United States Army Corps of Engineers Reservoir Master Plans

Project Tasks and Responsiblities

3e was the Prime Contractor to the Wilmington District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for updating the Master Plans for three reservoir projects in Virginia and North Carolina.  The three projects, John H. Kerr Reservoir and Dam, Falls Lake, and W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir are civil works projects and fee owned lands for which the Corps has administrative responsibility.  The Master Planning process includes update of the existing Master Plans for each project, focusing on regional and ecosystem needs, project resource capabilities and suitabilities, and expressed public interests and desires.  In addition, the project scope of work includes preparation of an appropriate level of environmental impact analysis as required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).   3e used a Geographic Information System (GIS) based approach to analysis of recreational demand, natural resources, and the built environment affecting use of each project’s land and waters. 

The John H. Kerr Reservoir covers an area of approximately 48,900 acres, surrounded by 50,000 acres of project lands.  W. Kerr Scott has a normal pool of 1,470 acres, surrounded by 2,284 acres of project lands, and Falls Lake covers an area of almost 12,500 acres surrounded by 22,500 acres of public lands. The project scope of work requires extensive consultation with affected Federal, state, regional, and local government agencies, as well as public input from interested citizens, businesses, and organizations.  Potential issues include protection of natural resources such as rare, threatened, or endangered species, protection of cultural resources, provision of high-quality recreational opportunities, and compatibility with surrounding communities.