In August 2025, the Water Management 101 workshop was held at the National Great Rivers Museum in Alton, Illinois (St. Louis District). This was the third time the workshop was offered, with the first two sessions taking place in 2023. The WMES program provided funding to the WMIST team to host the event. The workshop was attended by 21 students from 17 districts representing 7 divisions. Most participants were new to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or water management, with less than three years of experience. However, some attendees had up to eight years of experience and held leadership positions in their districts.
The curriculum covered various topics, including:
General introductory information
Gages and data
Reservoir basics
Hydrology
The Corp Water Management System
The Sustainable Rivers Program (new this year)
In addition to lectures, the workshop included hands-on activities where students worked individually or in small groups to apply what they learned. A key part of the program was a final exercise where students assessed a flood situation, made reservoir regulation decisions using CWMS, and then briefed their decisions.
Feedback from the students was overwhelmingly positive. Participants especially valued the real-world examples and the opportunity to learn how different water management offices operate across various districts. The workshop also provided a valuable opportunity for attendees to network and connect with other water managers.