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.