USACE overhaul could prove critical for Petersburg after flooding

PETERSBURG, Va. (WRIC) -- A major overhaul for the Army's Civil Works program -- which aims to direct funding to priority water resources projects and address dredging capacity -- could prove critical for the city of Petersburg following severe flooding in July 2025.

Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam R. Telle announced on Monday, Feb. 23, a major initiative, “Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork,” for the Army’s Civil Works program, to increase dredging capacity.

According to a release, the new initiative will provide a greater focus on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) core Civil Works missions, minimizing non-care programs and directing funding to notable water resources projects.

Officials said this will shorten permitting timelines and reduce extra regulations and paperwork to streamline the USACE’s delivery of Civil Works projects and programs.

“President Trump has empowered his administration to work with lightspeed efficiency to make our government deliver more for all Americans," Telle said. "The Army Civil Works’ ‘Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork’ initiative will enable the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deliver critical projects and programs for the nation more efficiently, sooner, and at less cost than the current ways of doing business. This will eliminate bureaucratic delays and provide fast, clear decisions needed to save lives and empower our economy.”

The plan consists of 27 initiatives grouped under five categories:

• Maximizing the ability to deliver national infrastructure 
• Cutting red tape 
• Focus on efficiency 
• Transparency and accountability 
• Prioritization

One of the plan’s initiatives includes increasing dredging capacity through maintenance dredging -- a motion that could potentially address the neglected sediment buildup in the Appomattox River.

According to Petersburg Mayor Samuel Parham, it had not been dredged properly in decades. Until excess silt has been removed, Parham warned that city's flooding risk would remain high.

To do so, USACE will work with Endangered Species Act resource agencies to significantly expand the seasonal windows for dredging within ports.

USACE will also focus on innovative solutions to improve the science of environmental window mitigation measures, including additional funding for Research & Development.

“We’re excited about these initiatives,” said Col. Sonny Avichal, Norfolk District commander. “Now more than ever, the nation needs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deliver – for resilient infrastructure, and for the economic vitality that depends on reliable navigation, flood risk management and efficient permitting.”

As part of the Norfolk District’s project portfolio, the Norfolk Harbor and James River operations and maintenance dredging, Norfolk Harbor Deepening and Anchorage F improvements are essential to the Port of Virginia, per a release. Officials said components of national security and the U.S. economy will benefit from the “Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork” initiative.