The Corps Galveston Side the Box.” Community Education Tool
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TThehe CorpsCorps US Army Corps of Engineers ® EnvironmentEnvironment July 2005 EnvironmentEnvironmentEnvironmentVol. 6, No. 3 Galveston District security upgrade environmentally friendly By MARILYN UHRICH Galveston District The time was right: the opportu- nity and the funding were present. Security, plus habitat, plus cost savings, were built into the plan. With all these factors present, there was no reason not to depart from the sterile security design of iron fencing and concrete barri- cades and instead build a security system that would be a catalyst for community environmental edu- cation and outreach. Thus was the reasoning of the Project Delivery Team, led by land- scape architect Rhonda Brown. The team was charged with the responsibility of bringing the Galveston District’s headquarters up to the standards required by Homeland Security Department guidance. As a secondary benefit, the U.S. Army Photo project brought the district hon- Galveston District’s Jadwin Building overlooks the Gulf of Mexico and Galveston Bay. A sustainable environment orable mention in the 2005 White barrier was created to bring the headquarters up to Homeland Security Department guidance standards. House “Closing the Circle Award.” quarters for the Corps Galveston side the box.” community education tool. Funded through a grant from District. The PDT looked at the The district could receive sav- Once established, the wetlands Homeland Security, the entire advantages of creating “sort bar- ings of more than $10,000 a year and its typical plantings would re- project cost $428,000. riers,” i.e., wetlands, as opposed by eliminating of mowing and fer- quire only occasional invasive spe- Included were relocation of an to installing the traditional hard tilizing the areas that would be cies control, estimated at around existing guard house, excavation structures. turned into water barriers. $4,000 every three years. The typi- of two acres of two to six foot Resistance to the plan faded as Emissions from the mowing, cal iron fencing would have cost deep water barriers, raising and therefore, would be reduced. The $500,000 and would have required widening of the main entrance excavated material would be re- thousands of dollars in annual road, installation of a new bullet “Security, plus habitat, cycled for use as fill to raise and painting due to the corrosive resistant guard house with widen the entrance road for the coastal environment. restroom and installation of new plus cost savings were built new guard-house providing a sav- The Seaborne Challenge entry gates, conduit and entrance ings of more than $18,000 on con- Corps, a local program for high card readers. into the plan. ” struction costs through not truck- school students with personal The Jadwin Building, built on ing the fill to the site. challenges, and a local Boy Scout the eastern end of Galveston Is- the team explained the benefits of Most important was the cre- Troop joined with the Corps on the land overlooking the Gulf of such a plan and persuaded Dis- ation of a sustainable environ- project–planting trees and shrubs, Mexico and Galveston Bay, is head- trict leadership to venture “out- ment, which would serve as a See Security on Page 14 Environmental awards showcase Corps work nology. Send email to: [email protected] for more in- US Army Corps For the past several years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engi- formation. of Engineers ® neers has received recognition from the Department of Defense, the Army and this year, the White House Clos- The National Trust for Historic Preservation spon- The Corps ing the Circle Award for excellence in environmental work. sors three awards for those who work with historic sites. Environment However, those are not the only entities that recog- Check out www.nthp.org/preservation_awards. is printed quarterly by the nize people and projects promoting the Corps’ environ- The National Wild Life Federation recognizes those U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as an unofficial newsletter mental ethic. There are many organizations and pro- people who have demonstrated a long-term commitment published under the grams that offer Corps districts, divisions and employees to conservation and environmental protection with the provisions of AR 360-1. The the opportunity to showcase their work, but many are National Conservation Achievement Award. More in- purpose of this newsletter is to provide information about little known. formation can be found at www.nwf.org/about. Corps environmental actions, Here are just a few of the possibilities: Recognizing the importance of teamwork in public issues, policies and The American Academy of Environmental Engineers service is the goal of the Public Service Excellence technologies. Opinions expressed are not necessarily sponsors an Excellence in Environmental Engineering Awards, sponsored jointly at federal, state and local those of the U.S. Army. Award, which is open to individuals, companies and or- levels. Programs should demonstrate substantial im- Inquiries can be addressed to ganizations that have demonstrated a comprehensive, provement in productivity or services, increased quality U.S. Army Corps of integrated approach that considers all environmental of life for Americans, and most cost-effective govern- Engineers, Attn: CEHNC-PA, P.O. Box 1600, Huntsville, AL media. ment programs or services. Contact the Public Em- 35807-4301. Phone: (256) The Federal Energy and Water Management Awards ployees Roundtable for more information. 895-1692 or fax (256) 895- are sponsored by the Interagency Task Force, Federal En- Renew the Earth sponsors awards in five categories: 1689. Lt. Gen. Carl A. Strock ergy Management. This award recognizes outstanding Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological Diver- Chief of Engineers contributions in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable sity; Clean Energy and Protection of the Atmosphere; Publisher energy, water conservation and cost-beneficial landscap- Integrated Natural Resource Management; Sustainable Carol Sanders Corps Public Affairs Officer ing practices. Military nominations are submitted through Agriculture and Food Security; and Pollution Reduc- Stacey Hirata the Department of Defense and are limited to 30 nomi- tion and Prevention. See www.renewtheearth.org/ Executive Editor nations. index.cfm. Candice Walters Managing Editor The Wildlife Society recognizes organizations or The River Network River Heroes Award recognizes Joan Burns groups that accomplish outstanding achievements to an individual who has successfully worked with a river Acting Editor benefit wildlife with the Group Achievement Award. conservation organization to improve a river and its The Innovations in American Government Award, watershed. See www.rivernetwork.org/index.cfm for sponsored by the Ford Foundation and the John F. more information. Kennedy School, recognizes creative governmental initia- The Award for Excellence in Cultural Resource tives especially effective in addressing vital domestic pub- Management is presented by the Society of Ameri- lic needs including base conversion, energy conservation, can Archeology to an archaeologist or group of ar- Submissions and environmental protection. All units of government chaeologists working in a cultural resource manage- The Corps Environment are eligible for recognition and awards. ment setting, whose innovative research, or repeated welcomes submissions. Sept. 25 and 26 are the deadlines for the three awards and enduring contribution, has contributed signifi- Please send your sponsored by the International Erosion Control As- cantly to archaeology. The deadline is Dec. 20. Check information (article, photos, events, letters to the editor, sociation: the Environmental Achievement Award, out www.saa.org/Aboutsaa/Awards/crm.html. etc.) or questions via e-mail Excellence in Technology Award and Sustained Con- The Soil and Water Conservation Society sponsors to: tributor Award. Check out www.jeca.org for informa- three awards, all with a Dec. 12 deadline, the Scholl Excel- [email protected] tion on these awards that recognize efforts in the ero- lence in Conservation Award; the Merit Award and the .army.mil sion control field. Hugh Hammond Bennett Award. Check out Deadline for publication: Keep America Beautiful, Inc., honors individuals, www.swcs.org/en/awards/. Feb. 15 (April issue) groups, and companies working to prevent litter and The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation sponsors the Water May 15 (July issue) improve communities’ waste handling practices and Conservation Awards, recognizing individuals, public and Aug. 15 (October issue) environment with the Keep America Beautiful Na- nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and/or Nov. 15 (January issue) tional Award of Excellence. This year’s deadline is private companies who are leaders in water conservation. All submissions are subject to editing. Sept. 3. Three awards, the President’s Award, the Touchstone The National Association of Environmental Pro- Award and the Distinguished Service Award, are all pre- The Corps Environment is fessionals issues the President’s and National Envi- sented by the Wildlife Management Institute. All three available on the World Wide ronmental Excellence Awards in up to eight catego- are open to federal, state or provincial natural resource Web at:hq.environmental .usace.army.mil/newsinfo/ ries: NEPA Excellence, Education Excellence; Envi- agency divisions, departments or programs. Check out current/current.html ronmental Management; Planning Integration; Public