Great Lakes and Ohio River Division News Releases

Corps of Engineers Awards $14.9M Contract to Repair Oswego Breakwaters

Press Operations — Mon, 11 May 2026 17:47:30 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District awarded a $14.9 million contract on April 30 to Michigan-based Dean Marine and Excavating for repairs to the Oswego Harbor West and East breakwaters, with plans to start construction this summer. This award advances a broader mission to strengthen and modernize breakwater infrastructure in Oswego Harbor with more than $50 million of federally funded and planned coastal resilience improvements, ensuring more than $28 million in annual business revenue and labor income for the Great Lakes region and the nation.

Corps of Engineers Awards Contract to Dredge Cleveland Harbor in 2026

Press Operations — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:34:57 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District awarded an $11.7 million contract to New York-based DMYLES, Inc. on April 9 to conduct dredging of the federal navigation channel in Cleveland Harbor twice this year. Dredging of harbors like Cleveland’s ensures accessible depths for large vessels, the continued flow of commodities across the Great Lakes, and nearly $789 million in business revenue and labor income for the region.

2026 Operations Schedule for Black Rock Lock

Press Operations — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 12:41:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Buffalo District is announcing the Black Rock Lock operations schedule for the 2026 navigation season. The Black Rock Lock is one of three lock systems operated and maintained by USACE on the U.S. side of the Great Lakes and saw more than 1,002 vessels and 80.2k tons of commerce pass through its gates in 2025.

Corps of Engineers Delivering Critical Repairs to Great Sodus Bay Breakwater

Press Operations — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 16:59:00 GMT

Final work is getting underway this week on critical repairs to the Great Sodus Bay East Breakwater. The 100% federally funded project is part of a two-year, $6.7 million project, ensuring the harbor’s viability and its contributions to the local and national economy, as well as protection of some of the area’s best waterfront opportunities.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers seeks public comments on potential future changes to the nationwide permits

Press Operations — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:02:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced on March 16 that it is seeking input from all interested parties on ways to increase the efficiency of the nationwide permit program. Nationwide permits authorize activities that are similar in nature and cause no more than minimal adverse environmental impacts to jurisdictional aquatic resources separately or on a cumulative basis. Activities range from work associated with aids to navigation and utility lines to residential developments and maintenance activities.

Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works announces ‘Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork’ initiative for the Army’s Civil Works program

Press Operations — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 17:33:00 GMT

Today, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam R. Telle announced a major initiative, “Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork,” for the Army’s Civil Works program. “Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork” will provide greater focus on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) core Civil Works missions, while minimizing non-core programs, direct funding to priority water resources projects that will provide the greatest benefits to the nation, shorten permitting timelines, and reduce or eliminate extraneous regulations and paperwork that slow USACE’s delivery of Civil Works projects and programs.

FUSRAP Seaway Site Five-Year Review of Selected Remedy

Press Operations — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 13:40:15 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Buffalo District is performing a five-year review of the selected remedy for the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) Seaway Site, located within the 100-acre Seaway Industrial Park located along River Road in the Town of Tonawanda, New York. USACE, as the lead federal agency for FUSRAP, is responsible under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) to review the protectiveness of the selected remedy every five years following the start of remedial action.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announces publication of 2026 nationwide permits

Press Operations — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 17:40:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced today the publication of the 2026 nationwide permits in the Federal Register. The 56 reissued and one new nationwide permit in the final action are necessary for work in streams, wetlands and other waters of the United States under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announces finalization of nationwide permits

Press Operations — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 18:54:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it will reissue 56 existing nationwide permits and issue one new permit for work in wetlands and other waters that are regulated by Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and/or Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. One existing permit will not be reissued.

Corps of Engineers Investing $15.5M in Bird Island Pier and Buffalo Infrastructure

Press Operations — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 13:30:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District has awarded a $4.2 million contract to Michigan-based Ryba Marine Construction Co. for repairs to the Bird Island Pier along the Niagara River. The contract is part of $15.5 million in repairs to the pier, ensuring safe navigation, a strong regional economy, and protection of the City of Buffalo’s main drinking water source.

USACE Buffalo District receives additional funding to advance FUSRAP remediation efforts

Press Operations — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 19:12:36 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Buffalo District has received additional funding to advance efforts under the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) to protect the health and well-being of communities and the environment. “Like emergency preparedness and disaster response, cleanup of these contaminated sites is a crucial mission at which the Corps of Engineers truly excels. These funds will enable the Corps of Engineers to accelerate their work so they can continue to deliver results for impacted communities across the nation,” said Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle. As a result of cost recovery efforts under FUSRAP, the Buffalo District will receive $70.5 million to further remediation activities at five projects in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana.

Corps of Engineers Completes Critical Repairs to Erie North Pier

Press Operations — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 14:50:15 GMT

The Erie North Pier – a critical navigation structure and popular community recreation spot – has been fully repaired by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District. Repairs to the pier ensure ships carrying hundreds of thousands of tons of cargo as well as recreational boaters can safely travel between the Great Lakes and Erie Harbor, supporting nearly $43 million in business revenue and labor income across the region.

Corps of Engineers Working on Critical Repairs to Buffalo Breakwater

Press Operations — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 14:37:59 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is actively repairing the Buffalo South Breakwater, a vital structure for navigation in Buffalo Harbor that was severely damaged by winter weather in 2022 and 2023. The breakwater is essential to maintaining safe harbor access for commercial ships bringing more than $43 million in business revenue to the region and protecting recreational sites from Great Lakes waves and weather.

Corps of Engineers Completes Repairs to Deteriorated Cleveland West Pier

Press Operations — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 16:03:00 GMT

The Cleveland West Pier – a critical navigation structure and popular community recreation spot – has been fully repaired by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District. Repairs to the pier ensure ships carrying millions of tons of cargo and recreational boaters alike can safely travel between the Great Lakes and the Cuyahoga River and supports more than $550 million in the regional and national transportation sector.

Toledo Ohio Environmental Infrastructure Project Underway

Press Operations — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 19:51:08 GMT

The City of Toledo along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Buffalo District hosted a signing ceremony for the Project Partnership Agreement that will deliver the Toledo Ohio Environmental Infrastructure 594 project. The purpose of the Toledo OEI 594 project is to create the interconnect between the planned 1-billion-gallon reservoir and a replacement raw water main lines that supply water from Lake Erie to the Collins Park Water Treatment Plant, a project that is estimated to cost about $13 million and be constructed in 2029.

Corps of Engineers Updates Ohio Harbor Community with FY25-26 Dredging Newsletter

Press Operations — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 12:40:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District has published the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Ohio Dredging Newsletter to inform stakeholders and the public about the about the status of dredging of Lake Erie harbors and initiatives for the coming year. Dredging of harbors across Ohio ensures accessible depths for large vessels, the continued flow of commodities across the Great Lakes, and the economic viability of United States waterways.

Niagara Falls Storage Site Vicinity Property H Prime Remedial Investigation, Proposed Plan and Public Meeting

Press Operations — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 13:13:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District has completed a remedial investigation report and released the proposed plan for Niagara Falls Storage Site, Vicinity Property H Prime (VP-H’), located in the Town of Porter, Niagara County, New York. This proposed plan recommends no remedial action for NFSS VP-H’, a four-acre parcel that is currently owned by Chemical Waste Management (CWM), Inc.

Corps of Engineers and City of Oswego Celebrate Significant Breakwater Repairs

Press Operations — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 20:16:38 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District and their partners celebrated the completion of a multi-year repair of Oswego’s West Arrowhead Breakwater and the start of construction on its Outer West Breakwater. Breakwaters protect the Port of Oswego – the first U.S. port of call on the Great Lakes. Its strategic location puts it less than 350 miles from 60 million people and 750 miles from half of the U.S. and Canadian populations. The Port of Oswego is home to 14 companies that utilize the Port for domestic and international operations with a far-reaching economic impact.

Corps of Engineers Treating Invasive Hydrilla Across Western New York

Press Operations — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 20:23:09 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District is continuing efforts to combat the invasive aquatic plant hydrilla on two Western New York waterways this summer. Monitoring and treatment counters the highly aggressive, non-native plant and the severe ecological and economic threats it poses to local waterways and communities, particularly in the Great Lakes Basin.

Public Notice and Hearing: Micron Semiconductor Project

Press Operations — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 14:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will participate in a series of public hearings to receive oral