Crosscurrents Serving the St. Paul District since 1977 September 2013 | Vol. 39, No. 6 Finish Line in sight for Devils Lake, N.D., project Page 4 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Paul District CROSSCURRENTS September 2013 | Volume 39, Issue 6 | 2 Contents 3 Comments from the top Tom Schmidt, engineering and construction, 4 Mississippi River Commission visits the district discusses the Devils Lake, N.D., flood risk reduction project at a pump station in Devils Lake 5 District attorney earns national award July 31. The district is nearing the finish line to 6 Team nears finish line on Devils Lake, N.D., work complete the construction in the region. 8 Battle of Gettysburg 150 years later Photo by Shannon Bauer 9 Corps, partners build Mississippi River islands 10 District celebrates Military Appreciation Day Crosscurrents is an unofficial publication authorized under the provisions of AR 360-1. It is published monthly for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District. 10 Brunet, Hanson join latest hall of fame recipients Views and opinions expressed in Crosscurrents are not necessarily those of the Department of the Army or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 11 DeLuca takes Mississippi Valley Division helm Articles and photography submissions are welcome and must arrive by the 12 News & Notes 15th day of the publishing month for consideration. Submissions can be mailed or emailed. Submissions should be in Microsoft Word format for all written copy and photos Crosscurrents is read by should be no smaller than a 5 x 7 at 300 dpi. All photographs appearing herein are prodigious project managers by the St. Paul District Public Affairs Office unless otherwise accredited. like Brett Coleman, project The mission of Crosscurrents is to support the commander’s internal information management. program for the St. Paul District and its stakeholders. Crosscurrents also serves as the commander’s primary communication tool for Photo by Patrick Moes accurately transmitting policies and command philosophy to the St. Paul District community and its customers. Address all inquiries to: Editor, Crosscurrents U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 180 Fifth Street East; Suite 700 St. Paul, MN 55101-1678 (651) 290-5202 [email protected] District Commander Col. Daniel C. Koprowski Public Affairs Chief Shannon Bauer Facebook Twitter YouTube Flickr Crosscurrents Editor Patrick Moes Click on a logo to go to the St. Paul District social media page, where Contributors George Stringham you can like us, watch videos about us or see more photos. Allison Fairbanks CROSSCURRENTS September 2013 | Volume 39, Issue 6 | 3 Comments from the top ello to everyone from me and last step when a military family lands will be necessary to be sure that I from my wife, Marianne. Although somewhere). am seeing the same thing you are Hthe plan for the first few weeks A man named Viktor Frankl, an and vice versa or at least that we on the job was meant to be one of Austrian neurologist and psychologist, understand each other’s vision even getting to know my Mississippi Valley survived the death camps of World if they emphasize slightly different Brig. Gen. Peter ‘Duke’ DeLuca Division, or MVD, staff team and for War II and went on to write a short but features. It is ok if we discuss and them to educate me on the scope and hugely influential book calledMan’s debate alternative futures, so long Mississippi Valley Division commander depth of activities and challenges in Search for Meaning. It demonstrates as we all understand each other and the region – well, it got filled with other that all people, including Corps of don’t think we have consensus if we interesting events, thanks to the chaos Engineers public servants, need a really don’t. Warning, I enjoy debate - so but even if we do them, we might not in the national capital region. Pretty purpose in life to feel contentment and please call everything like you see it, achieve all that needs to be achieved sure the government shutdown had no worth. My number one purpose as and we will forge a common approach in the region. This is the other role relationship to my division assignment, commander is to help the Mississippi based on enhanced understanding that I must work on as commander – to have such an influence on events River Commission and MVD succeed, through dialogue. We can succeed in educating citizens, stakeholders, leaders would be a great gift that I would to help each of the regional teams working toward that shared vision with on the status and risks in the region and leverage everyday if I could! succeed, to help our partners succeed, a comprehensive planning approach the ways we can and should address Obviously, we are excited to be here. that also means to help you succeed, to watershed projects. We will also them, including the resources needed. This is one assignment my wife and I now and in the long-term future. We succeed by communicating clearly with Thank you for the service you provide definitely wanted to take on, and we are can begin our road to success together everyone, by fulfilling our commitments the nation as a member of Corps of ready to go now that we are officially by talking about our vision for the future to our customers and stakeholders, Engineers and thanks in advance for the reopened for government business and what we want the future to look and by delivering our projects on time welcome! (and all the boxes are out of the house like. You have some strong views on and within budget. These are “must do” Building Strong! and the pictures hung – typically the this I am sure, I need to know them. It things to lay the foundation for success; Brig. Gen. Peter ‘Duke’ DeLuca CROSSCURRENTS September 2013 | Volume 39, Issue 6 | 4 Mississippi River Commission visits the district, gains a basin understanding Story by Shannon Bauer he Motor Vessel MISSISSIPPI trip down river, district employees took made an appearance in the St. them to Lock and Dam 1 and Upper St. TPaul District Aug. 9 to 12 as part Anthony Falls Lock and Dam, both in of the Mississippi River Commission’s Minneapolis, to discuss the Asian carp 2013 Low Water Inspection Trip. threat within the region. The MV MISSISSIPPI is the biggest Monday morning, the vessel’s crew diesel towboat in the United States. docked the towboat in La Crosse, It is 241 feet long and 58 feet wide Wis., and the commissioners were with 6,300 horse power. Most of taken on a tour of the Upper Midwest the time, the vessel is a working Environmental Sciences Center, a center towboat operated by the Mississippi run by the U.S. Geological Survey that The Mississippi River Commission listens to testimony during a public hearing in La Crosse, Wis., Valley Division’s Memphis District. is dedicated to protect, enhance and Aug. 12. The commission was conducting its Mississippi River Low Water Inspection. Approximately 10 percent of the time, restore the ecosystems of the Upper Photo by Shannon Bauer it serves as an inspection boat for the Mississippi River basin. Following the Mississippi River Commission. tour, the MRC hosted a public hearing The presidentially-appointed, seven- for citizens to express concerns member commission recommends about the Corps of Engineers and the civil works policy and programs to the Mississippi River. That night, the district administration. Each year, it takes a hosted a meeting with stakeholders on high- and low-water inspection trip board the vessel in order to tour the onboard the MV MISSISSIPPI. During recently built Pool 8 islands, which were these trips, the commission usually built as a part of the Upper Mississippi hosts several public hearings along the River Restoration Program. way. This year’s graduating Leadership The district hosted a Federal Executive Development Program class Board meeting, a legislative workshop, coordinated all of the MV MISSISSIPPI a Leadership Development Program activities. “I believe the MV Mississippi class graduation and employee open trip was a success,” said class house onboard the MV MISSISSIPPI graduate Jacob Fall, engineering while it was docked near the district and construction. “This success was headquarters in St. Paul, Minn., Aug. 9. accomplished through hard work, The Motor Vessel MISSISSIPPI crew approaches Lock and Dam 6, near Trempealeau, Wis., When the commissioners arrived in St. dedication and a large amount of team Aug. 12. The crew and the Mississippi River Commission were in the region as a part of the Mis- Paul on Sunday to begin their inspection work and communication.” sissippi River Low Water Inspection. Courtesy photo CROSSCURRENTS September 2013 | Volume 39, Issue 6 | 5 District attorney earns national award Story by George Stringham t. Paul District lawyer Damon portfolio. He’s served as the district’s become an expert in business law, specific audience. Roberts, counsel, was recently real estate attorney, where he’s worked particularly as it applies to enforcing “Damon is a first-rate attorney with Sselected as the 2013 Joseph W. closely and negotiated directly with both wetland mitigation on companies that unlimited potential and is well-deserving Kimbel Award recipient. private companies and government destroy wetlands as part of a permitted of the award,” Willging said. “As a The award recognizes the U.S. Army organizations, often working sensitive project but fail to perform required matter of fact, his potential is widely Corps of Engineers attorney who issues. He’s also worked as the district’s mitigation. recognized… to the point that [U.S. demonstrates the highest professional claims attorney.