DETROIT -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District began significant maintenance to the Manistee Harbor federal channel Thursday, April 16.
The Corps of Engineers will place about 3,000 tons of stone to reduce wave energy and overtopping, as well as install new timber fenders along 1,800 feet of the North Revetment, near the U.S. Coast Guard Station Manistee. The work is expected to take about two months.
Manistee Harbor serves as a critical, deep-draft commercial shipping harbor and harbor of refuge for recreational boaters on Lake Michigan.
“Improving resiliency in Manistee has been a Corps of Engineers focus for the past several years, including annual dredging projects and now infrastructure maintenance,” said Liz Wilkinson, Operations manager for the Grand Haven Area Office. “Hardening structures with major stonework will protect the harbor for years to come and lowers its risk from unpredictable Great Lakes weather events.”
The improvements total about $1.98 million in funding from the Fiscal Year 2025 President’s Budget and Work Plan.
The Lake Michigan Floating Plant, assigned to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District, deployed last week to Manistee to perform the work. The crew and vessel specialize in large stone placement on the western Lake Michigan shore in Milwaukee and Chicago Harbors.
The project includes placing splash stones – to minimize wave action – along the North Revetment near the U.S. Coast Guard Station Manistee, scour stones – to prevent erosion below the structure – along the South Breakwater Connector, and armor stone – to protect the structure above the normal water surface – at the South Breakwater Head.
Damaged safety ladders and railings will also be replaced along the North Revetment.
During construction, the South Breakwater connector will be temporarily closed for several weeks during construction. The public is asked to follow posted signs and fencing around the construction area and Notices to Navigation while the floating plant is working in the channel area.
The Detroit District, established in 1841, encompasses 3,150 miles of shoreline and 81 harbors and channels joining lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, St. Clair and Erie. In addition, the district boundaries cover projects and regulatory oversight throughout the state of Michigan and portions of Indiana, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Release no. 26-038