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Planning Community Toolbox
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Study Initiation Phase
1: Initial Problem Identification
2: Congressional Study Authority
3: Letter of Intent from Sponsor
4: Congress Appropriates Study Funds
5: Execute Feasibility Cost Share Agreement and Secure Sponsor Study Funding
6: Scope and Conduct Study
7: Release Draft Feasibility Report for Concurrent Review
8: Complete Final Feasibility Report for Coordination and Submission
9: Policy Review of Final Feasibility Report
10: Federal and State Agency Review
11: Sign Chief of Engineer's Report
12: Administration Review of Chief of Engineer's Report
13: Congress Appropriates PED Funds
14: Execute Design Agreement and Secure Sponsor Design Funding
15: Conduct Pre-construction Engineering and Design activities
16: Congress Authorizes Project
17: Congress Appropriates Construction Funds
18: Execute Project Partnership Agreement and Secure Sponsor Construction Funding
19: Implement Project
20: Operation, Maintenance, Repair, Replacement and Rehabilitation
Water Resources Project Delivery

    The Water Resources Project Delivery process is a key element of the Civil Works mission and includes planning, designing, and constructing water resources infrastructure needed by the nation.

    Project delivery is a multi-step process: a Congressionally authorized feasibility study evaluates alternatives and makes a recommendation for a federal project; if that project is then authorized and funding appropriated it can be constructed after executing a Project Partnership Agreement (PPA). After construction, the project transitions to a local partner for operations and maintenance (O&M). The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers primary mission areas are coastal and inland flood risk management, navigation, and aquatic ecosystem restoration. Congress can also authorize the Corps to develop hydropower, recreation, water supply, and other environmental infrastructure projects.

    Project delivery - the project-focused feasibility studies and new construction - is just one element of Corps water resources activities. Under our Civil Works mission, we partner with local communities and stakeholders every day to support regional watershed planning activities; deliver technical assistance and local planning support through the Flood Plain Management Services Program and Planning Assistance to States; and assess, communicate, and manage risk through our Flood Risk Management, Levee Safety, and Dam Safety Programs.

    The navigation on the left provides a description as well as key policy and guidance associated with the development and delivery of Civil Works projects that provide a value to the nation.

    Key Guidance for Corps Planners Additional Resources

  • Principles, Requirements and Guidelines for Water and Land Related Resources Implementation Studies
  • Water Resources Development Acts and other Laws pertaining to USACE
  • Engineer Regulation 1105-2-100: Planning Guidance Notebook, Full Publication (2000 Expired 12/1/2023)
    ER 1105-2-100, the Planning Guidance Notebook will be superseded by several different pieces of new guidance. For the full suite of guidance replacing the PGN, visit the Core Civil Works Planning Guidance page.
  • Engineer Pamphlet 1165-2-01: Digest of Water Resources Policies and Authorities (1999)
    A summary of Corps administrative and legislative water resources policies and authorities.
  • The Planner's Library
    Links to Corps guidance, fact sheets, and lessons learned.
  • Report to Congress on Future Water Resources Development Fact Sheet (2021)
    This fact sheet provides an overview of the annual Report on Future Water Resources Development to Congress, also known as the "7001 Report." It provides information for non-federal interests on how to submit a proposal for inclusion in the Report.
  • How to Plan a Water Resources Project with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: A Guide for Tribal & Alaska Native Village Governments (5th Edition) (2023)
    The Tribal Nations Community of Practice has written this booklet to provide you, our Tribal partners, with a better understanding of how best to work with the US Army Corps of Engineers. Our processes and methods can be perceived as complex, and we hope to make them clearer for you.
  • Army Corps of Engineers HQ Civil Works Website
  • Army Corps of Engineers: Water Resource Authorization and Project Delivery Processes (2019)
    This 2019 report from the Congressional Research Service summarizes USACE authorization legislation, the standard project delivery process, authorities for alternative water resource project delivery, and other USACE authorities.
  • Planning Manual Part II: Risk-Informed Planning (2017)
    The Planning Manual Part II: Risk Informed Planning documents the state of the practice in risk-informed planning for the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Planning Community of Practice. It is a continuation of the original Planning Manual, published by the USACE Institute for Water Resources in 1996.
  • Planning Manual (1996)
    The Planning Manual describes what planning is and how it is best practiced by the Corps of Engineers. It focuses on water resources planning, though the principles, tools and methodologies discussed are equally applicable to other planning functions as well. The Manual walks planners through the six-step planning process used by the Corps and applicable to all the Corps' water resources and other planning functions.
  • Planning Primer (1997)
    The Planning Primer is a condensed version of the Planning Manual. It is an introduction to planning and how it is done using the six-step planning process for those who have no formal training in planning.
  • Corps Planning: Planning Assistance to States (2024)
    Two types of planning assistance are offered through the Planning Assistance to States (PAS) program, Comprehensive Plans and Technical Assistance. Any State, or group of States, may partner with the Corps under the PAS program. Local governments, regional coalitions of governmental entities, Federally-recognized Tribes and U.S. Territories are also eligible partners in the PAS program. A cost share waiver is available for eligible economically disadvantaged communities as defined in the Implementation Guidance for Section 160 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022, which includes but is not limited to Federally-recognized Tribes and U.S. Territories. The PAS program is authorized by Section 22 of WRDA 1974, as amended, and is sometimes referred to as the "Section 22" program.
  • Partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: A Guide for Communities, Local Governments, States, Tribes, and Non-Governmental Organizations (2019)
    Partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: A Guide for Communities, Local Governments, States, Tribes, and Non-Governmental Organizations provides potential sponsors with information on the programs and processes available for non-federal partners and USACE representatives to work together to address the Nation's water resources problems. The Guide includes an overview of the USACE Civil Works Program and describes how USACE can work with local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies and other non-federal partners on activities ranging from technical services and advice to planning and constructing water resources projects. A previous version of this document was originally published as the Project Partnership Kit by IWR back in 1996 and revised in 2001.