USACE Savannah District celebrates Veterans with pop-up exhibit

    As the nation paused on Veterans Day to honor its heroes, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, found its own way to pay tribute to those who had served.

  • September

    Photo of Cadet Evan Rice

    ROTC Cadet Evan Rice completes USACE internship

    Cadet Evan Rice from Huntsville, Alabama is one of 14 Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets from universities nationwide who spent the summer interning with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District.
  • Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Cadet Brandon Dove participated in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - sponsored ROTC Engineer Internship Program this summer with the USACE, Savannah District. Dove, a computer science major with a cybersecurity concentration at St. Edward’s University in Austin, fulfills his ROTC training obligations through the University of Texas at Austin.

    ROTC Cadet Brandon Dove completes USACE internship

    Cadet Brandon Dove is one of 14 Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets from universities nationwide who spent the summer interning with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District.

  • August

    Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadets pose for a photo with a grapple skidder during a forestry management tour at Fort Stewart, Georgia, Aug. 8, 2025. The Cadets are assigned to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District for their summer internship.

    Army ROTC Cadets Gain Real-World Experience During USACE Internship

    SAVANNAH, Ga. – Fourteen Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets from universities across the country spent their summer gaining hands-on experience with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, during a summer internship.

  • June

    Family members of Sgt. Tyrone Chisholm douse water across the bow of the S/V Chisholm during a dedication ceremony, June 12, 2025, at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District’s Engineers Depot in Savannah, Georgia.

    A Legacy that Floats: Savannah District Dedicates New Survey Vessels Honoring Fallen Georgia Soldiers

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District officially welcomed three new hydrographic survey vessels to its fleet, during a dedication ceremony, June 12, 2025, at the District’s Engineers Depot in Savannah, Georgia.
  • Photo of Liz Suarez

    Liz Suarez earns prestigious award for disaster recovery efforts

    Internal Review Office Chief, Liz Suarez, of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, was recently selected as the George A. Sullivan Award recipient due to her efforts during hurricane disaster recovery operations, where she ensured improvements for the Blue Roof missions were implemented and for her fieldwork to improve operations during debris missions.
  • Michael Wielputz, a materials regional technical specialist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District was named the 2025 USACE Materials Engineer of the Year as part of the USACE Engineering and Construction Community of Practice awards. The awards honor individuals who demonstrate excellence in leadership, professional development and outstanding performance across engineering and construction projects.

    Savannah District employee earns national award

    Michael Wielputz, a materials regional technical specialist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, was named the 2025 USACE Materials Engineer of the Year in recognition of his exceptional contributions to engineering excellence and the Corps' national and global projects.

  • May

    Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright (right), pauses for a photo at a Wright family reunion and fish fry alongside his older brother, Staff Sgt. Will Wright (center), and close friend and former high school classmate, Alton Bass (left).

    A Legacy that Floats: Remembering Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright

    “My brother somehow managed to always keep an open heart and cared deeply for others. Those qualities shone throughout his life and in his passing,” said Will Wright. “Even in his final moment, he chose to help others, and that is what made him truly special.”
  • Graphic with a photo of Sgt. Tyrone Chisholm and the words: A Legacy that Floats: Remembering Sgt. Tyrone Chisholm.

    A Legacy that Floats: Remembering Sgt. Tyrone Chisholm

    Before he was Sergeant Tyrone Chisholm, he was just Tyrone—a quiet, funny, and fiercely determined young man growing up in Savannah, Georgia. He was a devoted brother, a loving father and uncle, and a dedicated Soldier who volunteered for a second deployment to Iraq—not out of obligation, but because he was passionate about serving his country.
  • Sgt. 1st Class John Beale poses with his favorite candy while seating in a Georgia Army National Guard armored humvee.

    A Legacy that Floats: Remembering Sgt. 1st Class John Beale

    Loving, caring and passionate. Those are the three words Crystal Beale uses to describe her late husband, Army Sgt. 1st Class John Beale. Moved by John’s story, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, reached out to Crystal in 2023 to request her permission to name a new survey vessel in his honor.
  • Tammy Cleveland, J. Strom Thurmond Dam and Lake, Operations project manager, is interviewed by reporter Aria Surka with WFXG television station, a Fox network affiliate, May 6, 2025. The Thurmond Project provided media organizations a guided tour to update the public on operational challenges the Thurmond Project continues to face in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, as well as ongoing efforts to restore public access to affected areas surrounding the lake.

    Congressional representatives, media tour J. Strom Thurmond to assess hurricane recovery progress

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, hosted a tour of the J. Strom Thurmond Dam and Lake Project for Georgia and South Carolina congressional delegation representatives, to inform them on impacts of Hurricane Helene and ongoing efforts to restore public access to areas around the lake.

  • April

    Volunteers cleaning up in a park

    Volunteer event keeps J. Strom Thurmond moving forward

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, J. Strom Thurmond Dam and Lake Project hosted a preliminary volunteer event at the West Dam Day Use Area, April 26, 2025.
  • Maurice Alford, chief of Logistics Management Division, and Sherry Coffey, a logistics management specialist, both with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District, discuss found on installation (FOI) property—items discovered on a military installation that are not listed in existing property records. Alford and his team participated in a logistics operations assessment April 14-18, 2025 as part of the Command Logistics Review Program.

    USACE Conducts Command Logistics Review at Savannah District

    Members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Logistics Activity Assessment Branch conducted a comprehensive analysis of the Savannah District’s logistics operations April 14–18, 2025 as part of the Command Logistics Review Program (CLRP).
  • Photo of truck removing roots from a fallen tree.

    USACE timber salvage operations pivot at J. Strom Thurmond Lake Project

    The J. Strom Thurmond Lake Project, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, continues its mission to salvage timber in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, and is pivoting operations from wilderness areas to recreation areas.
  • Photo of the Wright survey vessel

    New survey vessels honor fallen Soldiers, expand USACE capabilities

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, completed final inspections of three new hydrographic survey vessels at the Fowl River Marina in Theodore, Alabama, April 8, 2025.

  • March

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District’s geotechnical drill team began standard penetration tests at Hunter Army Airfield to obtain soil samples, March 13, 2025. The soil samples will provide critical data for future construction projects on the installation.

    USACE drill team conducts soil sampling at Hunter Army Airfield for future construction projects

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District drill team recently began conducting penetration tests at Hunter Army Airfield, to obtain soil samples.
  • Photo of man in military uniform

    A legacy of duty: Vietnam veteran continues service with USACE

    SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act signed into law in 2017, designates March 29 of each year as National Vietnam War Veterans Day.