16 Jul 2024

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District Changes Command

Lt. Col. Wallace W. Bandeff assumed command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Detroit District from Lt. Col. Brett Boyle during a Change of Command ceremony at The War Memorial in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, July 16.

19 Jul 2022

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District welcomes new commander

DETROIT – Lt. Col. Brett Boyle assumed command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, today, in a Change of Command ceremony rich with symbolism and heritage. Boyle comes to Detroit after serving as a Chief Observer, Coach, and Trainer for the Protection Warfighting Function, at the Army’s Mission Command Training Program, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The district is responsible for an area which includes all of Michigan and parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Indiana – with 3,200 miles of Great Lakes shoreline. Along with the New Lock at the Soo project, the district maintains 81 federal navigation projects including the channels joining lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, St. Clair and Erie. Much of this work is carried out through offices located in Detroit, Duluth, Minnesota, Grand Haven, Michigan and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

26 May 2022

Corps of Engineers to replenish Michigan’s eroding beaches

DETROIT- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will use western Michigan harbor dredge material to nourish and replenish Lake Michigan beaches from recent high water level erosion. “Nourishing beaches using shoaled sand into these harbors rather than trucking in new material is very functional and cost effective,” said Grand Haven Resident Engineer Elizabeth Newell Wilkinson. “It allows for both dredging and beach nourishment.” The Corps of Engineers sampled and analyzed the harbor dredged material to determine if it is suitable for beneficial reuse as nearshore nourishment material. The sampling results indicate the proposed outer harbor dredge material is suitable for beneficial reuse as nourishment material. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) issued Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certifications for these projects.

2 Dec 2021

MacArthur Lock closing for seasonal repair, maintenance

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich., - The Soo Locks’ MacArthur Lock will close to marine traffic 7:00 a.m. Dec. 15, 2021 through 12:01 a.m. April 30, 2022 to perform critical maintenance. The Poe Lock will remain open until 11:59 p.m. Jan. 15, 2022 or until commercial traffic ceases, whichever occurs first. The operating season is fixed by federal regulation and is driven in part by vessel operation ability in typical ice conditions. “The 800-foot-long MacArthur Lock, built in 1943, is 78 years old; the maintenance period is critical to keeping the lock in operation during the shipping season,” Maintenance Branch Chief LeighAnn Ryckeghem said.

20 Apr 2021

New Lock at the Soo 2021 construction begins

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich., —The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New Lock at the Soo project is on schedule as construction resumes on phase one and is initiated on phase two this week. Trade West Construction, Inc., and joint venture Kokosing-Alberici began moving equipment to the site the week of April 12 and 19. Trade West continues phase one, deepening the upstream channel to the Sabin and Davis Locks, which will be replaced by the new lock. USACE officials expect phase one completion in November 2021. Kokosing-Alberici is starting phase two this year, rehabilitating the upstream approach walls. This will stabilize the existing approach walls allowing modern vessels to tie up and wait their turn to pass through the new lock. Phase two should be complete by fall 2023, with winter seasonal breaks.