Welcome! These pages are intended to enhance communication among planning professionals located in the Southwestern Division and Fort Worth, Galveston, Little Rock and Tulsa Districts, as well as everyone with an interest in our work.
Please contact (469) 487-7159 with any questions or comments.
For more information about planning in the Corps of Engineers generally, please go to our Headquarters Planning web site.
For more detailed information about particular planning activities or Corps projects within Southwestern Division, visit any of our district office web sites.
Staff Mailing Address:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Southwestern Division
1100 Commerce Street
ATTN: CESWD-PDS-P
Dallas, Texas 75242-0216
Fax: (469) 487-7195
Program Analyst
SWD PAS/FPMS Manager
(469) 487-7068
Regional Economist
Planning COP Chief
(469) 487-7065
Biologist
Environmental Team
(469) 487-7067
Civil Engineer
Policy Team, SWF/SWL Coordinator
(469) 487-7063
Regional Economist
Policy Team, SWG/SWT Coordinator
(469) 487-7038
Roles and Responsibilities
As an integral element of the Project Management Business Process (PMBP), the Planning and Policy Division in Southwestern Division (SWD) manages, supervises, and coordinates the civil works planning program in SWD’s four District offices, from problem identification to a recommended plan for authorization.
Regional Interface
Programs Support Division/Operations COP is responsible for continued liaison and coordination with Congressional interests, non-governmental organizations, local representatives, and county, state and Federal agencies, in conjunction with planning activities. The Programs Support Division/Operations COP staff:
Participates in meetings with State and Federal agencies, and intergovernmental organizations, such as the Arkansas-White-Red Basins Interagency Committee (AWRBIAC), River Compact Commissions, river associations, etc.
Participates in meetings with national organizations such as the American Association of Port Authorities, National Waterways Association, Association of State Flood Plain Managers, and state flood plain management associations.
Participates in regional and national committees and task forces.
Planning Management and Execution
Programs Support Division/Operations COP at SWD provides policy direction, guidance, and oversight, and quality assurance for District-level independent technical review, for all Planning programs in our four District offices. Our staff members provide policy guidance to their District-level counterparts concerning Corps legislative authorities, policies, and regulations, on issues that impact planning studies for flood damage reduction, navigation, ecosystem restoration, water supply, recreation, and hydropower, at all stages of development. Although policy review of major District planning reports is performed at Corps Headquarters, SWD’s Programs Support Division/Operations COP provides policy review of District planning reports for which such review has been delegated from the Washington level.
Specific areas of oversight of District-level planning activities include:
Plan Formulation.
The plan formulation process identifies and defines water resources problems and opportunities, and develops study specific planning objectives and planning constraints to guide the formulation process. It develops and describes alternative solutions, and evaluates complex interactions of competing uses of water resources to develop solutions to water resource problems. District-level planning organizations formulate and evaluate alternatives, concepts, and solutions in addressing a broad range of water resources issues and challenges in the most effective and efficient way. The SWD Programs Support Division/Operations COP provides coordination, negotiation, and resolution of complex planning and policy issues among the District offices, Headquarters and other Washington-level organizations, and other stakeholders including Federal and non-Federal agencies and non-governmental organizations.
Economic Analysis
District-level planning teams evaluate the economic impacts of potential water resources management plans, using techniques such as forecasting, life-cycle benefit-cost analysis, optimization, and statistical methods including risk and uncertainty analysis. They also assess basic financial options that can be utilized by potential sponsors to fund various water resources projects. The SWD Programs Support Division/Operations COP provides coordination with District staff on technical and policy guidance for such evaluations.
Environmental Analysis.
In each of our Districts, the planning organization carries out analysis of ecosystem and environmental impacts of water resources management plans, utilizing techniques such as habitat evaluation procedures, trade-off analysis, and incremental analysis. It also accomplishes coordination requirements for planning studies regarding the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), endangered species, historic preservation, water quality certification, etc. These efforts result in appropriate mitigation planning, NEPA coordination and processing, and satisfying other environmental compliance requirements of civil works studies and projects. Here, too, the SWD Programs Support Division/Operations COP staff provides technical and policy guidance and coordination with our Districts.
Public Involvement and Communications
The District planning organizations accomplish conflict resolution and build consensus in diverse groups in support of Corps water resources management efforts. This includes conducting public meetings, workshops, and other public forums, and in some cases maintaining a public Internet web site dedicated to a particular planning activity. The SWD Programs Support Division/Operations COP staff provides regional-level coordination and facilitation of such efforts as needed.
OTHER. Planning COP also:
Advises and supports the Division Commander, the Civil Works and Business Management Directorate, and other Southwestern Division elements on planning, environmental, and economic matters related to civil works, military, and International and Interagency Services activities. Manages Southwestern Division’s Floodplain Management Services Program and Planning Assistance to States Program. Advises the Division Commander on new program initiatives, legislative matters including the project authorization process, and new and revised policy.
Water Resources Formulation Specialist,
SWL
(469) 487-7069
Water Resources Formulation Specialist,
SWF
(817) 886-1681
Water Resources Plan Formulation Specialist ,
SWG
(409) 766-3992
Civil Works Plan Specialist,
SWT
(918) 669-7349
