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The Elk Creek project was initiated in 1971, the third dam authorized by Congress to be built in the Rogue River Basin. After years of litigation the project was stopped in 1988, leaving an incomplete dam 83 feet tall, one-third its designed height. Once construction was stopped, plans were developed to restore Elk Creek to a free-flowing creek. The dam was notched on Aug. 17, 2008, and the Corps diverted Elk Creek into the new channel on Sept. 15, 2008.

Planning

Your Partner in Water Resource Planning and Development

We study potential water resource development projects in Oregon and parts of southwestern Washington. A Water resource development project analyzes and tries to solve water resource issues of concern to local communities. Projects may involve improving navigation, managing floods, or restoring ecosystems.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) planning process follows a structured approach to problem-solving, using a rational framework for sound decision-making. It is applicable for many other types of studies and we encourage its use. This six-step process is used for all USACE planning studies:

 Identifying problems and opportunities

  1. Inventorying and forecasting conditions
  2. Formulating alternative plans
  3. Evaluating alternative plans
  4. Comparing alternative plans
  5. Selecting a plan

Under a number of authorities, Planning Branch staff serve as both planners and managers for several types of projects shown below.

Current Projects

General Investigations

General Investigation studies and projects, also known as Individually Authorized studies and projects, are the usual and most common way for us to help resolve a water resource problem. They involve jointly conducting a study with a sponsor. If the study can identify a feasible project, USACE can work with the sponsor to construct and implement it. For USACE to work with a sponsor on potential water resource development project, Congress must first authorize a feasibility study and second, separately authorize the project itself. The project studies and construction are cost-shared between the federal government and the sponsor, who usually pays all operations and maintenance costs once the project is construction. Project-specific federal costs for individually authorized studies or projects aren't limited, unlike the Continuing Authorities Program.

Continuing Authorities Program

The Continuing Authorities Program (CAP) consists of a group of nine authorities granted to USACE by Congress. CAP authorizes USACE to authorize, plan, design and construct certain types of water resources projects without additional congressional authorization.

To initiate a CAP study, a local sponsor contacts the Portland District to request assistance under one or more of the nine authorities. After receiving a request from the local sponsor, the District will coordinate with the sponsor (typically including conducting an initial site visit) to determine whether the CAP program would be able to address the sponsor’s water resources problem.

If the requested assistance falls within one of the existing CAP authorities (and subject to approval and availability of funds) the District will initiate the feasibility study phase for the project. Following completion of the feasibility study phase, the project proceeds into the design and implementation (D&I) phase where detailed plans and specifications for construction, and ultimately project construction is completed by the Corps in partnership with the sponsor.

All projects under CAP are cost shared. The cost-share ratio between the Corps and the non-federal sponsor varies based upon the authority. In addition, each authority has a maximum per project limit that the Federal government is authorized to provide under the program. Additional detail on each authorities cost share ratio and Federal funding per project limits may be viewed under each of the authority tabs to the left.

A cost share waiver is of up to $658,000 for the 2025 fiscal year may be available to Federally Recognized Tribes for the project.

A template Letter of Intent to make requests for assistance on any of the nine CAP authorities may be downloaded at this link.

Partnership agreements for each of the CAP authorities may be downloaded at this link.

Contact

For further information on the CAP Program, please contact the CAP program manager by phone at 503-348-0849.

Section 14 Program Fact Sheet 

Authorizing Legislation Flood Control Act of 1946, as
amended (33 U.S.C. 701r)
Purpose Flood Risk Management
Study Cost Study is 100 percent Federal up
to $100,000. Costs over $100,000
are shared 50/50 with the non-
federal sponsor
Design and 
Construction Cost

Design and construction costs
are 65 percent Federal / 35
percent non-federal
Federal Per Project
Limit		 $15M

 









 

Section 103 Fact Sheet

Authorizing Legislation Rivers and Harbors Act of 1962 as
amended (33 U.S.C. 426g)
Purpose Coastal Storm Management
Study Cost Study is 100 percent Federal up
to $100,000. Costs over $100,000
are shared 50/50 with the non-
federal sponsor
Design and 
Construction Cost		 Design and construction costs
are 65 percent Federal
/ 35 percent non-federal
Federal Per Project
Limit		 $15M

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Section 107 Fact Sheet

Authorizing Legislation Rivers and Harbors Act of 1960,
as amended (33 U.S.C. 577)
Purpose Navigation Improvements
Study Cost Study is 100 percent Federal up
to $100,000. Costs over
$100,000 are shared 50/50 with
the non-federal
sponsor
Design and 
Construction Cost		 Non-Federal cost is 10 percent
up-front during construction
and 10 percent over a 30-year
period for harbors with a
design depth of 20 feet or less. 
For design depths of 20 to 45 feet
the up-front share increases to 25
percent, and over 45 feet to 50
percent
Federal Per Project
Limit		 $15M

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 111 Fact Sheet

Authorizing Legislation Rivers and Harbors Act of 1968,
as amended (33 U.S.C. 426i)
Purpose Prevention or mitigation of shore
damage caused by Federal
navigation projects
Study Cost

Study is 100 percent Federal up
to $100,000. Costs over
$100,000 share is in proportion
of Federal project causing
damage
Design and 
Construction Cost		 Cost share is in proportion of
Federal project causing
damage
Federal Per Project 
Limit		 $15M

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 204 Fact Sheet

Authorizing Legislation Water Resources Development
Act of 1992, as amended
(33 U.S.C. 2326)
Purpose Beneficial Uses of Dredge
Material/Regional Sediment
Management
Study Cost Study is 100 percent Federal
Design and 
Construction Cost

Design is 100 percent federal.
Construction of base plan is
100 percent federal.
Construction exceeding the
base plan cost is 65 percent
federal and 35 percent
non-federal.
Federal Per Project
Limit		 $15M

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 205 Fact Sheet

Authorizing Legislation Flood Control Act of 1948,
as amended (33 U.S.C. 701s)
Purpose Flood Risk Management
Study Cost Study is 100 percent Federal up
to $100,000. Costs over $100,000
are shared 50/50 with the non-
federal sponsor
Design and 
Construction Cost		 Design and construction costs
are 65 percent Federal / 35
percent non-federal
Federal Per Project Limit $15M

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 206 Fact Sheet

Authorizing Legislation Water Resources Development
Act of 1996, as amended
(33 USC 2330)
Purpose Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration
Study Cost Study is 100 percent Federal up
to $100,000. Costs over
$100,000 are shared 50/50
with the non-federal sponsor
Design and 
Construction Cost		 Design and construction
costs are 65 percent
Federal / 35 percent non-
federal
Federal Per Project
Limit		 $15M

 

 

 

Section 208 Fact Sheet

Authorizing Legislation Flood Control Act of 1954,
as amended (33 U.S.C. 701g)
Purpose Snagging and Clearing for
Flood Risk Management
Study Cost Study is 100 percent Federal up to $100,000.
Costs over $100,000 are shared 50/50 with
the non-federal sponsor
Design and 
Construction Cost		 Design and construction costs are
65 percent Federal / 35 percent
non-federal
Federal Per Project
Limit		 $15M

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 1135 Fact Sheet

Authorizing Legislation Water Resources Development Act of
1986, as amended (33 U.S.C. 2309a)
Purpose Project modifications for improvement
of the environment
Study Cost Study is 100 percent Federal up to
$100,000. Costs over $100,000 are
shared 50/50 with the non-federal
sponsor
Design and 
Construction Cost		 Design and construction costs are
75 percent Federal / 25 percent
non-federal
Federal Per Project
Limit		 $15M

 

Planning and Technical Assistance

The Planning Assistance to States (PAS) program is authorized by Section 22 of WRDA1974, as amended. Through the (PAS) program, the Corps provides planning level assistance to eligible non-federal partners in managing their water resources.

There a two types of planning assistance offered through the PAS program: Comprehensive Planning and Technical Assistance. PAS studies cannot include detailed design for project construction, and implementation of the plan is the responsibility of the State, Tribe, or Territory.

Non-federal interests eligible to partner with the Corps include any State, group of States, local government, regional coalition of governmental entities, Federally-recognized Tribes and U.S. Territories may partner with the Corps under the PAS program. Nonprofit organizations working with a State may also be eligible to partner.

Contact
For further information on the PAS Program, please contact the PAS program manager by phone at 503-348-0849.

 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) can partner with a non-federal sponsor (sponsor) to provide assistance to design or to design and construct water, wastewater, environmental restoration, or surface water protection projects. The types of assistance the Corps may provide differs for each authority.

Following submittal of a Letter of Intent and prior to entering into a partnership agreement, the Corps and sponsor will coordinate to prepare a letter report that details the increment of work, the schedule to complete the increment of work, and the funds to be used to accomplish the work.

Before engineering design and construction can begin, the Corps and sponsor negotiate and sign a Project Partnership Agreement that describes the cost share arrangement and operations and maintenance responsibilities. The program is cost-shared 75% federal / 25% non-federal.

 Portland District may provide EI assistance for design or design and construction in specific locations authorized by Congress. Currently authorizations include:

  • Section 219 of WRDA 1992, as amended | Projects located in Albany, Brookings, Monroe, Newport, Lane County, Beaverton, Clackamas County, Washington County
  • Southwestern Oregon, Section 8359 | Projects located in Benton, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, and Josephine Counties
  • Oregon Environmental Infrastructure, Section 1348 | Projects located in Oregon

Fact Sheet for Section 219 Authorities
Fact Sheet for Section 8359 and 1348 Authorities

Contact
For further information on the Environmental Infrastructure Program, please contact the EI program manager by phone at 503-348-0849.

Through the Flood Plain Management Services (FPMS) program, the Corps provides information on flood hazards to local interests, state agencies, Tribal Nations, and other federal agencies to guide development of the floodplains and flood-prone areas of the United States. The program’s objective is to foster public understanding of the options for dealing with flood hazards and promote prudent use and management of the Nation’s floodplains and flood prone areas. The FPMS program provides a full range of technical services and planning guidance that is needed to support effective floodplain and flood risk management.