As the Memphis District joins in celebrating the 200th Anniversary of the USACE Civil Works Program, we’re reflecting on our contribution to the program. The Memphis District as it exists today, is descended from several organizational units, extending over 142 years.
The Mississippi River Commission (MRC) established the Little Rock River and Harbor Office in February 1881. That office assumed charge of improvements on the Arkansas, White and St. Francis rivers and tributaries. Most of this work involved removing snags and debris from channels. Some of these waterways would eventually be assigned to the Memphis District.
In 1882, the MRC divided the Mississippi River below Cairo, Illinois, into four administrative districts to oversee improvement of navigation, flood control and for coordinating engineering operations in those fields. The First MRC District – headquartered in Cairo – extended from Cairo to the foot of Island 40, 220 miles. The Second MRC District extended from Island 40 to the mouth of the White River, 180 miles. Headquarters for the Second District was in Memphis.
In June 1890, the First and Second MRC Districts were place under the jurisdiction of one district office in Memphis.
Experimental dredging operations on the Mississippi River in the First and Second District were carried out under the direction of the MRC and supervision of the District Engineer. This experimental work resulted in the development of the dustpan-type hydraulic dredge, still used in maintenance of the navigation channel. With the adoption of an enlarged dredging program in 1896, dredging was placed under the jurisdiction of the Secretary, MRC, with offices in St. Louis.
In April 1921, the Little Rock District was moved to Memphis, and although the District Engineer, First and Second MRC District became its District Engineer, it maintained its identity as the River and Harbor District.
In 1918, the work of dredging was separated from the office of the secretary, MRC, and the headquarters of the MRC Dredging District was established at Memphis. The Dredging District was a separate and distinct organization having its own District Engineer, and not affiliated with the First and Second District or the River and Harbor office.
In September 1928, all the above districts were consolidated to form a new district designated as the Memphis Engineer District. This action followed passage of the Flood Control Act of May 15, 1928, which authorized the Mississippi River and Tributaries Project. This all came about because of the devastating and deadly flood of 1927. The act specified that the work under this project be executed by the Memphis, Vicksburg, and New Orleans Districts.
While the Memphis District can look with great satisfaction on its record of Civil Works accomplishments and WINNING, it cannot afford complacency. New challenges will come, and some old ones remain. Nevertheless, the Memphis District is ready to meet these challenges head-on, thereby reconfirming both its tradition and its commitment to the people it serves and its commitment to Civil Works, delivering value, and WINNING.