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.

26 Aug 2023

Army Corps working to restore Crooked River Lock in Alanson, Michigan

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District (USACE) is working to restore operations to the Crooked River Lock in Alanson, after an electrical malfunction the evening of Thursday, Aug. 24, caused the lock to be shutdown to recreational boat traffic. Replacement parts for an obsolete safety module are expected by Sept. 15 to restore the lock to full functioning capability. Boaters will not be able to navigate between Crooked River and Crooked Lake during this time

12 Jul 2023

Detroit District accepting entries for annual photo contest

DETROIT- The Detroit District invites photographers to enter its 8th annual photo contest highlighting U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sites across the Great Lakes. The top 12 photographs highlighting Detroit District Great Lakes projects such as the Soo Locks, Duluth Ship Canal, piers, breakwaters or federal channels and harbors will earn a spot in the 2024 downloadable calendar. The entry deadline is 11:59 p.m. July 21, with winners determined by social media vote. The Soo Locks Visitors Center Association will award the top three photographers a plaque featuring their photo.

12 Jul 2023

Corps of Engineers begins structure maintenance in Charlevoix

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District will begin planned maintenance work in the navigation channel in Charlevoix, Michigan this month to replace deteriorating timber fenders along the channel revetments. The repairs are funded through a Fiscal Year 2023 Work Plan budget package of $530,000 and will be used to replace 1,100 feet of timber fenders along the north and south channel revetment walls. The timber fenders protect the structures from vessel impact. The existing weathered timber fenders along the revetments are beyond their design life and require replacement.

11 Jul 2023

U.S. Army Corps resumes Grand Haven dredging with additional E.coli testing

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District (USACE) will resume dredging in Grand Haven Harbor on Wednesday, July 12, with additional testing for E. Coli and safety measures. King Co. Inc., under an Army Corps contract, will dredge the remaining 35,000 of 141,000 cubic yards of sediment contracted to be removed from the outer harbor in Grand Haven to keep the commercial channel navigable throughout the remainder of the year. The Army Corps paused dredging at the location Friday, July 7, out of an abundance of caution after the Ottawa County Health Department issued a “no body contact” warning because of high concentrations of E. coli at North Park Beach in Ferrysburg. The remaining dredging will take about seven days to complete, weather dependent

7 Jul 2023

U.S. Army Corps pauses Grand Haven dredging in response to E.coli concerns

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District (USACE) is pausing dredging in Grand Haven, Michigan in response to Ottawa County Health Department’s “no-contact order” for North Park Beach after preliminary testing found E.coli concentrations in the area. Dredging will be paused in the area until testing results show the E.coli levels have naturally dissipated. Holland-based King Co. Inc., under an Army Corps contract, is currently dredging in Grand Haven Harbor to remove 141,000 cubic yards of sediment from the Grand Haven Harbor federal navigation channel. The dredging was expected to be completed in mid to late July. The material is being placed at an area north of the harbor, which includes the shoreline at Ottawa County North Beach Park, in accordance with a water quality certificate issued by Michigan Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).

5 Jul 2023

Crooked River Lock restored to full operation

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District (USACE) fully restored operations Wednesday morning, July 5, to the Crooked River Lock in Alanson, Michigan. Specialized lock and dam maintainers from the Soo Locks arrived Monday evening to respond to concerns about the lower lock gate not opening when a brake malfunctioned and seized, not allowing the gate to move, shutting down the lock ahead of the popular boating July 4th holiday. Emmet County operates the USACE-owned lock through partnerships with the Corps of Engineers and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The Crooked River Lock ensures water levels are maintained through the Inland Waterway system, providing recreational boating opportunities for thousands of Northern Michigan residents each year. The locks perform about 10,000 lockages per year.

22 Jun 2023

Corps of Engineers to begin dredging, beach nourishment in South Haven

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District will begin hydraulically dredging the federal navigation channel and nourishing the South Haven Harbor shoreline next week. In coordination with the City of South Haven, the Corps of Engineers will dredge 57,300 cubic yards of material from the Black River Federal Channel. The tested-safe material will then be placed on South Haven’s public South Beach from the South Pier and extending 1,900 feet southward for beach nourishment.

9 Jun 2023

Dredging in Grand Haven targeting mid-July completion

Detroit -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District (USACE) is currently utilizing 24-hour dredging in Grand Haven, Michigan during favorable weather to remove shoaling blocking Grand Haven Harbor from commercial traffic. The project is expected to be completed in mid-July. Severe weather and minimal ice cover during the winter led to increased shoaling in several harbors on Lake Michigan this year, blocking large commercial vessel traffic. Grand River commercial docks are struggling to receive shipments due to the unexpected shoaling. The King Co., Inc. of Holland, Michigan is on-site and contracted to clear 141,000 cubic yards of sand from the federal channel at Grand Haven, just beyond the pierheads. The material will be placed 7,000 to 10,000 feet north of the north pier onto the beach and into the nearshore area between the Ordinary High-Water Mark (OHWM) and the most-landward 12 feet depth contour in the lake. The placement area borders the Ottawa County North Beach Park and several properties along North Shore Drive. The contract, awarded Feb. 28, required the work to begin in Holland and Grand Haven harbors when the weather allowed in the spring using hydraulic dredging for speed and cost. Unusually windy and wavy conditions during March and April delayed dredging work in Holland. 

9 Jun 2023

New Lock at the Soo major construction continues

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New Lock at the Soo project remains on schedule as major construction continues with phases 2 and 3 this season. Joint ventures Kokosing-Alberici (Upstream Approach Walls, Phase 2), and Kokosing, Alberici, Traylor (New Lock, Phase 3) have a busy construction season ahead of them. “Since resuming major construction this season, the Phase 2 contractor has placed 13 concrete caps, bringing the total caps placed to 68 and preparation for placement of new steel sheets, steel posts and concrete panel wall are in progress,” New Lock Senior Project Manager Mollie Mahoney said. “The Phase 3 contractor plans to focus on demolition of aging structures, extensive electrical work, bridge construction, and coffer dam construction to allow for dewatering.”