Photo of Window Rock, a natural sandstone arch, serving as a landmark for the capital of Navajo Nation June 1 in Window Rock, Arizona. USACE PHOTO BY ROBERT DEDEAUX
Navajo Nation and USACE Partner on $3 Million Birdsprings Flood Study
Historic Accord: Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren and USACE LA District Commander Col. Andrew Baker execute a $3 million feasibility agreement at Window Rock.
Target Hydrology: Formulating flood risk reduction plans for the Birdsprings community along the monsoon-prone Little Colorado River.
Engineering Challenge: Mitigating heavy sedimentation and debris accumulation beneath a critical community transit bridge that routinely causes flooding and road closures.
Award-Winning Collaboration: Honoring the Navajo Nation Silver Jackets Team as the 2025 national “Silver Jackets’ Team of the Year.”
Tri-District Framework: The tribally led interagency effort is supported by a unique USACE partnership spanning the Los Angeles, Albuquerque, and Sacramento districts.
Editor’s Note: The following is an official operational update from the USACE Los Angeles District, curated by America’s Engineers for commercial contractor and industry visibility. The original report can be found at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District official news repository.
Beneath the natural splendor of a sandstone arch, known as Window Rock, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District Commander Col. Andrew Baker signed an agreement June 1 for a $3 million feasibility study.
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, center, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District Commander Col. Andrew Baker, center left, sign an agreement for a $3 million feasibility study for the Birdsprings Flood-Risk Mitigation project June 1 in Window Rock, Arizona. USACE PHOTO BY ROBERT DEDEAUX
The hope is that the study will lead to construction of a flood-risk management project for the Birdsprings community – an area along the Little Colorado River that is prone to flooding during seasonal monsoon rainstorms.
The Bird Springs feasibility study – which received funding for this fiscal year – focuses on solutions to significant flooding issues in the area due to sediment and debris build-up under a bridge over the river that leads to the community. Flooding in the area has resulted in damage to homes and road closures, and puts lives in the community at risk.
“The agreement between the Navajo Nation and the Department of the Army, signed by President Buu Nygren and Col. Andrew Baker, respectively, authorizes the Navajo Nation Birdsprings Flood Risk Reduction Study and formalizes the partnership on the project,” said Crystal Tulley-Cordova, principal hydrologist in the Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources.
“Birdsprings has experienced significant flooding due to sedimentation and debris buildup, and understanding the challenges through a feasibility study will benefit the project and help identify solutions.”
From left to right: Albuquerque District Commander Lt. Col. Matthew Miller, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren Ph.D., Navajo Nation Siver jackets tribal member Crystal Tulley-Cordova, and USACE Los Angeles District Commander Col. Andrew Baker, pose for a picture beneath Window Rock, before recognizing the Navajo Nation Silver Jackets Team as the “Silver Jackets’ Team of the Year” award for 2025 during and event June 1 in Window Rock, Arizona. USACE PHOTO BY ROBERT DEDEAUX
Birdsprings holds a special place for the Los Angeles District because it represents one of the earliest successes of a collaborative Silver Jackets’ efforts, Baker said.
“This was a great opportunity to reflect on what we can accomplish when we all work together to find solutions,” said Danielle Storey, USACE LA District tribal liaison.
RECOGNIZING NAVAJO NATION SILVERJACKETS TEAM
Before the signing ceremony, the Navajo Nation recognized the Navajo Silver Jackets Team for receiving the “Silver Jackets’ Team of the Year” award for 2025 for its work in Arizona.
From left to right: Grant Adams, Chris Stanton and Joel Pliskin of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District’s Silver Jackets planning team, pose for a picture beneath Window Rock June 1 in Window Rock, Arizona. The Silver Jackets Program brings together local, tribal, state and federal agencies to collaboratively address flood risks and other natural hazards. USACE PHOTO BY ROBERT DEDEAUX
The Silver Jackets Program brings local, tribal, state and federal agencies together to address flood risk and other natural hazards. It consists of state- and tribal-led interagency teams that develop and implement comprehensive strategies for flood-risk management and enhancing community preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery efforts.
Navajo Nation council delegate from the Birdsprings Chapter Casey Allen Johnson observes as the Navajo Nation President and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District Commander Col. sign an agreement for a $3 million feasibility study for the Birdsprings Flood-Risk Mitigation project June 1 in Window Rock, Arizona. USACE PHOTO BY ROBERT DEDEAUX
“The Navajo Nation Silver Jackets Team helps increase technical capacity and resources to help address Navajo Nation’s flood-risk priorities through collaborative solutions,” said Tulley-Cordova, who also is the Navajo Nation Silver Jacket’s team lead. “I’ve enjoyed building our partnership with USACE and other partners, and together we are mitigating flood risks on the Navajo Nation.”
Today’s event recognizes the extraordinary accomplishments of the Navajo Nation Silver Jackets Team and the partnerships that have been built to reduce flood risk and improve community resilience across the Navajo Nation, said Chris Stanton, Arizona Silver Jackets Team coordinator, adding this recognition is significant because it highlights a model of collaboration.
Albuquerque District Commander Lt. Col. Matthew Miller poses for a photo before recognizing the Navajo Nation Silver Jackets Team as the “Silver Jackets’ Team of the Year” award for 2025 during and event June 1 in Window Rock, Arizona. Miller assumed command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Albuquerque District in 2024. USACE PHOTO BY ROBERT DEDEAUX
“The greatest strength of the Navajo Nation Silver Jackets Team is our collaboration,” Stanton said. “I have really enjoyed working alongside our sister districts – with Albuquerque and Sacramento – in supporting the country’s first ever tribally led interagency team, the Navajo Nation Silver Jackets.”
This article was originally published by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the title, “Navajo Nation signs feasibility agreement, recognizes the Navajo Silver Jackets.”
