On Veteran’s Day 2014, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Dutch Rijkswaterstaat (RWS) celebrated completion of a book on the history of the two organizations. This is the first published history of the USACE Civil Works program from its inception through the modern era. Overseeing the formal book release were Ms. Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, and Mr. Jan Hendrik Dronkers, RWS Director General. This event also marked 10 years of formal collaboration, initiated through a Memorandum of Agreement between the two organizations.
The book release was conducted as a seminar held in the offices of the Dutch organization Deltares located in Delft, Netherlands. Ms. Darcy and Mr. Dronkers presented opening remarks and conducted an exchange of signed book copies. Also included in the seminar was a presentation by Dr. John Lonnquest, Chief of the USACE Office of History and lead book editor. His remarks on interesting and comparative historical points made in the book were followed by three speakers discussing contemporary issues. Mr. Bob Pietrowsky, Director of the Institute for Water Resources (IWR) USACE, discussed new directions in planning for water resources management and development; Mr. Harold van Waveren, RWS Water Safety Adviser, presented on water management in a world of uncertainties; and Mr. Jaap Kwadijk, Deltares Science Director, discussed flooding issues of the future. The presentations were followed by a panel discussion consisting of the presenters and Mr. James Dalton, Chief of Engineering and Construction, Headquarters USACE.
Copies of Two Centuries of Experience in Water Resources Management: A Dutch-US Retrospective are available for free digital download from below
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Two Centuries of Experience in Water Resources Management: A Dutch-US Retrospective