Faced with federal budget reductions for four consecutive years, the Pittsburgh District of the Army Corps of Engineers is trying to reduce its 770-employee staff without resorting to layoffs.

The Pittsburgh District, facing the same funding problems as other corps districts nationwide, has "insufficient funds to continue supporting staffing at the levels we have done in the past," said Karen Auer, a spokeswoman.

She said eligible employees are being offered early retirement. The deadline for accepting is next week.

In addition, she said, the corps has asked the Pittsburgh Federal Executive Board to notify other federal agencies within the community of its financial problems, so corps employees who are insecure about their futures can apply for other federal jobs.

"The president's budget for next year is less than this year so we will be in the same situation next year," said Auer.

The Pittsburgh District maintains and operates 23 locks and dams and 16 reservoirs and oversees 42 local flood protection projects in Western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, southwestern New York, northern West Virginia and western Maryland.

Its largest construction project is the Lower Monongahela River Project, which includes replacement of the nearly 100-year-old fixed-crest dam in Braddock, removing Lock and Dam 3 in Elizabeth and constructing two larger locks at Lock and Dam 4 in Charleroi. The new Braddock dam is fully operational, but the next phases of the project could be impacted by budget cuts.

"Because of funding shortfalls ... we are having to do less," Auer said. "Instead of it being completed in 2008, we are now projecting 2013."

Auer said the Pittsburgh District's budget for operations and construction projects was $127 million in fiscal 2002, $125 million in fiscal 2003, $104 million in fiscal 2004 and $98 million in fiscal 2005.