Institute for Water Resources (IWR) Library

Institute for Water Resources (IWR) Library

Resource Details

Historical Origins and Demographic and Geologic Influences on Corps of Engineers Coastal Missions
  • Document Identifier: 2004-NSM-04
  • Date: January 2004
  • Creator(s): Institute for Water Resources
  • The United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has a demanding mission in building and maintaining civil works projects along the coasts and in inland waters of the United States. This mission includes maintaining deep-draft and recreation navigation into harbors and waterways, building projects for coastal storm protection and flood damage reduction, and environmental protection and restoration programs. These projects are based on or influenced by a number of factors, including: (1) Historical settlement and development patterns; (2) Geographical and geological conditions that vary regionally; (3) Increasing pressures of a growing population that inhabits the coasts; (4) Economic factors, such as the fundamental need to maintain navigable ports and waterways. All demographic data point to the fact that the U.S. coastal population will continue to grow. Accordingly, that there will be continued demand for infrastructure improvement, storm protection, recreation development, and environmental restoration in the coastal zone. With respect to economic conditions, our growing dependence on imported petroleum products means that many ports, especially in the Gulf of Mexico area, will have to be improved to accommodate larger ships. The result will be increased dredging to deepen and maintain the channels.
Historical Origins and Demographic and Geologic Influences on Corps of Engineers Coastal Missions
  • Document Identifier: 2004-NSM-04
  • Date: January 2004
  • Creator(s): Institute for Water Resources
  • The United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has a demanding mission in building and maintaining civil works projects along the coasts and in inland waters of the United States. This mission includes maintaining deep-draft and recreation navigation into harbors and waterways, building projects for coastal storm protection and flood damage reduction, and environmental protection and restoration programs. These projects are based on or influenced by a number of factors, including: (1) Historical settlement and development patterns; (2) Geographical and geological conditions that vary regionally; (3) Increasing pressures of a growing population that inhabits the coasts; (4) Economic factors, such as the fundamental need to maintain navigable ports and waterways. All demographic data point to the fact that the U.S. coastal population will continue to grow. Accordingly, that there will be continued demand for infrastructure improvement, storm protection, recreation development, and environmental restoration in the coastal zone. With respect to economic conditions, our growing dependence on imported petroleum products means that many ports, especially in the Gulf of Mexico area, will have to be improved to accommodate larger ships. The result will be increased dredging to deepen and maintain the channels.