29 Apr 2024

Crooked River Lock reopens on time for 2024 season

The Crooked River Lock in Alanson, Michigan will open today, April 29, for the 2024 recreational boating season after undergoing a series of repairs during the offseason.

5 Apr 2024

Corps of Engineers Start Outer Harbor Dredging in Holland, Michigan

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, will begin dredging the outer harbor in Holland, Michigan, this weekend to remove about 31,000 cubic yards of sediment from the federal navigation channel. The King Co., based in Holland, Michigan was awarded a $901,885 contract to hydraulically dredge Holland and Grand Haven this spring. The expected completion for both harbors is May 31.

29 Mar 2024

USACE Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study Team to Host Virtual Public Meetings

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), along with the eight Great Lakes states, will host several virtual public meetings to provide updates on the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study (GLCRS) and to hear the public’s feedback on a shared vision for the study.

8 Mar 2024

Corps of Engineers Begins Dredging Muskegon Harbor, First of Season

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District began dredging today, March 8, in Muskegon Harbor to remove about 133,000 cubic yards of sediment from the federal navigation channel. The project marks the start of the 2024 Detroit District dredging season on the Western Michigan shoreline of Lake Michigan to maintain Great Lakes navigation for commercial shipping to harbors along Western Michigan.

11 Jan 2024

Soo Locks Closing for Seasonal Repair, Maintenance

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan will close to all marine traffic beginning 11:59 p.m. January 15, or until commercial traffic ceases, through 12:01 a.m. March 25 to perform seasonal critical maintenance. Federal regulation (33 CFR 207.440) establishes the operating season based on the feasibility of vessels operating during typical Great Lakes ice conditions. “Every year, the Corps of Engineers uses the non-navigation winter period to perform maintenance and keep the Soo Locks operating,” Maintenance Branch Chief Nicholas Pettit said. “The Detroit District team works long hours in extreme conditions to complete a significant amount of maintenance during this annual closure period. The work they perform is unique, especially given the harsh northern Michigan winter conditions they work in.”

21 Dec 2023

Chamber Wall Monoliths Option 1B Awarded for New Lock at the Soo

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District’s New Lock at the Soo project in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, awards $213.8 million contract Option 1B (Chamber Wall Monoliths) to Kokosing Alberici Traylor, LLC (KAT) of Westerville, Ohio. Contract Option 1B includes construction of the lock wall monoliths, very large concrete wall portions that make up the sides of the chamber along the north and south side of the lock chamber. The chamber monoliths span between the Upstream wide wall monoliths and Downstream wide wall monoliths.

30 Nov 2023

MacArthur Lock closing for seasonal repair, maintenance

AULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Soo Locks’ MacArthur Lock will close for the Navigation Season 7 a.m. Dec. 17, 2023, through April 24, 2024, to perform dam safety inspections and routine maintenance. The Poe Lock will remain open until Jan. 15, 2024, or until commercial traffic ceases, whichever occurs first. The Soo Locks operating season is fixed by federal regulation (33 CFR 207.440). “The 800-foot-long MacArthur Lock, built in 1943, is 80 years old; the maintenance period is critical to keeping the lock in operation during the shipping season,” Maintenance Branch Chief Nicholas Pettit said.

21 Nov 2023

High winds, storms, wave action increase hazards

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, urges caution around Great Lakes harbor piers and breakwaters, particularly during high wind and wave events. Accidents can occur near harbor structures during turbulent weather late in the year. The lakeshore attracts residents and visitors who may not be aware of the powerful impacts strong winds and storms can bring to shorelines and harbor structures. “Although breakwater structures are built for navigation, they are often used for recreation,” said Chief of Operations and Maintenance Branch, Cindy Jarema. “Walking along breakwater structures can be hazardous – surfaces may be slippery and uneven, and wave action increases the risk of injury or falling into the water.”

27 Sep 2023

Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center celebrates 50 years

DULUTH, Minn. – The Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center in Duluth, Minnesota celebrates 50 years with an event Thursday, September 28 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center and the Lake Superior Marine Museum Association will host a celebration with refreshments, a look back at the history of the Visitor Center including photos, old park ranger uniforms and some rarely-before-seen artifacts from the collection.

15 Sep 2023

Army Corps to keep Crooked River Lock in Alanson closed to complete repairs

The Crooked River Lock in Alanson, Michigan will remain closed for the remainder of the season to perform critical maintenance this fall. This decision was made Thursday, September 14, 2023 between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District (USACE) and Emmet County leadership for the safety of the public. Replacement parts for a faulty safety relay allowing the lock to reliably open and close remain on backorder. The Detroit District, in conjunction with Emmet County, which operates the lock under an agreement with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, decided Thursday to close the lock early for the season for safety of the public, and to conduct a thorough inspection and development of a robust repair plan to prevent unscheduled 2024 closures.