What We Do

Almost everyone knows that the US Army Corps of Engineers builds water resource projects. Not so well known, however, is that the Corps also provides assistance to help states, eligible Native American Indian tribes, and local governments prepare their own plans and initiate their own actions to manage their water and related land resources. Assistance is determined through a request by a governmental agency or non-federal interest for technical assistance in the management of water resources. Requests for studies are assessed every year and are approved and funded at the discretion of Secretary of the Army. Typical studies are only planning level of detail; they do not include detailed design for project construction. The studies generally involve the analysis of existing data for planning purposes using standard engineering techniques, although some data collection is often necessary.

Funding
Congress funds the Planning Assistance to States (PAS) Program annually. States and Tribes are limited to a $2,000,000 allotment annually from the nationwide appropriation, but typically are much less. Individual studies, of which there may be more than one per State or Tribe per year, generally range in cost from $25,000 to over $100,000. These studies are cost shared on a 50 percent Federal, 50 percent non-Federal basis. All of the non-Federal cost share can be provided as work-in-kind.

Typical Studies
The program can encompass many types of studies dealing with water and related land resource
issues. Types of studies conducted in recent years under the program include the following:

  • Water Supply and Demand Studies
  • Water Quality Studies
  • Environmental Conservation Studies
  • Environmental Restoration Studies
  • Wetland Evaluation Studies
  • Dam Safety/Failure Studies
  • Flood Risk Management Studies
  • Floodplain Management Studies
  • Land Use Studies
  • Master Planning
  • Brownfields Environmental Assessments
  • GIS development

How to Request Assistance
Contact the Chicago District’s Planning Assistance to States Coordinator:

Chief, Economic Formulation & Analysis Section
Planning Branch
Office: (312) 846-5583