coastal and Great Lakes investigations of water and related land 

 resources. The broad spectrum of Corps Civil Works responsibilities 

 in these areas includes comprehensive long-range planning, 

 preauthorization project development, design, construction, 

 operation and maintenance of projects, and regulatory activities. 

 Project purposes include navigation, beach and shore erosion 

 protection, coastal flood control, water quality improvement and 

 flow control, water-based recreation, fish and wildlife conservation 

 and enhancement, floodplain management services, and other 

 purposes authorized by law. The problems of developing and using 

 natural resources to meet the needs of people and industry are 

 balanced with the need to protect and enhance environmental values 

 for present and future generations. 



The Civil Works Directorate, Office of the Chief of Engineers, is 

 responsible for the overall management of the marine science 

 activities under the Corps Civil Works programs. These are 

 accomplished through 9 coastal and Great Lakes division offices, 20 

 operating offices, and 5 major research centers. U.S. Army Engineer 

 laboratories and special installations with Civil Works programs in 

 marine science include: the Coastal Engineering Research Center, 

 Fort Belvoir, Virginia; the Waterways Experiment Station, 

 Vicksburg, Mississippi; the Institute for Water Resources, Ft. 

 Belvoir, Virginia; the Cold Regions Research and Engineering 

 Laboratory, Hanover, New Hamshire; and the Waterborne 

 Commerce Statistics Center, New Orleans, Louisiana. Marine 

 science activities are accomplished inhouse, by other public 

 agencies, and by academic, non-profit, and industrial institutions. A 

 wide range of disciplines is involved, including engineering and 

 physical sciences, economics and other social sciences, and 

 environmental and ecological sciences, which all interface with the 

 marine sciences. 



The purpose of Corps navigation studies and programs is 

 improvement of coastal and Great Lakes waterways and harbors to 

 provide safe and economical waterborne movement of commodities, 

 commercial fishing, and recreational boating. In conjunction with 

 rail and truck transportation, the inland waterways are planned to 

 meet ever-growing needs of commerce and industry. Individual 

 studies and detailed planning of construction projects are 

 specifically authorized by Congress to deepen, widen, and maintain 

 harbors and waterways, and to provide safe entrance channels and 

 major access channels. Provision of public landings, wharves, berth 

 areas, terminals, marinas, and other shore facilities are the 

 responsibility of non-Federal interests; they frequently involve large 

 investments. 



The shore protection studies of the Corps, in cooperation with 

 State and local interests, develop programs to halt erosion, restore or 

 enhance shores for public recreation, park, and wildlife refuge uses; 

 and to protect against tidal and hurricane flooding. Federal 



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