The Corps of Engineers is a military-civilian agency within the Department of the Army. Dating back to the beginnings of the United States, the Corps has served our country in peace and war, gradually developing into a major civil works engineering agency, that is now the biggest developer of our nation's water resources. With Congressional authorization and funding, we have planned and carried out major programs for flood control and flood protection, dam safety, water supply, wastewater management, hydroelectric power development, and commercial navigation. The Corps has also developed programs for recreation and water quality conservation, protection from shore and beach erosion, studies for urban water problems, and the preservation of our nation's environmental resources. A primary responsibility for the Detroit District is the maintenance of Great Lakes navigation channels, and navigation structures.

All of these programs have been responsive to changing needs and demands, under the direction of our federal government's Executive and Legislative Branches, we continue to look for better ways to put water to the best possible use for the American people.

The Corps of Engineers "Family" is divided into Divisions and Districts, and operates several research laboratories. At the Detroit District we are responsible for administering water resource programs in most of the Great Lakes Basin, including all of Michigan and portions of Indiana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

About half of our staff are located at our headquarters in the Patrick V. McNamara Federal building, Detroit, Michigan. Other elements are located in our field offices in Sault Ste. Marie, and Grand Haven, Michigan; Duluth, Minnesota; and Kewaunee, Wisconsin.