Overview

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the Nation’s oldest and largest water resources development agency. Congress assigned the Corps this civil works responsibility in an effort to conserve the Nation’s most vital natural resources.
The Corps began its water resources program in 1824 when Congress for the first time appropriated money for improving river navigation. Since then, the Corps has been involved in improving commercial navigation and reducing flood damage. Along with these missions, the Corps generates hydropower, supplies water to cities and industry, regulates development in navigable waters, controls beach erosion, and constructs and manages recreation facilities. Today the Corps manages nearly 2,000 water resources projects including:

Navigation
Flood Damage Reduction
Hydroelectric Power
Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Environmental Quality
Recreation
Water Supply

These activities call for careful coordination of many interests, including consideration of environmental impacts.

The Corps has 47 Division and District
offices located throughout the United States and overseas. South Atlantic Division and Mobile District boundaries are shown on the accompanying maps. Each of these Division and District offices has designated a Continuing Authorities Program, a Flood Plain Management Services Program, and a Planning Assistance to States Program Coordinator. These Coordinators are responsible for drawing on the planning and technical resources of the Corps to provide a full range of services and guidance on water resources related matters to States, local governments, other non-Federal entities and Indian Tribes.