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Reclamation Continues Sites Reservoir Project Public Negotiation Sessions
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation issued the following news release on Feb. 17, 2026:
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Reclamation continues Sites Reservoir Project public negotiation sessions
The Bureau of Reclamation today announces the continuation of public negotiation sessions with the Sites Project Authority for a Partnership Agreement for the proposed Sites Reservoir Project.
Reclamation and the Sites Project Authority are partnering on capacity interest in the project to construct a new 1.5 million acre-foot offstream reservoir approximately 10 miles west of Maxwell,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation issued the following news release on Feb. 17, 2026:
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Reclamation continues Sites Reservoir Project public negotiation sessions
The Bureau of Reclamation today announces the continuation of public negotiation sessions with the Sites Project Authority for a Partnership Agreement for the proposed Sites Reservoir Project.
Reclamation and the Sites Project Authority are partnering on capacity interest in the project to construct a new 1.5 million acre-foot offstream reservoir approximately 10 miles west of Maxwell,Calif. for water storage, conveyance, and service. The agreement to be negotiated supports the reservoir project by outlining the terms and conditions to which each party must adhere.
The following negotiation session will be held in Reclamation's Bay-Delta Office conference room located on the 2nd floor (Room 214), 801 I St, Sacramento, Calif. 95814:
- March 3, 2026 - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
To register and for more information, please contact Jake Brannum, repayment specialist, CGB Regional Office, at jbrannum@usbr.gov.
The public is welcome to attend and will have the opportunity to provide comments regarding this contracting action. Participation instructions and the proposed contract will be available at each session.
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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits.
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Original text here: https://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/news-release/5284
NIH Center for Advancing Translational Sciences: Tissue Chips in Space 2.0 Will Reveal Age-Related Disease Mechanisms and Possible Therapies
BETHESDA, Maryland, Feb. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences issued the following news:
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Tissue Chips in Space 2.0 Will Reveal Age-Related Disease Mechanisms and Possible Therapies
During spaceflight, the human body is exposed to unique conditions, one of which is microgravity (diminished or close to zero gravity compared with Earth). Spaceflight ages the human body at an accelerated pace, and it mirrors aging-related functional decline and age-related diseases, such as cardiac dysfunction,
... Show Full Article
BETHESDA, Maryland, Feb. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences issued the following news:
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Tissue Chips in Space 2.0 Will Reveal Age-Related Disease Mechanisms and Possible Therapies
During spaceflight, the human body is exposed to unique conditions, one of which is microgravity (diminished or close to zero gravity compared with Earth). Spaceflight ages the human body at an accelerated pace, and it mirrors aging-related functional decline and age-related diseases, such as cardiac dysfunction,immunosenescence (decline in the immune system), osteoporosis (bone density loss) and fibrosis (excessive buildup of a substance called the matrix around cells). These conditions take an extended period to study on Earth. Using the faster speed of aging seen in space, researchers can model disease progression and identify new therapies more quickly than on Earth. The International Space Station National Laboratory (ISS-NL) gives the biomedical community a unique setting -- spaceflight -- to study aging and age-related diseases.
Microphysiological systems (MPS) are bioengineered microfluidic devices (micro-sized fluid channels) seeded with human cells and tissues, which allow researchers to mimic organ systems and functions. MPS have many advantages compared with traditional cell cultures and animal models. The systems provide a more accurate model of the human body for identifying how diseases work, testing new therapies and checking for drug toxicity. MPS are quickly becoming vital tools for drug discovery, regulatory approval, safety and efficacy tests, and precision medicine.
Tissue Chips in Space 2.0 is a follow-up to the Tissue Chips in Space initiative that began in 2016. That initiative sought to create tissue- and organ-on-chip models that could be sent to the ISS-NL. Tissue Chips in Space 2.0 is focused on refining tissue chip technology by creating and using multiorgan MPS to better model the whole body. In 2025, NIH selected six grants through a cooperative agreement, which is a funding method that has two phases. In the first phase, researchers will design MPS that mimic complex organ systems. The MPS will be validated and tested on Earth and in space to ensure the chips are functional and sustainable for experiments at the ISS-NL in demonstrating an accurate representation of normal and diseased human states. After NIH review, the second phase will allow selected researchers who developed successful chips to send their MPS into low Earth orbit at the ISS-NL to show the functional utility of the models. These models will help us understand the effects of microgravity on human physiology and age-associated conditions and to identify novel targets for drug screening.
Using the faster rate of aging seen in space, these studies at the ISS-NL will identify clinically relevant markers of disease, pinpoint mechanisms that promote disease progression and examine possible therapies for a number of conditions. These efforts could provide key data and create a preclinical framework to inform clinical trials for aging-related decline and diseases. This research can also help address the challenges related to the effects of low Earth orbit and deep space exploration on astronauts' health.
"The Tissue Chips in Space program is exceptionally exciting because it enables unprecedented experiments with microphysiological systems under microgravity conditions that only space can provide. These studies will help uncover disease mechanisms and may open new avenues for therapeutic development. In addition, the program will drive advances in microphysiological technologies, improving their ease of use and expanding the accessibility of tissue chip platforms for research on Earth," said Dmitriy Krepkiy, Ph.D., program officer of NCATS' Office of Special Initiatives, which administers the Tissue Chip for Drug Screening Program.
Learn more about the 2025 awarded projects:
1. Brain-Muscle Microphysiological System Enabled Extracellular Vesicle Network for Understanding Aging in Space
Research: Crosstalk between the brain and muscles plays a key role in age-related diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small particle vehicles for molecules that affect tissues throughout the body. Understanding how EVs are used in the two-way communication between the brain and muscles could provide researchers with therapeutic targets for prevention of and recovery from age-related diseases.
Principal Investigators: Mei He, Ph.D., University of Florida, and Luke Lee, Ph.D., Brigham and Women's Hospital
2. Assessing Effects of Microgravity on Cardiovascular Aging With AI and 3D Organoids
Research: Microgravity can cause negative health effects on the heart, and it is important to understand how the space environment alters heart function, metabolism and response to stimuli. Comparing the results obtained in space to tests completed in a lab on Earth will help researchers learn how the unique environment of space affects the heart. This study will help identify possible therapeutic candidates for heart disease and inflammatory conditions and improve astronaut health during long-term space exposure.
Principal Investigators: Joseph Wu, M.D., Ph.D., Stanford University, and Afshin Beheshti, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh
3. An Organ-on-Chip Approach to Evaluation of Reproductive Health, Aging and Disease in Women
Research: Uterine aging is linked to an increased risk of cancer and reproductive issues, such as infertility and poor pregnancy outcomes. Using different cell types from the female reproductive system combined with hormone exposure, researchers will find mechanisms underlying uterine aging. Combined with artificial intelligence and machine learning, potential compounds to treat uterine aging will be selected for use in future studies.
Principal Investigator: Carrie German, Ph.D., CFD Research Corporation
4. Using Microgravity to Model Inflammaging in Complex Organ Chip Models of Heart, Gut, and Brain
Research: A buildup of damaged proteins and senescent cells (cells that no longer divide but are still metabolically active) can disrupt the ability of the heart, gut and brain to function properly. Chronic inflammation related to aging -- known as inflammaging -- can be triggered by immune cells, such as monocytes and macrophages, when they no longer function properly. Researchers plan to uncover mechanisms that cause faster immune cell aging and tissue dysfunction. Compounds that target senescent cells will be tested to discover which ones could help reverse cellular aging and improve human health.
Principal Investigators: Arun Sharma, Ph.D., and Clive Svendsen, Ph.D., Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
5. Exploiting Accelerated Aging Associated With Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Environment to Gain Insights Into Pathogenesis and Treatment of Progressive Neurological Disorders
Research: Age is the most important risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). Through communication between the brain and the heart, AD and other brain diseases can affect the cardiovascular system. Researchers will study the crosstalk between the heart and the brain in a setting where brain function has declined. They will test compounds that selectively target senescent cells to determine whether they are an effective therapy for preventing brain and heart health problems.
Principal Investigators: Palaniappan Sethu, Ph.D., Krishna Bhat, M.D., Ph.D., and Prasanna Krishnamurthy, Ph.D., The University of Alabama at Birmingham
6. An Aging Alveolar Lung Model in Microgravity
Research: Lungs contain various cell types -- such as epithelial cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts and immune cells -- that play an important role in maintaining respiratory health and function. Researchers will create a lung model to study the interplay between aging-related disease conditions, such as fibrosis, and lung aging. This model is a powerful tool that uses these different cell types in a 3-D setting to mimic both healthy and fibrotic lungs, highlighting its use to find therapies for various lung diseases.
Principal Investigator: Y. Shrike Zhang, Ph.D., Brigham and Women's Hospital
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Original text here: https://ncats.nih.gov/news/news-and-events/tissue-chips-in-space-2.0-will-reveal-age-related-disease-mechanisms-and-possible-therapies
Former Connecticut Resident Sentenced to 90 Months for Operating $4 Million Investment Fraud Scheme, Tax Evasion
NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, Feb. 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut posted the following news release on Feb. 17, 2026:
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Former Connecticut Resident Sentenced to 90 Months for Operating $4 Million Investment Fraud Scheme, Tax Evasion
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOHN A. MASANOTTI, JR., 71, of Bonita Springs, Florida, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 90 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for offenses stemming from an investment fraud
... Show Full Article
NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, Feb. 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut posted the following news release on Feb. 17, 2026:
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Former Connecticut Resident Sentenced to 90 Months for Operating $4 Million Investment Fraud Scheme, Tax Evasion
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOHN A. MASANOTTI, JR., 71, of Bonita Springs, Florida, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 90 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for offenses stemming from an investment fraudscheme.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Masanotti, who formerly resided in Darien, Connecticut, was the owner and managing member of Middlesex Mortgage Group, LLC, also known as Middlesex Group, LLC ("Middlesex"), based in Darien. Through Middlesex and while acting as an investment advisor, Masanotti purported to manage a pooled investment vehicle on behalf of investors. Masanotti claimed to clients and potential clients that invested funds were going to be, and were in fact, pooled together and invested in foreign currency and other investments. Between approximately 2016 and 2023, Masanotti defrauded 14 clients of a total of more than $4 million by using their money for personal expenses, and to pay returns to other clients. Masanotti provided clients with fraudulent monthly account statements from Middlesex that showed fake investment profits.
In addition, for the 2016, 2017, and 2019 through 2022 tax years, Masanotti failed to report to the IRS more than $3 million in income, resulting in a tax loss of nearly $1 million.
Masanotti also made false statements to the FBI during the investigation and filed false records in an attempt to obstruct the investigation.
Masanotti has agreed to pay $4,361,632 in restitution to the victims of his crime, and to cooperate with the IRS to pay all back taxes, penalties, and interest.
Masanotti was arrested on May 9, 2024. On October 1, 2025, he pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of tax evasion. Released on a $100,000 bond, he is required to report to prison on March 19.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division; and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; with the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather L. Cherry.
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct/pr/former-connecticut-resident-sentenced-90-months-operating-4-million-investment-fraud
Eighteen Mississippi Counties Now Eligible for All Categories of FEMA Public Assistance
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency issued the following news release:
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Eighteen Mississippi Counties Now Eligible for All Categories of FEMA Public Assistance
ATLANTA - Local governments and certain nonprofit organizations in 18 Mississippi counties are now eligible for Public Assistance grants to support debris removal and permanent work to repair public facilities damaged by the January winter storm.
The newly eligible counties are Adams, Attala, Benton, Claiborne, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Marshall, Panola, Pontotoc,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency issued the following news release:
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Eighteen Mississippi Counties Now Eligible for All Categories of FEMA Public Assistance
ATLANTA - Local governments and certain nonprofit organizations in 18 Mississippi counties are now eligible for Public Assistance grants to support debris removal and permanent work to repair public facilities damaged by the January winter storm.
The newly eligible counties are Adams, Attala, Benton, Claiborne, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Marshall, Panola, Pontotoc,Prentiss, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, Union and Yalobusha. These counties were previously approved for federal funding for emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance.
These 18 counties join Alcorn, Bolivar, Calhoun, Carroll, Grenada, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Leflore, Montogomery, Sharkey, Sunflower, Warren, Washington, Webster, Yazoo and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, which were previously approved for all categories of Public Assistance.
FEMA's Public Assistance program reimburses local and state government agencies for the costs of emergency response, debris removal and restoration of disaster-damaged public facilities and infrastructure. Certain nonprofit organizations and houses of worship may also be eligible for assistance.
Additional designations may be made at a later date if warranted by the results of damage assessments. For the latest information about Mississippi's recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4899.
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Original text here: https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20260217/eighteen-mississippi-counties-now-eligible-all-categories-fema-public
BLS: Number of Involuntary Part-Time Workers Decreased by 453,000 in January 2026
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics issued the following document on Feb. 17, 2026, from Economics Daily:
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Number of involuntary part-time workers decreased by 453,000 in January 2026
The number of people employed part time for economic reasons, also called involuntary part-time workers, decreased by 453,000 to 4.9 million in January 2026, but increased by 410,000 over the year. These individuals would have preferred full-time employment but were working part time because their hours had been reduced or they were unable to find full-time
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics issued the following document on Feb. 17, 2026, from Economics Daily:
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Number of involuntary part-time workers decreased by 453,000 in January 2026
The number of people employed part time for economic reasons, also called involuntary part-time workers, decreased by 453,000 to 4.9 million in January 2026, but increased by 410,000 over the year. These individuals would have preferred full-time employment but were working part time because their hours had been reduced or they were unable to find full-timejobs.
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Chart: Number of people employed part time for economic reasons, January 2021 to January 2026
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Slack work or business conditions was the primary reason for the over-the-year increase in the number of people working part time for economic reasons. The number of people whose hours were reduced due to slack work or business conditions was 3.2 million in January 2026, up 325,000 from one year ago. The number of people who could only find part-time work changed little over the month and over the year at 1.4 million.
These data are from the Current Population Survey (https://www.bls.gov/cps/) and are seasonally adjusted. For more information, see "The Employment Situation -- January 2026 (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/empsit_02112026.htm)." We also have more charts on employment and unemployment (https://www.bls.gov/charts/employment-situation/civilian-unemployment-rate.htm). People at work part time for economic reasons include those who worked 1 to 34 hours during the reference week for an economic reason such as slack work or unfavorable business conditions, inability to find full-time work, or seasonal declines in demand.
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SUGGESTED CITATION
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Number of involuntary part-time workers decreased by 453,000 in January 2026 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2026/number-of-involuntary-part-time-workers-decreased-by-453000-in-january-2026.htm (visited February 18, 2026).
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View original text plus charts and tables here: https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2026/number-of-involuntary-part-time-workers-decreased-by-453000-in-january-2026.htm
BLS Northeast Region Issues Report on Changing Compensation Costs in the New York Metropolitan Area December 2025
NEW YORK, Feb. 18 (TNSLrpt) -- Changing Compensation Costs in the New York Metropolitan Area December 2025 - A report from U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Northeast Region - Feb. 17, 2026
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Compensation costs for private industry workers increased 3.4 percent in New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA) for the year ending in December 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Acting Regional Commissioner Michael G. Phinney noted that one year ago, New York experienced an annual gain of 2.8 percent in compensation costs. (See chart 1 and
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Feb. 18 (TNSLrpt) -- Changing Compensation Costs in the New York Metropolitan Area December 2025 - A report from U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Northeast Region - Feb. 17, 2026
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Compensation costs for private industry workers increased 3.4 percent in New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA) for the year ending in December 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Acting Regional Commissioner Michael G. Phinney noted that one year ago, New York experienced an annual gain of 2.8 percent in compensation costs. (See chart 1 andtable 1.) Nationwide, compensation costs rose 3.4 percent in December 2025.
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Chart 1. Twelve-month percent changes in total compensation for private industry workers in the United States and New York, not seasonally adjusted
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Locally, wages and salaries, the largest component of compensation costs, advanced at a 3.3-percent pace for the 12-month period ended December 2025. (See chart 2.) Nationwide, wages and salaries rose 3.3 percent over the same period.
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Chart 2. Twelve-month percent changes in wages and salaries for private industry workers in the United States and New York, not seasonally adjusted
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New York is 1 of 15 metropolitan areas in the United States and 1 of 3 areas in the Northeast region of the country for which locality compensation cost data are available. Among these 15 largest areas, over-the-year percentage changes in compensation costs ranged from 4.9 percent in Chicago-Naperville to 1.9 percent in Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor in December 2025; for wages and salaries, Chicago registered the largest increase (4.8 percent), and Washington-Baltimore-Arlington registered the smallest (2.4 percent). (See chart 3.)
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Chart 3. Twelve-month percent changes in total compensation and wages and salaries for private industry workers by area, not seasonally adjusted, December 2025
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The annual increase in compensation costs in New York was 3.4 percent in December 2025, compared to 3.6 percent in Boston-Worcester-Providence and 3.1 percent in Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, the other two metropolitan areas in the Northeast. New York's 3.3-percent gain in wages and salaries over this 12-month period compared to 3.6 percent in Boston and 2.6 percent in Philadelphia. (See table 2.)
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The Employment Cost Index for March 2026 is scheduled to be released on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. (ET).
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Technical Note
Locality compensation costs are part of the national Employment Cost Index (ECI), which measures quarterly changes in compensation costs (wages and salaries and employer costs for employee benefits) free from the influence of employment shifts among occupations and industries. More information can be found in the national Employment Cost Index Technical Note. For information on survey concepts, coverage, methods, nonresponse adjustment, and imputation see the Employment Cost Index Handbook of Methods.
In addition to the data presented here, ECI national data by industry, occupational group, and union status, as well as data for civilian, private, and state and local government employees, are available on the Employment Cost Index website. The national Employment Cost Index Summary is also available online. Additional information for regions, states, and local areas may be accessed via our Northeast Information Office regional homepage.
The substate area data published in this news release reflect the Office of Management and Budget Bulletin No. 23-01, dated July 21, 2023. See the Tracking Wage Growth in American Cities page for more information on available geographies and their historical timelines.
The New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA) includes Bronx, Dutchess, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester Counties in New York; Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, and Union Counties in New Jersey; Greater Bridgeport and Western Connecticut Planning Regions in Connecticut; and Pike County in Pennsylvania.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
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Table 1. Employment Cost Index 12-month percent changes for total compensation and for wages and salaries, private industry workers, United States, Northeast Census region, and the New York area, not seasonally adjusted
Table 2. Employment Cost Index 12-month percent changes for total compensation and for wages and salaries, private industry workers, United States, Census regions, and localities, not seasonally adjusted
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View original text plus charts and tables here: https://www.bls.gov/regions/northeast/news-release/2026/employmentcostindex_newyork_20260217.htm
Army Engineer R&D Development Center: Testing Continues on Lock Improvements Along Upper Ohio River
VICKSBURG, Mississippi, Feb. 18 -- The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center issued the following news story:
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Testing continues on lock improvements along upper Ohio River
By Carol C. Coleman, public affairs specialist
As navigation improvements continue along the upper Ohio River, a team of researchers at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) are developing physical models to test new designs of the lock systems to ensure they function as intended.
Emsworth, Dashields and Montgomery locks have the oldest and smallest lock chambers in the entire Ohio
... Show Full Article
VICKSBURG, Mississippi, Feb. 18 -- The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center issued the following news story:
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Testing continues on lock improvements along upper Ohio River
By Carol C. Coleman, public affairs specialist
As navigation improvements continue along the upper Ohio River, a team of researchers at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) are developing physical models to test new designs of the lock systems to ensure they function as intended.
Emsworth, Dashields and Montgomery locks have the oldest and smallest lock chambers in the entire OhioRiver Navigation System and have been around since the 1920s and 1930s. In 2016, Congress authorized the Upper Ohio Navigation Project, allowing for improvements to be made to the structures.
Researchers at ERDC's Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL) partnered with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District on the Montgomery lock system in 2020, and now that construction is underway on that facility, the team has turned their attention to Emsworth.
"This effort has been ongoing since 2023, so a little over two years now," said Gary Bell, a research hydraulics engineer at ERDC-CHL. "The physical model provides all the details and information on the filling and emptying system itself. We need the physical model to tell us how efficient the lock is filling and emptying."
The team built both a 1:25 scale model of the lock system and a 1:100 scale navigation approach model. The filling and emptying model will evaluate the hydraulic processes of the new lock design and help determine if any design modifications are needed while the navigation model ensures vessels can move through the lock safely and efficiently.
"It's very challenging," said Bell. "The level of precision required on all these models is very high. We must make sure that everything is calibrated correctly. That everything's running like it should -- actuators are running at the speed they need to, pressure cells are calibrated, load cells are calibrated -- because all this data is collected and used for performance evaluations of the lock."
With so many moving parts and pieces, that type of accuracy can only be achieved through collaboration and teamwork.
"For the navigation model, we have towboat pilots from the district that actually help us evaluate the model," said Ryan Hoben, a research hydraulic engineer with ERDC-CHL. "We started with the existing conditions to make sure that everything in the model matches what the pilots are currently experiencing in the field. We run the model boats for them to make sure everything we're seeing in the model is what they're seeing."
Along with the Pittsburg District, ERDC's Fabrication Shops have also been heavily involved in the process.
"Without the Fabrication Shops, we would not be able to build these models," said Bell. "There's a lot of back and forth that goes into making sure everything is built correctly. They allow us to be flexible enough so that if any needs or changes arise from the sponsor, we're able to deploy that quickly."
The team began by using real-world data along with numerical modeling provided by the district to ensure the accuracy of the model.
"We had some data sets that we were able to compare to the physical model -- making sure that everything was performing like it should -- that was step one," said Bell. "The next steps are to perform test after test after test on this system and hit it from all sides. We'll do hundreds of filling and emptying test on the chamber to evaluate it. That's the main thing we're looking at -- just how well the chamber fills and empties -- we want to get a good idea of how it's performing."
The experimental results will be used to help inform the design modification decisions of the new system. Then, once a new design has been chosen, the proposed lock will be constructed, installed and tested again for hydraulic performance. Those tests will ultimately help develop a safe and efficient design for the proposed new lock.
"The physical modeling efforts for the Emsworth Lock New River Chamber have helped shape the design requirements and project features necessary for efficient and safe navigation on the upper Ohio River," said Cory Morgan, technical lead for the Upper Ohio Navigation Project. "CHL used their modeling efforts and expertise to help the Pittsburgh District balance navigation safety and lifecycle costs through risk-informed decision-making. They also collaborated closely with design engineers, operations personnel and navigation-industry stakeholders, instilling confidence that the design will perform as intended and meet commercial navigation users' needs."
"It's been great working with the Pittsburgh District and the Inland Navigation Design Center on this project," said Bell. "We're not just out here coming up with the best hydraulic solution, but also things that will help the navigation industry as a whole."
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Original text here: https://www.erdc.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Stories/Article/4407373/testing-continues-on-lock-improvements-along-upper-ohio-river/
