Headwaters UpdateUS Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District, Vol. 4, Issue 2, March 2013

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Voted #1 Field Newsletter in USACE and 3rd in Army-wide Keith L. Ware Awards

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US Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District

Col. Bernard R. LindstromDistrict Commander

Public Affairs Chief

Sheila Tunney

Editor/LayoutDan Jones

Public Affairs Office412-395-7500

www.lrp.usace.army.mil

Headwaters Update is a quar-terly publication of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pitts-burgh District. It is produced for electronic distribution by the Public Affairs Office. Views and opinions expressed in the Head-waters Update are not necessar-ily those of the Department of the Army or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Submissions may be sent to CELRP-PA@ usace.army.mil for consideration in upcoming editions. Stories sub-mitted should be in a Word doc-ument format. All photographs should include a caption and be high resolution (at least 4x6 inches and 300 dpi).

In this Issue

Pittsburgh District welcomes new commander, local native In a traditional military change-of-command ceremony held Jan. 10, Colonel William H. Graham, Pittsburgh District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, transferred leadership of the Pittsburgh District to Col. Bernard R. Lindstrom at the Senator John Heinz History Center. Brig. Gen.Margaret Burcham, Great Lakes and Ohio River Division Commander, presided over the ceremony. The Change of Command ceremony symbolizes the continuation of leadership and unit identity despite changes in individual authority; it also represents the transfer of responsibility and authority from one individual to another. The ceremonial passing of the command flag from the departing commander to the arriving commander physically represents this transfer. As Commander and District

Page 4 - Concrete batch plant ensures quality, speedPage 6 - Built Ford Tough: A story of survivalPage 12 - Snow Days: Corps, NWS work togetherPage 14 - Plugging away: Tygart Dam turns 75Page 21 - Tionesta combats glossy buckthorn

Engineer, Col. Lindstrom, a western Pennsylvania native, will lead the Pittsburgh District in delivering integrated regional solutions that minimize risk and enhance reliability for the nation’s infrastructure, water resources and environment. One of 45 Corps of Engineers districts, Pittsburgh covers an area of approximately 26,000 square miles extending into five states – Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Maryland and New York. The Pittsburgh District supports commercial navigation on the upper Ohio, Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers, operating and maintaining 23 locks and dams. Pittsburgh’s flood damage reduction mission encompasses 16 multi-purpose reservoirs and 80 local flood protection projects which have prevented over $12 billion in flood damages.

Photo by Dan Jones, Public Affairs Office

On the CoverEastern Screech Owl rescued,

released at Tionesta LakeSee story on page 17. (Photo by

Mira Hess, Tygart Lake)

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Story and photos by Richard Egger, Shenango Lake

On Dec. 18, Shenango Lake hosted a meeting that included representatives of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Penn Power, the Mercer County Conservation District, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District to discuss options for resolving the ongoing issue of ospreys nesting on electrical power poles and transmission towers around the lake.

Since 2012, the osprey population has become prolific at Shenango, and Penn Power has had to remove nests from power poles and towers.

The nests can create potential problems with power line maintenance, and can be a fire hazard if the nesting material became saturated with water.

Additionally, there is greater potential for bird fatalities from nesting on unprotected power poles and towers.

In an attempt to discourage nesting on open poles,

Corps, Penn Power work together to protect osprey, power

Penn Power has placed orange cones and flags on poles. The partners developed a plan that, through the cooperative efforts of all involved, will lead to the installation of five new nesting platforms at strategic locations around the lake.

The game commission will build the platforms, and share responsibilities to provide the material with Penn Power and the district. Penn Power will provide labor and equipment for installation.

The nesting structure will consist of a steel nesting platform attached to a 50-foot wooden pole. The new nesting platforms will bring the total number of nesting sites at the project to 18. The target date for final installation was Feb. 28, just in time for migrating osprey to begin nesting again.

Penn Power and the game commission are fully supportive of the osprey nesting program at Shenango and have pledged to continue to support efforts to enhance the protected species.

The osprey population creates potential problems with power line maintenance and can be a fire hazard. Below, Shenango Resource Manager John Kolodziejski updates state and industry partners on the local osprey population.

Penn Power has placed orange cones and flags on poles to prevent ospreys from nesting.

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Story and photos by Caitlin Brown, Water Management

Did you know the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has a state-of-the-art concrete batch plant in Charleroi, Pa., which is within the Pittsburgh Dis-trict’s oversight? Well, they do.

Some people may question how the federal government can justify spend-ing $28 million on this facility, but after getting a better understanding of the plant and its operations, they might rethink the question.

The Corps pours most of its con-crete under water at locks, dams and river related structures, therefore, the concrete has to be designed to last. The average age of the district’s locks and dams are 50 years.

Over the years, sulfate found in the rivers can deteriorate concrete.

Glenn Bush, a Pittsburgh District construction representative, said the concrete produced at Charleroi meets the high standard needed to withstand river sulfate.

“A plant like this one has capabili-ties that are rarely seen in the private sector, and those features yield ex-

Concrete plant ensures quality, speed

ceptional quality concrete with every batch.”

Construction of the plant began in October 2005 and was completed in June 2006 and the first batch of concrete was produced. The plant was designed to have a production rate of 150 yards-per-hour and oper-ates with an Environmental Protection Agency,National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit, which is a standard all industrial concrete plants must follow.

“A batch plant is a complicated series of machines that must work in harmony to produce the desired prod-uct,” he said. “The plant consists of interconnected components.”

It produces concrete at rates averag-ing 165 yards-per-hour, 15 yards per hour above the estimated production rate in the initial plant design. To date, the largest pour the plant produced was between 1,200 and 1,300 yards.

In 2005, the Corps contracted with Trumbull Corporation to construct the concrete batch plant for construction on three Monongahela River locks and dams as part of the Lower Mon Proj-ect. Trumbull used the plant until the contract expired, then the Corps took responsibility.

In June 2005, construction of the plant was initiated with the removal of coal on the site. Once cleared, paving of the entire site started with a sched-uled completion date of 10 weeks according to Pennsylvania Department of EPA restrictions.

The plant consists of interconnect-ed components working together to

“A plant like this has capabilities rarely seen in the private sector.”

Glenn Bush, Construction Representative

Continued on Page 5

Construction of the plant began in October 2005 and was completed in June 2006. All of the water used at the plant is taken from the Monon-gahela River.

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create a high-quality concrete mix. A roof over each aggregate bin with

an overhead sprinkler system ensures constant moisture control, and ensures a better concrete mix. There are four differ-ent aggregate types used within the mix with three course: 3/4-inch ASHTO #67 small aggregate, 3/4 to 1 1/2-inch railroad ballast aggregate, 1 1/2 to 3-inch ASHTO #1 large aggregate, and one fine aggre-gate - Georgetown sand. In addition to the aggregate, the concrete mix may also use up to five different cements at any given time depending upon projects.

The plant is able to use less cement, yet it still achieves remarkable breaking strengths. This is not only because the aggregates maintain a constant mois-ture rate but also because it meets the temperature require-ment of 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Another feature of the plant is its ability to create a con-crete mix that meets the temperature requirements during all four seasons. This is accomplished by using a sand cool-ing system in the summer and a heat exchanger during the winter. When it was installed, the cooling system was only the second one in use in North America.

It consists of a wet belt that works with an air condi-tioner in a sand cooler. The system eliminates the need for traditional ice houses. The rotating sand cooler moves sand through chilled air to lower its temperature. Additionally, a flooded wet belt moves coarse aggregate through a bath of 37-degrees-Fahrenheit water, lowering the aggregate’s temperature.

The same system can be used in the winter to warm the raw materials with the heat exchanger, which is connected to a steam boiler. This allows continued production during

the fall and winter months.All water used on-site is taken from the river. Trucks entering or leaving the plant are required to go

through a truck wash to prevent foreign materials from entering the plant or any materials from leaving the site. All water, used for the truck wash or in the plant’s 2-acre site, is pumped into an on-site water treatment facility. The wa-ter goes through a settling pond and then through a filtra-tion system where the pH is tested. Once the water passes all EPA regulations, it is returned back into the river.

Additionally, there is an on-site concrete testing facility that is shared between the government and the contractors located on the plant site. The facility is manned by either Glenn Bush or contractors with an open contract.

Since it’s a shared facility, all quality assurance and quality control representatives are able to do testing simul-taneously. The types of testing performed include quality testing, grading, washing, absorption and specific gravity testing. The facility is operated and maintained to meet commercial standards although not required.

Concrete Plant from Page 4

The batch plant produces concrete at an average of 165 yards per hour and is able to meet the temperature requirerements throughout the year.

By Rene’ Berberich, Berlin Lake

Waylon Reigle, Berlin Lake maintenance mechanic leader, was going home after work Dec.19, when he noticed a red tail hawk sitting alongside a field.

Built Ford Tough: A story of survival

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He slowed down to take a look. As he approached the hawk, it took flight towards the tree line.

Suddenly it turned directly into the path of Reigle’s Ford truck, and Reigle hit the hawk.

After the collision, Reigle didn’t

see the hawk. He thought he had struck and killed the hawk.

When Reigle got home, he walked around to the front of the truck to check for damage, but instead what he saw shocked him. There in the front of his grill were the hawk’s wings.

Thinking the hawk was dead, he pulled on its wing only to discover the hawk was still alive. That is when the hawk popped his head out from under the grill.

Realizing the hawk was coherent and agitated; Reigle knew he was in a predicament.

He called Berlin Lake Park Ranger Shane Berry to assist in trying to get the hawk out.

Berry was able to snare the hawk around its leg and gently tug until it was free.

The hawk was disoriented and agitated for a couple minutes. Once on the ground it spread its wings in a threatening matter. After a few minutes, the hawk flew to a nearby tree unharmed and safe, but probably a little bit dazed.

A red tail hawk struggles to escape from the grill of Waylon Reigle’s truck. The hawk sur-vived the ordeal and was able to fly away. (Photos by Waylon Reigle, Berlin Lake)

Emerald ash borer attacks Berlin Lake’s treesStory by Rene’ Berberich, Berlin Lake

Unfortunately, just as the lake projects experienced the gypsy moth invasion, the newest bad bug is now the emerald ash borer.

This 1/2-inch-long, green metallic invader from Asia has taken its toll on many of Berlin Lake’s ash trees. This invasive species is decimating the ash tree population throughout the midwest and northeast states.

The past couple of years it was noticeable that Berlin’s ash trees were infected due to canopy dieback, fissures on the bark, and increased woodpecker activity. This year, however, the Berlin Lake team is taking down many of these ash trees due to potential safety hazards in public areas, the campground and day use areas. It is estimated that approximately 64 ash trees will be removed just within these areas.

The emerald ash borer adult drills a perfectly round hole, lays its eggs, and it’s during the larval stage it feeds on the cambium layer, thus resulting eventually in the death of the tree. Many other vectors are created for other diseases and insects as well when this bug makes its home. It weakens the tree, and eventually other insects, e.g., ants, bees, etc., will make their home in the cavities. Meanwhile, woodpeckers create large holes to harvest the bugs and larva thus opening the tree up to disease.

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When this bug makes its home, it weakens the tree and eventually other insects will make their home in the cavities and woodpeckers will create large holes in the tree.

Track marks made during the larval stage show the extent of dam-age borers can do. Adult emerald ash borer

For activities to teach children about the importance of water safety visit:

www.bobber.info

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Story and photos by Kyle Kraynak, Shenango Lake

One thousand rainbow trout were stocked at the Shenango Dam Outflow Area and at two other locations in the Shenango River, Feb. 5.

To avoid the icy steps and snowy shoreline, the trout were released using a truck tube.

The trout were delivered from the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commis-sion’s Pleasant Gap Hatchery, lo-cated approximately160 miles from the Shenango Dam. Most of the fish were between 10-13 inches in size.

Even though the section of river below the dam is a highly popular “ap-proved trout water,” it also has a strong reputation for quality catches of wall-eye, bass, musky, pike, catfish, crappies and other pan fish.

Over the rainbowShenango, PA Fish & Boat stock trout at dam outflow

The Corps of Engineers and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stock 1,000 rainbow trout using a truck tube.

Rainbow trout were stocked at the Shenango Lake Dam outflow area and two other areas in the Shenango River.

By Mark Keppler, Conemaugh Lake

NiSource Inc. has begun construction of a $150 million pipeline, called the Big Pine Gathering System, in western Pennsylvania.

The pipeline will provide natural gas producers, including newly drilled

By April Hawkey, Crooked Creek Lake

In the fall, Girl Scout Brownie Troop 51687 spent the day at Crooked Creek Lake touring the facilities and learning about the Corps of Engineers’ role in managing water.

Park Ranger April Hawkey showed the Brownies how project staff takes water samples twice a month to moni-tor inflows and outflows at Corps lakes. The girls later tried on chest waders at Crooked Creek Beach. There, they learned about E. coli and the importance of clean water for swimming.

The group then took a tower tour with Hawkey to understand the significance of the dam in flood damage reduction and improving water quality and quantity downstream. The afternoon was wrapped up in the Outflow Area, where the 14 Brownies collected and identified macro invertebrates.

Brownies learn about water management

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The finished pipeline will have an initial capacity of about 425 million cubic feet per day, with connections to the Columbia Gas Transmission pipeline system, a NiSource owned company, as well as those owned by Texas Eastern Transmission and Dominion Transmission.

Marcellus Shale wells in Pennsylvania and Ohio, a way to get their product to market.

The company plans to finish installing the 70-mile system in the upcoming months, which includes a proposed crossing of the lake at Conemaugh.

Natural gas pipeline coming to Conemaugh Lake

Park Ranger April Hawkey teaches Brownie Troop 51687 about the importance of the Corps water management and flood damage reduction missions.

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Turning negative into positiveBy Christina Zahniser, Shehango Lake

After an unfortunate incident involving a dog drowning in January 2012, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Shenango Lake staff, emergency fire and police responders and the owners of the dog have been working together to turn a negative situation into a positive outcome.

On Jan. 19, 2012, Tim Vesonder Sr., took his son’s 9-month-old golden retriever, named Callahan, for a walk at the Mahaney Recreation Area. Callahan was not on a leash and ran out onto the thin ice chasing birds. He fell into the freezing water about 60 feet or more from shore.

Efforts to rescue the dog were hampered by a lack of proper equipment, training and a mistakenly cancelled dispatch call. The delayed response was a lesson learned by everyone involved, including Corps of Engineers Shenango Lake staff - that every minute counts and being prepared is crucial. Despite everyone’s best efforts to rescue the dog, everything seemed to be working against them. The dog could no longer support itself and went under the water within minutes of an attempted rescue by a trained member of the fire department.

Instead of dwelling on the negative, Vesonder and his son created the Callahan Fund. The fund is designed to collect money for equipment and pay for training for the local fire and police departments around Shenango Lake.

Several Water Safety Council meetings were held at Shenango Lake to discuss this incident, what went wrong, what can be done differently in the future, and create a wish list of needs from the local departments.

One topic discussed was the lack of a water and ice rescue run card for the lake with Mercer County 911. With a water rescue run card in place, each department will automatically have a plan that will list themselves and the other local departments that will be dispatched initially when a water rescue incident is called in by the public. M-C-911 now has this water rescue run card in place so the chiefs of each department just have to set their individual plans to complete this process.

During a Feb. 6 Water Safety

Council meeting, Vesonder presented the $3,730 funds raised and brought a list of where the distribution of these funds would go. The equipment on the list would be purchased by each department and then reimbursed by the Callahan Fund. Items included exposure suits, life jackets, throw bags, ice awls, water rescue helmets, and reach poles.

Any additional funding collected would be allocated for K-9 first aid or water rescue training for the departments.

This collaborative effort by the Corps of Engineers, the Vesonders, and the local fire and police departments will hopefully bring forth a better response and outcome in case of another water and ice rescue incident.

For more Information about all of our missions and projects visit:

www.lrp.usace.army.mil

Callahan Fund to assist first responders with future rescues

Members from Shenango area first responders and the Corps of Engineers meet to discuss the Callahan Fund which will provide funding for rescue gear and training.

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Corps works to resolve Tionesta property issuesBy Jason Cole, Tionesta Lake

Employees from Tio-nesta Lake, the Northern Area Office, and the Real Estate Division met at the Tionesta Lake Visitor Center Jan. 17, to discuss encroachment issues along Creek Road, Kingsley Township.

The meeting’s focus was to devise a plan to resolve all of the existing driveway encroachments in the targeted areas.

Story and photo by Vince Klinkner, Youghiogheny Lake

An active eagle nest is located near the Ranger Office and can be seen from the breast of the dam. Eagles have been spotted near the dam very often over the past couple of months, and now it is clear as to why. The nest was spotted last week and curiosity continually grew. No eggs could be observed, but they are believed to be in the nest. Bald eagles lay their eggs in the months of March and April in this part of the coun-try. Eagles can lay one to three eggs at a time-but three eggs are rare. The eggs will incubate for 35 days, and the eaglets will be able to take their first flight at around 10 weeks of age. We hope to have some new eagles flying around the area this summer.

Eagles spotted at Youghiogheny Lake

An Eagle was spotted nesting near the breast of the Youghiogheny Lake Dam.

Aerial map of Tionesta Lake.

Story and photo by Tom McAfoose, Loyalhanna Lake

On Oct. 4, Loyalhanna Lake Resource Manager Paul Toman and Conemaugh Park Ranger Mark Keppler attended the Public Input Session for the Loyalhanna Water Trail & Guide held at the City Council Chambers in Latrobe, Pa. This publication is being developed by the Pennsyl-vania Environmental Council as a project of the High-lands Conservation Landscape Initiative in partnership with the Loyalhanna Watershed Association. Loyal-hanna Lake, along with other partnering agencies and organizations, contributed to this initiative.

In addition, plans to resolve other encroachments such as horse crossings and illegal struc-tures on government land were discussed.

The first step towards the resolution of these issues will occur in the coming months by holding a public meeting to ac-tively involve all stakeholders.

Attending the meeting was Shekinah Bailey, Maria Mig-none, Greg Japalucci, Jeff Hor-neman, Evan Skornick, and the Tionesta Lake Ranger Staff.

Loyalhanna assists with Water Trail & Guide

Paul Toman, Resource Manager at Loyalhanna Lake, talks during the meeting to discuss the Loyalhanna Water Trail & Guide

By Michael Janiszewski, Water Managment

The Pittsburgh District drainage area covers more than 25,900 square miles beginning in the upper Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers headwaters to our endpoint just below Hannibal Locks and Dam on the Ohio River.

What impact to such a large area could a couple inches of wet

Snow Days

snow up in the mountains make? Well, providing the right answer to that question happens to fall right in between goals of the National Weather Service and our Pittsburgh Corps Water Management section.

What do agencies do when they have overlapping mission goals?

They cooperate and work together. Yes, that is possible. In fact, both offices are working together right now planning ahead for the next major snow event like the Snowmageddon snowfall, Feb. 5-6, 2010, or the snow runoff flood in January 1996 that was 10 feet above flood stage at the Point.

Corps, NWS work together to upgrade region’s snow sampling stations

The Pittsburgh District’s Water Managment section and the National Weather Service work together throughout the year to study the impact of water in the region.

The National Weater Service conducts snow sampling flights as part of their studies.

Part of the new plan has been to reinforce and upgrade the snow sampling stations at 15 reservoir projects and three lock and dam river stations.

The stations have been a steady provider of what the NWS categorizes as A-level weather observation sites. A-level is the highest value assigned to observer data and is given because the record at the stations has been collected by established procedures for numerous consecutive years.

No automated snow sampler has been invented that can replace snow measurements made by trained observers. The observer measures and records snow fall, snow depth, and the snow-water equivalent, a technique that has been handed down from one group of Corps employees to another. This type of long term meteorological record is useful when predicting climate changes.

To safeguard the benchmark snow data, a half day review and refresher training was setup at four locations across the district.

Before the training, Bob Coblentz from the Pittsburgh forecast office with the National Weather Service and Mike Janiszewski with the Pittsburgh Corps, were sent out to find how and where data was collected by making site visits to the future snow network stations. Of course, the site visits were scheduled when the conditions were most challenging.

Finally, the training time had arrived. That was a good thing because our wake up call, Hurricane Sandy, had already been through the area bringing more than 20 inches of snow to parts of West Virginia Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.

snow measurement and is of high value. As of now, 15 reservoir projects, plus three river stations have already began entering their data into the NWS system using their Weather Coder software.

The NWS also makes snow sensor sampling flights. The snow observations play a part in the work of the snow flights as well. Because of the wide difference in elevations at our snow sites, from 768 feet at Pike Island to 1,513 feet at Youghiogheny Reservoir, plus the geographic distribution of the projects, the snow measurements are used to calibrate the data collected from the airplane

sampling runs.The various data are all quality checked then finally entered into the system for use.

The national snow water equivalent map is available here: www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/interactive/html/map.html

When the Pittsburgh river forecast is made, having a map like this is essential to tell us exactly what difference a couple inches of wet snow up in the mountains can make. It often turns out to be a big difference.

Werner Loehlein, District water management chief and Mike Janiszewski review the data collected from the snow tubes.

Werner Loehlein, the district’s Water Management Chief, and Coblentz, headed out to review existing methods and train for the new snow network.

Part of the refresher course was the distribution and instructions for use of the new Adirondack snow density gages.

The snow sampling tubes give the most complete picture of not only how much water is in the snow, but what type of layering is in the snow column. That is the most complete type of

For the past 75 years, Tygart Dam has stood proudly, provid-ing vital services and protecting those who live downstream.

Tygart Dam was initially authorized in 1934, and adopted by the River and Harbor Act Aug. 30, 1935, to provide reliable water levels to the locks and dams on the Monon-gahela and upper Ohio Rivers.

Tygart Dam was part of the second wave of President Roosevelt’s New Deal, which was designed to help revitalize struggling communities during the Great Depression. Construction of the dam began in 1935 under the Public Works Administration.

The dam was one of the first PWA projects initiated to reduce unemployment through the construction of massive, labor intensive projects.

In May 1936, at the peak of construction, more than

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Plugging awayTygart Dam one year before its completion in a photo dated Jan. 15, 1937.

1,700 people worked on the structure. Jobs at the dam were in high demand with wages of $.45 an hour for unskilled labor and $1.10 an hour for skilled labor. The going rate for work at the time in the area was $.10 an hour.

Tygart Dam is de-signed to provide flood control, navigation wa-ter supply, public water supply, recreation, land conservation, and fish and

wildlife preservation. It also was the first of the 16 reser-voir projects in the Pittsburgh

District to be constructed. One of the most memorable events during the dam’s

history was the flood of 1985. Tygart Dam came as close as it ever has to cresting its spillway, with flood waters rising 100 feet in three days, stopping just nine feet below the spillway.

Since its completion, Tygart Dam has prevented flood damages in excess of $1.1 billion.

Tygart Dam turns 75, showing no signs of slowing down

Tygart Dam as it appears today. Since it’s construction, the dam has pre-vented more than $1.1 billion in flood damages.

Native American literature featured during celebration

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By Kathy Christ, Nothern Area Office

Northern Area Office Administra-tive Specialist, Kathy Christ, and her 13-year-old daughter, Amanda, who is a Type 1 diabetic, joined several Fraternal Order of Eagles (F.O.E.) dignitaries at the John and Mary Pap-pajohn Biomedical Discovery Build-ing on Oct. 29, to take a hard hat tour of the home of the F.O.E. Diabetes Research Center.

The organization presented its

fourth donation to the University of Iowa. A check for $4 million was presented, bringing the Eagles’ total contribution to the university to $19 million over the past four years.

Kathy and Amanda Christ trav-eled to Iowa for the opportunity to see the progress made on the Diabetes Research Center and celebrate the hard work of their tremendous fundraising effort.

The quest to make the fifth check presentation is underway.

Corps employee, daughter do their part for diabetes research

Kathy Christ, Northern Area administrative specialist and her daughter, Amanda, along with members of the Fraternal Order of Eagles presented the University of Iowa a check for $4 million for the FOE Diabetes Research Center construction. (Photo courtesy of Kathy Christ)

Story and photos by Sheila Tunney, PAO Pittsburgh District Office em-ployees celebrated Native Ameri-can Heritage Month with a lecture on Native American literature by Patrick Kline, a Corps employee and fan of many Native American writers. Kline drew from his personal experience reading books by Na-tive Americans for the presenta-tion. He provided a brief history of Native American culture, history and celebrity, and spoke about the marked increase of Native Ameri-can literature starting in the mid 20th century. Kline also provided background information about and readings from some of his favorite authors including Vine Deloria, John Fire Lame Deer and Tony Hillerman.

Lt. Col. Christopher Riemer, Deputy District Engineer presents a district coffee mug to Patrick Kline, Mahoning, for his presentation celebrating Native American literature.

Deployed Pittsburgh District employees Glen Hawkey, C.W. Bill Young Lock and Dam, and Donald Bucco, Loyal-hanna Lake, speak with USACE Commander Lt. Gen. Thomas Bostick, while deployed to New York, for a power team mission after Hurricane Sandy.

Hurricane Sandy

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Story and photos by Eric Schreckengost, Mosquito Creek Lake

Work began Nov. 4, on the much anticipated Disc Golf Course at Mosquito Creek Lake. A group of volunteers worked on clearing fairways which lie in woody areas.

The tee boxes and disc nets will be installed in the spring with the course opening by the 2013 recreational season.

The course is situated near the Tailwater Recreation Area on the southern end of the lake.

Volunteers partner with Mosquito Creek Lake for disc golf course

Volunteers clear brush to make a fairway for a new disc golf course at Mosquito Creek Lake, which is set to open in 2013.

The 10-hole course will complement the existing nine-hole course located in Mosquito Lake State Park.

The course was made possible by a partnership be-tween the Corps of Engineers at Mosquito Lake and the Trumbull County Disc Golf Association.

A map of the future disc golf course.

by Jason Cote, Shenango Lake

The Shenango River Lake team entered a holiday themed float in the Hermitage Light Up Parade on Nov. 17.

The float was a great reminder to the 17,000 attendees to practice water safety and to wear their life jackets. Maintenance employee Ed Durch drove, while Rangers Kyle Kraynak (as Bobber) and Jason Cote rode the float throughout the parade.

Photo by Joshua Shaffer, Regulatory

Bobber lights up Hermitage!

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By Christine Renzoni, Tygart Lake On Nov. 7, Tygart Lake staff received a phone call from a West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR) offi-cer who was concerned about a small owl that someone had found in Philippi, W.Va.

The owl had been found the night before in the middle of a road by a group of children. After moving the owl to a safer place and observing it for a few hours they decided something was wrong and called the DNR for help.

The DNR does not have any facilities to treat injured raptors, so they called local police for help. The local police also didn’t know what to do with the bird, so rangers at Tygart Lake were called. The DNR officers were aware of Ranger Christine Renzoni’s affiliation with the West Virginia Raptor Rehabilitation Center. Shortly after the call, the little owl was handed over to Renzoni to receive the proper care it needed. After a quick check of its wings,

Eastern screech owl rescued, released by Tygart Lake staff

eyes, feet, and body/feather condition, it was determined the owl was a female (weighing in at 6.2 ounces) and in perfect health. A veterinarian confirmed these findings after the owl was brought to the raptor center. It is likely the owl simply ran into or was hit by a car and was dazed as a result. She spent a few days fully recovering in a quiet cage and eating meals. She was released on Nov. 12, back into the area where she was found.

The Easter Screech Owl that was rescued, recovered and was re-leased Nov. 12

Story and photo by Christine Renzoni and Michael Estock, Tygart Lake

“Man is a part of nature, not apart from nature.”

Every year a small group of rap-tors and volunteers from the West Virginia Raptor Rehabilitation Center inspire this idea in thousands of people as they travel across the state to help teach about raptors and their important role in the environment.

Part of this team includes Chris-tine Renzoni, Tygart Lake’s ranger, who volunteers at the center.

Recently, Tygart Lake partnered with the center to increase the num-ber of people the center can reach by allowing them to use Renzoni as an educator.

Renzoni travels to education programs where the public is given a chance to see raptors up close in a way they never could anywhere else.

The stars of these programs are six different birds: Thunder the bald eagle,

Tygart Lake ranger spreads the word about raptors

Vader the turkey vulture, Annie the red-tailed hawk, William the barred owl, Neo the broad-winged hawk, and Rupert the eastern screech owl.

All of these birds were brought to the center with injuries or issues that prohibited them from surviving on their own in the wild.

Annie, pictured to the left, is the newest member of the team with Renzoni being her primary trainer and handler. Annie represents why young wildlife should be left alone, given that she was a victim of habituation after being taken from a nest earlier this year in an attempt by someone to make her a pet.

This ease around humans and her lack of survival skills makes it impos-sible for her to be released back into the wild.

While this new partnership is only two months old, Renzoni and the rap-tors have already been able to reach over 330 members of the public.

Although every program strives to teach environmental awareness, differ-ent messages are given depending on the birds that are brought or requested since each bird has its own story to tell.

Tygart Lake Ranger Christine Renzoni and Annie the red-tailed hawk educate visitors about raptors.

Photo by Mira Hess, Tygart Lake

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By Grover Pegg, Mahoning Creek Lake

Tiger Cubs, Pack 174 visited Ma-honing Creek Lake/Dam on March 9 for a day of fun in the sun.

The tiger cubs first toured Ma-honing’s visitor center, where Ranger Grover Pegg gave them an introduc-tion to identifying animal furs and fish. The cubs then were led on a trail hike through the woods to participate in a dam tour. The cubs built paper airplanes and were given the opportunity to fly them off the dam structure before the tour.

The tiger cubs finished the af-ternoon with a snack at the Outflow pavilion while they played on the newly installed playground at Mahon-ing Dam.

Cubs have fun in the sun at MahoningBoys learn about dam, animal furs

Tiger Cubs from Pack 174 listen to Ranger Grover Pegg as he teaches them about animal furs and fish, March 9.

Boater bags big buck at Loyalhanna

On Nov. 26, the first day of Pennsylvania deer season, this hunter harvested a 9-point buck on Loyalhanna Lake proj-ect lands accessed by johnboat. (Photo by Tom McAfoose, Loyalhanna)

Michael J. Kirwan Reservoir hosted representatives from the Ohio Division of Natural Resources, Ohio State Parks, Watercraft and Wildlife, Edinburgh and Kent Fire Departments, Portage County Sheriff’s Dept., and re-sponse teams from Buckeye Pipeline of Coraopolis, Pa., for a simulated petroleum line break drill Dec. 11. (Photo by Julie Stone, Kirwan)

Kirwan hosts partners during petroleum drill

By Jason Cole, Shenango Lake

Shenango Rangers Kyle Kraynak, Jason Cote and Rich Egger conducted a boundary line patrol and inspection Jan. 15, to determine if there were any encroachments on Corps property at the eastern end of the lake.

One section of boundary was of concern because of a local timber op-eration that came close to Corps land.

A Trimble GPS unit was used to determine if the loggers harvested any timber from Corps property. It was determined that no encroachments

existed within the section of boundary line, and the loggers were operating on private land.

Shenango’s park rangers are dedi-cated to safeguarding public lands and the natural resources that they contain.

A typical patrol of this nature looks for destruction of government property, mowing encroachments, unauthorized trails, permanent hunt-ing structures, illegal dumping, timber trespasses, and other Title 36 infrac-tions. Rangers are assigned a section of Shenango’s 15,000 acres to patrol and monitor.

Shenango Lake rangers patrol Corps’ boundary

Ranger Jason Cote and Kyle Kraynak locate a property boundary monument on the eastern end of Shenango Lake.

By Steve Lauser, Kinzua Dam

Drawing in a steady crowd throughout the weekend of Jan. 12-13, the Annual Outdoor Show, organized by Warren County Council on Tour-ism, was once again deemed a success.

Regional and local vendors pitched and sold their products, which included items such as handcrafted canoes, kayaks, and fishing boats, to a crowd that gathered both to shop and learn.

People of all ages enjoyed the ex-perience, bringing interest and aware-ness regarding area activities.

Even though National Safe Boat-ing Week, May 18–24, and the rec-reation season seem a long way off, Steve Lauser and Luke Houston, park rangers at Kinzua and Tionesta Lake, took full advantage of the opportunity to spread the message of safe and responsible boating.

Lauser and Houston set up and staffed a water safety display, which included water safety cartoon videos, posters and brochures, to educate the boating community about life jacket wear and the options that are avail-able when it comes to comfortable and lightweight life jackets.

In addition, water safety promo-tional materials, acquired through U.S. Army Corps Engineers Pittsburgh District “Bobber” and National Safe Boating Council “Wear It!” campaign suppliers, included Frisbee rings, kites, wristbands, key floats, magnets, coloring books, and stickers and were distributed during the interaction with nearly 450 adults and children.

It is hoped that this collaborative effort increased awareness about the importance of always wearing life jackets while on the water.

Kinzua, Tionesta rangers partner for water safety display at Annual Warren Outdoor Show

Think before you sink

visit:

www.bobber.info

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Photo by Richard Egger, Shenango Lake

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By Kyle Kraynak, Shenango Lake

Shenango Rangers Jason Cote and Kyle Kraynak used a canoe to inspect the completed Shenango River Trail on Corps of Engineers property.

The opportunity was made possible by the efforts of the Shenango River Watchers, a local non-profit watershed group formed to restore and protect the environmental, scenic and recreational attributes of the Shenango River wa-tershed, along with the Lions Club of Jamestown, and Greenville, Pa.

The River Watchers’ objective was to remove large wood debris obstruct-ing the flow of the river to kayaks and canoes. This endeavor has provided a recreational resource for all outdoor lovers, as the Shenango River follows a 7.5-mile land trail of the original Erie Canal.

The project was funded by grants from the Pennsylvania Department of

Shenango Lake Park Rangers Jason Cote and Kyle Kraynak at Kidd’s Mill Covered Bridge Canoe launch.

Shenango River Watchers trail complete

Environmental Protection and Depart-ment of Conservation and Natural Resources. Work began in the spring of 2011 and was completed in the summer of 2012.

The Shenango River Watchers cleared a total of 26 miles of river cor-ridor from the outflow of Pymatuning Lake all the way to Shenango Lake.www.shenangoriverwatchers.org

By Kyle Kraynak, Shenango Lake

Although the process to hire summer ranger positions is now

Corps looks for talent at park ranger interview sessionexclusively completed via www.usajobs.gov, there is still a human element to the process. On Dec. 10, Mitch Mosler, Civilian Personnel

Advisory Center, Evan Skornick, Northern Area Operations Manag-er, and Kyle Kraynak (Park Ranger Shenango) attended the 12th annual Park Ranger Interview Session at Slippery Rock University.

Due to the new procedures, many other federal land manage-ment agencies did not send repre-sentatives, as is the norm. However, the Corps representatives took the initiative to attend and give insights on the new program to potential summer rangers and to convey Corps of Engineers missions.

There were several highly in-terested and qualified students who will be seeking summer positions at the lake projects as soon as the ap-plication announcements are posted on USA Jobs in January 2013.Photo by Jason Cote, Shenango Lake

Photo by Henry Sallmen, Shenango Lake

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By Luke Houston, Tionesta Lake

On March 5, Rangers Jason Quinn and Luke Houston, of Tionesta Lake, attended a multi-agency meeting about a plant called the glossy buckthorn. The meeting was designed to identify the potential problem created by the presence of the plant, look at managing resources and devise a plan to combat the plant.

Once widely recommended for conservation plantings in the midwest, the glossy buckthorn is an invasive plant that creates dense thickets, and out-competes native vegetation. Its fruit is generally dispersed by birds and small animals.

Now, the glossy buckthorn is invading pri-vate and federal lands in the surrounding areas. Although none of the plants have been identi-fied at the Tionesta Lake project, experts believe evidence shows it is spreading in the direction.

The Buckthorn has been identified in State Games Lands 24 and in parts of the Allegheny National Forest, which are adjacent to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ property.

The meeting was attended by Forester Collins Pines of Kane Hardwoods, the Allegheny National Forest, the Penn-

Tionesta combats glossy buckthorn

sylvania Game Commission, and Corps rangers. When the meeting was finished, the plan was to focus

on the Coon Run area, conduct a survey to identify the in-fected areas, gather GPS data, eradicate the invasive plant, and spray if needed.

Multiple agencies are looking into the potential problem of glossy buckthorn, which is an invasive plant that creates dense thickets.

Pittsburgh District debuts new websitePublic Affairs Office

The Pittsburgh District’s website got a facelift on March 5.

The new look is part of the Corps of Engineers’ effort to provide unifor-mity in web branding and information location for all of its districts and labo-ratories.

The site is hosted by the Defense Media Activ-ity and is much less ex-pensive to maintain than it was to have web servers for each Corps element.

The homepage’s web address remains www.lrp.usace.army.mil, but all other addresses have changed.

District Commander Col. Bernie Lindstrom speaks with Jon Delano from KDKA-TV. Col. Lindstrom spoke about the possibility of the potential upcoming furlough and the impact it could have on the naviga-tion industry in the region. (Photo by Carol Davis, Public Affairs)

Headwaters Snapshots

Demolition began on the old lock walls at Charleroi Lock and Dam in December. This is the next phase of Lower Monongahela River Project. (Photo by Dan Jones, Public Affairs)

Youghiogheny Lake Maintenance Mechanic Bill Younkin installs a portable water tank for the Tub Run Campground. (Photo Courtesy of Youghiogheny Lake)

Dr. Nelson Harrison, an accomplished educator, composer, lyricist and arranger spoke and performed during the Pitts-burgh District Black History Month celebration. Dr. Harrison, a veteran trombonist of the Count Basie Orchestra, has toured the world with some of the most famous names in music in-cluding Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr., Lena Horne and James Brown. (Photo by Sean McCann, ACE-IT)

The Pittsburgh District Leadership Development

Program Class 2-2012 answers questions

following their graduation presentation

Dec. 6. Classmembers are from left to right;

Kat Fatula, Brent Kelley, Dan Jones, Dan Hacker,

Mark Eberle, Katie Bates, Ty Bintrim, Guy Kufahl,

Sara Hillegas, Mark Ivanisin. Not pictured is

Dominic Basile who was deployed for Hurricane Sandy relief. (Photo by

Carol Davis, Public Affairs)

Brig. Gen. Maragaret Burcham, Lakes and Rivers Division Com-mander, congratulates Chris Johnson, Supervisory Operations Specialist from the Pittsburgh District, following his graduation from the LRD Leadership Development Program-3. (Photo courtesy of the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division)

KUDOS

General Service Elliott Porter

Program Specialist Strategic Planner

Managament Initiatives Branch

2012 Employeesof the Year

Wage Grade Ian McKelvey Lock and Dam

Equipment Mechanic Emsworth

Lock and Dam

Team members total 65 years experience at ConemaughOn March 8, Maintenance Mechanic Dave Johnson (35 years service) and Park Ranger Mark Keppler (30 years service) were presented with Certificates of Recognition for Service. Congratulations Dave and Mark!

By Beth Scheller, P.E., Civil Design Section Chief

Marc Glowczewski of the Civil Design Section in Engi-neering and Construction Division recently received his credentials as a Professional Engineer (P.E.), in the state of Pennsylvania. In 2000, Marc graduated from the University of Pitts-burgh with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Marc’s career has included working as a design engineer and construction project engineer in the private sector. For the past 3 1/2 years Marc has worked in our Engineering and Construction Division. In EC, Marc is responsible for providing civil engineering design support on projects in addition to obtaining environ-mental permits. Achieving P.E. certification is a significant career mile-stone for engineers in Career Program 18 for Engineers and Scientists. This accomplishment reflects highly on Marc’s technical capabilities, his initiative, and opens up many career opportunities. Please join the district in offering Marc well deserved congratulations.

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Employee earns Professional Engineer accreditation