Debris Control and Collection: The United States Army Corps of Engineers of Baltimore

By Madeleine Kersch

Edited by Hannah Hornberger

USACE Baltimore Logo (DoD)

The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is a federal agency that provides engineering expertise in support of national defense, civil works, and environmental sustainability. Although part of the U.S. Army, its mission extends to a wide range of civil, military, and environmental projects. The Corps traces its origins to 1775, when George Washington appointed the first engineer officers during the American Revolution. Since that time, the USACE has contributed to every American conflict and played a major role in the nation’s infrastructure development.

Today, the USACE continues to play a vital role in maintaining and developing critical infrastructure across the country. The mission of the USACE Baltimore District is to “deliver vital engineering solutions in collaboration with our partners to serve and strengthen the Nation, energize the economy, and reduce disaster risks.” The Baltimore District office is located near Fort McHenry, and within a short distance of the Naval Reserve Center and associated offices.

USACE Survey Vessel sailing past Fort McHenry. It was built by Halter Marine. (DoD)

Debris Collection and Control

The Baltimore District’s Debris Unit operates both on the Patapsco and the Potomac Rivers. According to their website, "Baltimore Harbor’s Debris Unit patrols and collects debris within the Patapsco River and its tributaries in an area covering 24 square miles. The Washington DC Debris Unit operates in the Anacostia and Potomac River patrolling and collecting debris covering 27 miles around the Nation’s Capital."

One of the unit's most notable vessels is the REYNOLDS, built in 1992 in Pensacola, Florida, and named after John Reynolds, a former Chief of Operations for the Baltimore District. The REYNOLDS is a steel-hull vessel equipped with a hydraulic front-end loader fitted with a mesh basket designed to lift debris directly from the water. A typical day aboard the REYNOLDS  involves patrolling the harbor and removing floating or sunken debris in order to keep channels open and safe for navigation. The mission of these vessels is vital. Without consistent debris collection, obstructions could accumulate, creating navigational hazards for commercial and military ships alike. Collisions with submerged debris could damage vessels, cause accidents, or block shipping lanes—disrupting port operations and delaying shipments essential to regional and national economies. 

Reynolds in Baltimore Harbor (DoD)

Disaster Clean-Up in the Harbor

USACE’s work extends beyond daily maintenance to include critical disaster response. Following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024, the USACE Baltimore District played a leading role in cleanup and recovery. As of March 30, 2024, USACE provided structural engineering support, including certified bridge safety inspectors and urban search and rescue specialists. Debris removal was engaged in by the REYNOLDS, while the survey vessel CATLETT—a 61-foot hydrographic and topographic survey boat—used advanced multibeam sonar systems to map the harbor’s bottom. Additional support came from the Philadelphia District’s survey vessels H.R. SPIES and DAUNTLESS.

USACE Surveying Damage Done By Cargo Ship DALI to Key Bridge

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers remains an indispensable force in maintaining and enhancing the nation’s infrastructure. The Baltimore Harbor Debris Unit exemplifies this mission, ensuring the safety and efficiency of one of the nation’s busiest ports. The REYNOLDS and her companion vessels illustrate the Corps’ capacity to combine engineering expertise with environmental stewardship. Whether during routine debris collection or emergency response, the USACE Baltimore District continues to protect both economic activity and ecological health in the region.

USACE Location Near Fort McHenry