Water Resources Development US Army Corps in Delaware 1993 of Engineers Front Cover: Wilmington Harbor (Christina River Federal Navigation Project) from the Delaware River, with Wilmington in backgound. At foregound is partial view of a 220 acre new federal disposal area for the port. This publication is authorized by the Secretary of the Army as required by PL 99-662 1993 Water Resources Development in DELAWARE North Atlantic Division, Corps of Engineers NORTH ATLANTIC DIVISION, Philadelphia District, Corps of Engineers CORPS OF ENGINEERS Wanamaker Building 90 Church Street, 100 Penn Square East New York, New York 10007 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107 Baltimore District, Corps of Engineers P.O. Box 1715 Baltimore, Maryland 21203 To Our Readers: During the period 1986-1992, non-federal sponsors signed The Army Corps of Engineers has a long and proud 205 project cooperative agreements with the Department of history of applying its expertise in engineering and related the Army for cost sharing of project construction. disciplines. Over the years, its activities have evolved; The Corps engineering expertise and responsiveness has however, the central focus of its civil mission has always stood the nation in good stead. In 1992, the Corps put this been the development of the nation’s water resources. With expertise to good use in Chicago, where it was called upon to an annual program of almost $4 billion for civil projects, the respond to the tunnel flood; in Florida, Louisiana, Hawaii and Corps is the federal government’s largest water resources Guam, where it played a major role in recovery efforts after development agency. The projects the Corps develops, in Hurricanes Andrew and Iniki and Typhoon Omar; in Kuwait, partnership with state and local interests, have proven to be where it played a major role in repairing that nation’s war-torn wise investments. They return to the public, benefits such as infrastructure; and in dozens of other locations. low-cost waterborne transportation and prevention of flood Whatever challenges arise in the future decades, I have no damages, that far outweigh their costs. doubt that the Army Corps of Engineers will be equal to the The Corps’ civil works activities reflect partnership. All task. Corps projects begin when non-federal interests see a water- related problem and petition Congress for a solution. Under provisions of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986, once the Corps conducts a reconnaissance study to determine whether a feasible project is likely, these sponsors provide a share of the funding for the feasibility study upon which a project will be based. They also share the cost of the G. EDWARD DICKEY project’s design and construction once Congress has Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army authorized the project and provided construction funds. (Civil Works) li US Army Corps of Engineers To Our Readers: Partnering is yet another positive cultural shift in the The Corps of Engineers was formed some 218 years ago Corps’ business practices, particularly in civil works to be responsive to the needs of a young nation. And while construction. A local sponsorship kit walks customers through the nature of our work has changed with time, our basic the complexities of Corps projects. Under the Coastal purpose remains—to be responsive to America’s needs. America program, six federal agencies work together to solve Clearly, the nation’s concern for the environment has environmental problems along the nation’s shoreline. A permeated the Corps. Our environmental commitment has technique related to partnering, alternate dispute resolution, never been greater. Authority granted by the Water creates an atmosphere in which the clash of differing view­ Resources Development Act of 1990 puts focus on the points can grow into creative solutions and prevent costly environment as a mission and promises restoration of legal disputes. wetlands and habitats for fish and wildlife. The 1992 And of course, we still respond to the needs of American legislation calls for the improvement and protection of our families. As one of the nation’s largest providers of outdoor nation’s water resources infrastructure. recreation, the Corps operates 461 lakes and other water Responding to the recent outbreak of natural disasters has resources projects. It’s a responsibility we take seriously, provided the Corps an outstanding opportunity to serve. using the opportunity to help others appreciate our valuable From precise measures in controlling the precarious Chicago and delicate natural resources. Flood, to the massive aid provided for the victims of This booklet is one in a series detailing water resource Hurricanes Andrew and Iniki and Typhoon Omar, Corps programs in the 50 states and U.S. possessions. I hope you people showed their courage, commitment and tenacity. will find it interesting and feel some pride in ownership. We continue responding to our customers’ desires to be more involved with projects on a day-to-day basis. The Corps has achieved a major cultural shift with project management. It has resulted in greater accountability to our ARTHUR E. WIEEIAMS customers and ultimately projects which better reflect the Eieutenant General, USA needs of the community. Chief of Engineers in Foreword............................................................................... vi Introduction...........................................................................viii Chapter 1 Delaware River Basin ...................................................... 1 Chapter 2 The Chesapeake Bay and its Tributaries............................14 Flood Emergency Operations and Disaster Assistance Activities......................................................... 18 Index 19 Foreword This booklet contains descriptive information on water The civil works activities of the Corps of Engineers are resources development by the United States Army Corps of organized by river basins, rather than state boundaries. Engineers in Delaware. The introduction explains the Corps’ Therefore, water resource projects of the Corps of Engineers role in planning and building federal water projects. in this state are undertaken by more than one district. Information is given on project status, explaining whether Additional information on projects and the responsibilities the work is completed, is under way, or has not yet been of the United States Army Corps of Engineers may be started. obtained from the offices listed on the title page. Vll Introduction Contractor hydraulic dredge pumping sand and gravel from a borrow area in the Delaware River opposite Wilmington Harbor entrance. Material was used for embankment construction at new disposal area partially shown at left background. Civil Works Overview Introduction initiated by non-federal sources, constructed by the Corps under the Civil Works Program, and operated and From 1775 to the present, the U.S. Army Corps of maintained either by the Corps or by a non-federal Engineers has served the nation in peace and war. The Corps sponsoring agency. traces its history to June, 1775, when the Continental The Water Resources Development Act of 1986 made Congress appointed Colonel Richard Gridley as Chief of numerous changes in the way potential new water resources Engineers of the Continental Army, under General George projects are studied, evaluated and funded. The major change Washington. The original Corps was the Army’s engineering is that the law now specifies greater non-federal cost sharing and construction arm until it mustered out of service at the for most Corps water resources projects. close of the Revolutionary War in 1783. When local interests feel that a need exists for improved In 1802, Congress re-established the U.S. Military navigation, flood protection or other water resources Academy at West Point, the country’s first—and for 20 years development, they may petition their representatives in its only—engineering school. With the Army having the Congress. A congressional committee resolution or an act of nation’s most readily available engineering talent, successive Congress may then authorize the Corps of Engineers to congresses and administrations established a role for the investigate the problem and submit a report. Water resources Corps as an organization to carry out both military studies, except studies of the inland waterway navigation construction and works “of a civil nature.” system, are conducted in partnership with a non-federal Throughout the nineteenth century, the Corps supervised sponsor, with the Corps and the sponsor jointly funding and the construction of coastal fortifications, lighthouses, several managing the study. early railroads, and many of the public buildings in For inland navigation and waterway projects, which are by Washington, D.C. and elsewhere. Meanwhile, the Corps of their nature not “local,” Congress, in the Water Resources Topographical Engineers, which enjoyed a separate existence Development Act of 1986, established an Inland Waterway for 25 years (1838-1863), mapped much of the American Users Board, comprised of waterway transportation companies West. Army Engineers served with distinction in war, with and shippers of major commodities. This board advises the many engineer officers rising to prominence during the Secretary of the Army and makes recommendations on Civil War. priorities for new navigation projects such as locks and dams. In its civil role, the Corps of Engineers became Such projects are funded in part from the Inland Waterway