USACE Liaison
ACEC Oregon / U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Liaison Committee
OBJECTIVE: To provide members with the opportunity to improve working relationships with agency personnel. Each liaison committee has its own agenda, but communications and problem-solving are primary concerns.
Meetings are held quarterly, generally on the second Tuesday of the month from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
ACEC members (and USACE personnel), contact tschooley@acecOregon.org to be added to the distribution list.
NEXT MEETING
August 12, 2025 - ACEC presents (hybrid: in-person and virtual via Teams)
TOPIC
TBD
PRESENTER
TBD
OVERVIEW
TBD
UPCOMING
- November 2025 - Corps presents
Click here for list of firms that have AutoCad/Microstation capability
PAST MEETINGS / PRESENTATIONS
May, 14, 2025
NWP UAS/UAV Program
- Jason Miller, Geographer - USACE Portland District
February 11, 2025
Priest Rapids Right Embankment Improvement Project
- Zachary Haffenreffer, PE, Geotechnical Civil Designer, Stantec
- Greg Rollins, PE, GE, Vice President, Stantec
November 12, 2024
Lamprey Passage Structures on the Lower Columbia
- Adam White, Electrical Engineer, USACE Portland District
- Jacob MacDonald, Physical Scientist, USACE Portland District
August 13, 2024
Vinegar to Vincent Habitat Restoration
- Caitlin Alcott, CE, Regional Director/Senior Ecologist, Inter-Fluve
- Matt Cox, PE, Senior Water Resources Engineer, Inter-Fluve
May 14, 2024
Willamette Valley Project Court-Driven Operational Changes, and Lessons Learned
Kathryn Tackley, USACE, Portland District, Engineering & Construction Division, Reservoir Regulation and Water Quality Section
February 13, 2024
Rockwood Water Cascade Reservoir #2
Erik Peterson, P.E., Executive Principal, Peterson Structural Engineers
November 7, 2023
Mount St. Helens Spirit Lake Tunnel Intake Project
Michael Carl, P.E., Structural Engineer and Project Technical Lead
USACE Portland District
August 8, 2023
I-5 Interstate Bridge (North Bound) Trunnion Shaft Replacement
Kevin Bracy, PMP, Vice President | Sr. Transportation Project Manager
David Evans and Associates, Inc.
May 9, 2023
Willamette Falls Locks Seismic & Safety Upgrades
Jeffrey Hicks, Project Manager
Planning, Programs & Project Management Division
USACE Portland District
Mr. Hicks will be presenting the Willamette Falls Locks (WFL) Project, which is a major undertaking that will have a significant impact on the region. His extensive knowledge and experience in project management, combined with his passion for engineering and construction, helped drive District Execution and Award of WFL. He brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Willamette Falls Locks Project and is well-positioned to ensure its successful completion.”
February 14, 2023
Walla Walla River Forks Restoration
Jason Scott, CFP, Senior Fisheries Biologist, GeoEngineers
Becca Miller, PE, Water Resources Engineer, GeoEngineers
November 8, 2022
Atmospheric Rivers 101
Dr. Andy Martin, Reservoir Regulation and Water Quality Section, Hydrology and Hydraulics Branch, USACE Portland District
OVERVIEW: Water managers in the Western US are aware of Atmospheric Rivers (ARs) as the largest drivers of flood, and Atmospheric River forecasts inherently impact water management operations. While weather forecasters have developed many observational and modeling techniques to better predict atmospheric rivers and their impacts, these techniques have not widely been incorporated into water management operational decision making. This lesson will equip water managers in USACE with the basic understanding of AR science, observational and forecasting tools that will allow managers to assess potential for AR rain, snow and flooding; qualitatively assess uncertainty in traditional precipitation and streamflow forecasts; and make better informed decisions in water management operations.
August 9, 2022
Seismic Design and Construction for the OSU Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building
Scott Schlechter, PE, GE, D.PE, Principal, GRI
May 10, 2022
Mt. St. Helens Sediment Retention Structure, Second Spillway Raise
Jeremy Appt, PE, Chief; Geotechnical, Civil and Environmental Section
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District
March 1, 2022
Steigerwald Wetland Restoration
Curtis Loeb, P.E., Principal Engineer, Wolf Water Resources
Wade Osborne, P.E., Senior Associate Engineer, Cornforth Consultants
November 9, 2021
Portland Metro Levy System
Ryan Cahill, PE, Hydraulic Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Portland District
SUMMARY In 2018, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers initiated a Feasibility Study focusing on Flood Risk Management of the Portland Metro Levee System in partnership with the Columbia Corridor Drainage Districts (CCDD) Joint Contracting Authority. The study area includes 27 miles of levees along the lower Columbia River within the Portland Metropolitan Area, running from Smith Lake to the Sandy River. The federal feasibility study process leads to a recommendation to Congress for federal investment in addressing the problem areas in the levees and drainage system. The three-year federal feasibility study process is now complete, culminating in the Chief of Engineers signing the Chief’s Report on August 20, 2021. This presentation will give a brief history of the feasibility study process and provide an overview of the recommended plan.
August 10, 2021
Astoria Waterfront Bridge Replacements
Jeff Parker, PE, Senior Project Manager, DOWL
May 11, 2021
Fall Creek Pipe Lining
Daniel Carlson, PE, FPE, Mechanical Technical Lead, CENWP-ENC-DM, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
February 9, 2021
Willamette Falls Fishway Thermal Action Mitigation Project
Erik Peterson, PE, Peterson Structural Engineers
November 10, 2020
Spirit Lake, UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) Reconnaissance
Jason Miller, Geographer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
May 5, 2020
Washington Park Reservoirs: History and Modernization
Tom Westover and Andy Kost, Cornforth Consultants, Inc.
February 25, 2020
Emergency Repair of the Bonneville Navigation Lock Downstream Sill Block (2019)
Matthew Hanson, Supervisory Structural Engineer; and Joel Prusi, Structural Engineer; Structural Design Section, Portland District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
November 12, 2019
Monitoring and Modeling of Harmful Algal Blooms
Paul Worrlein, Water Resources Engineer, Lead for "Dams, Levees, and Civil Works" projects for HDR, Portland
August 13, 2019
John Day Turbine Replacement and Generator Rehabilitation Project (John Day TRGR)
Curtis L. Lipski, Electrical Engineer, Technical Lead, Engineering and Construction Division, US Army Corps of Engineers - Portland District
May 14, 2019
Sandy River Log Jams:
Structure and Process in a Dynamic River System
Mike "Rocky" Hrachovec, PC, Principal Engineer, Natural Systems Design
Rowyn Cooper-Caroselli, EIT, CFM, Engineer in Training, Wolf Water Resources
February 12, 2019
MCR Pile Dykes: Maintaining an Inlet with Sticks and Stones
Austin Hudson, Coastal Engineer, CENWP-ENC-HD, USACE
November 13, 2018
Evaluating Unpermitted Encroachments in Levee Systems
Kevin Severson, P.E., Project Engineer, Cornforth Consultants
Colin Rowan, Levee Ready Columbia Program Director, Multnomah County Drainage District
August 14, 2018
Cougar Dam Downstream Fish Passage
Erica Tarbox, P.E., Technical Lead, Structural and Architectural Design Section, Portland District, USACE
May 8, 2018
Levee safety: Not Snow, Not Rain, nor Beer at Night
Juan Sorensen and Mahendra Shewalla, AECOM
They talked about their efforts completing levee inspections for the USACE Levee Safety Program.
February 13, 2018
The Dalles Auxiliary Water Supply Project
Pat Duyck, USACE
November 14, 2017
Oroville Dam Response
Dan Osmun, HDR
August 15, 2017
Mud Mountain Dam Adult Fish Collection Barrier
Kristy Fortuny and Lori Ebner, USACE
May 16, 2017
Extremely Extreme, Rainfall on the West Coast
David Curtis, WEST Consultants
February 14, 2017
Portland District Future Workload
Lance Helwig, USACE
October 18, 2016
Port of Newport Terminal Renovation
Scott Schlecter, GRI
Executive summary
July 19, 2016
Spirit Lake Tunnel Rehab
Jeremy Britton, USACE
April 19, 2016
Fargo Moorhead Diversion Project
Mark Anderson, CH2M
January 19, 2016
Steamboat Slough Levee Rehab
Jeremy Britton, USACE
ACEC Oregon + Corps of Engineers renew partnering charter
Pictured at right, Jason McBain of the USACE Portland District signs the ACEC Oregon/ USACE Portland District Partnering Charter at their July 15 (2015) meeting.
The mission statement reads, in part, “...through this charter, commit to a meaningful partnership between our organizations in the common purpose to provide quality and responsive engineering and consulting services to the nation and the world.”
Goals and objectives of the partnering charter are:
- Ensure a cooperative dialogue between the USACE and ACEC Oregon at all levels.
- Clarify and understand the changing roles of USACE and the private sector.
- Foster an attitude that explores opportunities and resolves issues.
- Enhance professionalism and integrity throughout the design and construction industry.
- Promote quality and value through improved business practices.
- Invest in the future by promoting new technology, continuing education, and research and development.
- Promote qualifications-based selection procurement of A/E services.
- Promote the use of project delivery methods that best serve the public interest.
- Support a healthy USACE and a strong U.S. engineering industry.
- Collaborate to expand U.S. business opportunities in the global marketplace.
Chair alternates every year between the Corps and ACEC Oregon; one-year term begins January 1.
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2025 CHAIR
Smart Ocholi
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
2024 CHAIR
Mahendra Shewalla
Stantec
ACEC OREGON BOARD REP
Gerry Heslin
Cornforth Consultants, Inc.
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2023 CHAIR
Smart Ocholi
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
2022 CHAIR
Gerry Heslin
Cornforth Consultants, Inc.
2021 CHAIR
Smart Ocholi
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
2020 CHAIR
Paul Woerrlein
HDR
2019 CHAIR
Smart Ocholi
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
2018 CHAIR
Chris Goodell
Kleinschmidt Associates
2017 CHAIR
Liza Wells
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
2016 CHAIR
Shane Cline
HDR
2015 CHAIR
Bob Hoffman
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
2014 CHAIR
Greg Reid
Streamline West Engineering
2013 CHAIR
Mark Sawka
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
2012 CHAIR
Jon Dasler
David Evans and Associates, Inc.
2011 CHAIR
Jeff Sedey
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
2010 CHAIR
Curt Bagnall
CH2M Hill
2009 CHAIR
Lance Helwig
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
2008 CHAIR
Kim Marcus
URS Corporation
2007 CHAIR
Xxxxx
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
2006 CHAIR
Andy Vessely
Cornforth Consultants, Inc.
2005 CHAIR
Bob Bucholz
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
2004 CHAIR
Andy Vessely
Cornforth Consultants, Inc.
2003 CHAIR
Ron Mason
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
2002 CHAIR
Cynthia Lowe
Parson Brinckerhoff
2001 CHAIR
Dale Mazar
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
2000 CHAIR
Dick Crim
CH2M Hill