In 1888, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers first established our predecessor, the Pacific Division, which was headquartered in San Francisco and managed USACE military and civil works projects from the Rocky Mountains west to the Pacific, and from Alaska south to Mexico. In 1901, USACE divided the Pacific Division in two in recognition of the economic growth and development of the West. The South Pacific and North Pacific Divisions were created.
The Corps of Engineers’ work within the region has reshaped the West providing vital water resources projects, military construction, and improving the safety, economy and quality life of the American people.
Today, the South Pacific Division is comprised of more than 2,600 civilians and soldiers executing more than $10 billion in civil works, military programs and interagency and international support. Four operating districts, headquartered in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco, and Albuquerque provide federal and military engineering support in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and in parts of Colorado, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming and Texas.
The civil works program is oriented around major regional watersheds and leverages federal resources for navigation, flood damage reduction and ecosystem restoration. Major river basins include the Sacramento, San Joaquin, Santa Ana, Colorado and Rio Grande, which are governed by complex water rights. Water resources are vital to agriculture, urban development, Tribal interests, recreation and natural ecosystems in a region with more than 300 threatened and endangered species.
South Pacific Division is executing a Military Construction program at 25 Army and Air Force installations throughout the Southwest. The division also manages major construction projects for the Department of Veterans Affairs and supports Department of Homeland Security along the Southwest border.
Hundreds of South Pacific Division team members provide support for disasters around the world, assisting our local, state and federal partners with preparedness, response and recovery. This includes site assessments and construction of alternate care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, temporary housing in response to hurricanes, temporary emergency power, debris removal following the California wildfires, as well as providing expertise to FEMA with infrastructure assessment, water supply and wastewater, logistics support, GIS specialists, external affairs specialists and local government liaisons. South Pacific Division is also the USACE lead for the Urban Search and Rescue Structural Specialist Cadre and the Infrastructure Assessment Planning and Response Team.
South Pacific Division continues bringing value to the Nation's toughest engineering challenges in collaboration with our partners and stakeholders to secure our nation, energize the economy, and reduce risk from disaster.