Great Lakes and Ohio River Division News Releases

Buffalo Harbor Dredging Starting; Supports Safe Navigation, the Economy and Future Great Lakes Coastal Wetland

Press Operations — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 13:24:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District, will begin dredging operations in Buffalo Harbor to maintain safe and navigable waterways for Great Lakes commercial vessels, cruise ships, recreational boaters and other harbor users on Lake Erie. The Buffalo District awarded a $2.3 million contract in April 2026 to Michigan-based Ryba Marine Construction Co. to complete the work. Dredging operations are expected to start as early as July 18 and will contribute to the creation of a new Great Lakes wetland in Buffalo’s outer harbor.

Corps of Engineers Continues Critical Repairs to Bird Island Pier

Press Operations — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 18:35:00 GMT

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District has awarded Great Lakes Dock and Marine and Ryba Marine Construction Co. for repairs to the Bird Island Pier along the Niagara River, totaling $15.52 million, ensuring safe navigation, a strong regional economy, and protection of the City of Buffalo’s main drinking water source.

Repair Work Continues on Dunkirk Breakwater

Press Operations — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 11:41:03 GMT

The Dunkirk outer breakwater rehabilitation project continues this summer as the first phase of repairs nears completion. The breakwater is critical to safe navigation in Dunkirk Harbor and has sustained damage from years of wave and ice exposure. The first phase of repairs fixed approximately 1,850 feet of the structure, with a second phase ongoing now through November 2026 to repair the remaining 450 feet.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District Welcomes New Commander

Press Operations — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 18:06:43 GMT

Lt. Col. Aaron Anderson, a Muskegon, Michigan native and a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, assumed command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District on June 26. Anderson will lead the district's more than 300 team members, responsible for projects in 35 commercial and recreational Great Lakes harbors, environmental remediation of sites contaminated by the Manhattan Project, operation of the Mount Morris Dam and Recreation Area and the historic Black Rock Lock, as well as many other roles across more than 38,000 square miles.

Corps of Engineers, City of Buffalo, and Buffalo Sewer Authority Sign Agreement to Protect City’s Only Wastewater Treatment Facility

Press Operations — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 11:16:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District, the City of Buffalo, and the Buffalo Sewer

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 Rochester Harbor in 2026

Press Operations — Mon, 04 May 2026 14:46:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District awarded a $1.78 million contract to Michigan-based Ryba Marine Construction Co. on April 28th to conduct dredging of the federal navigation channel in Rochester Harbor this year. Dredging of harbors like Rochester’s ensures accessible depths for large vessels, the continued flow of commodities across the Great Lakes, and nearly $2.7 million in business revenue and labor income for the region.

USACE to host Shallow Land Disposal Area public information session

Press Operations — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:07:00 GMT

Pittsburgh and Buffalo districts’ staff will update the public on the project’s status, upcoming site activities, and other topics of public interest for the Shallow Land Disposal Area (SLDA) site such as safety, environmental testing, emergency response, and the start of physical excavation.

Corps of Engineers Beginning Critical Repairs in Lorain Harbor

Press Operations — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:36:00 GMT

Construction began this week on critical repairs to the Lorain Harbor’s West Breakwater. The 100% federally funded project is part of a multi-year, $20.5 million plan to ensure the harbor’s safety, viability and contributions to the local and national economy.

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.