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.”

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.”

1 Mar 2023

Detroit District infrastructure grows $104 million stronger from FY23 Work Plan

DETROIT – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, is receiving $37 million in the Fiscal Year 2023 Work Plan for operations and maintenance (O&M) of Detroit District river and harbor projects, $67 million for construction projects and $370 thousand to conduct investigations. The FY23 Work Plan funding is in addition to the $127 million in the FY23 Appropriation Bill and $254 million in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding allocated in FY23. “This is an exciting opportunity for the Detroit District team to provide solutions to our regional infrastructure,” said Detroit District Commander Lt. Col. Brett Boyle. “Repairing, maintaining and improving our federal harbors and infrastructure is essential to bring resiliency to our communities, our economy and the environment. I know the Detroit District team and our partners are ready to deliver these historic investments!"

18 Nov 2022

Corps of Engineers expedites St. Joseph Harbor dredging after vessel touches bottom

DETROIT – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District awards $1.3 million dredging contract to King Co., Inc, of Holland, Michigan Nov. 17 to dredge St. Joseph Harbor. Shoaling at the St. Joseph Harbor caused a vessel to touch bottom near the north side of the harbor entrance in October. Survey crews from the Detroit District’s Grand Haven Resident Office surveyed the outer harbor October 21. “The survey indicated a significant shoal of up to 10 feet from the north side of the outer navigation channel through the center of the channel,” Elizabeth Wilkinson, Grand Haven Resident Engineer said. “The channel is restricted but was not closed to navigation traffic.”

23 Aug 2022

Corps of Engineers schedules Enbridge Line 5 EIS public meetings

DETROIT– The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is hosting three public scoping meetings for Enbridge’s Line 5 Pipeline Tunnel project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) scoping process. The EIS’s 60-day scoping process began August 15 with the Notice of Intent (NOI) publishing in the Federal Register. Tribal Nations, agencies, communities, organizations, citizens and other stakeholders can provide input through October 14, 2022 via mail, through the project website or at the in-person or virtual public meetings as follows: • Sept. 1, 2022, 5-8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (Virtual): https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83590131384 or by phone 309-205-3325 using Webinar ID: 835 9013 1384 • Sept. 8, 2022, 3-8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (In-Person) at the Little Bear Arena, 275 Marquette Street in Saint Ignace, Michigan 49781 • Oct. 6, 2022, 1-4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (Virtual): https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82961743672 or by phone 309-205-3325 using Webinar ID: 829 6174 3672

18 Aug 2022

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

DETROIT- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will place South Haven harbor dredge material near-shore to nourish South Beach starting next week. Sampling results confirm the proposed outer harbor dredge material is suitable for beneficial reuse as nourishment material. About 18,000 cubic yards of material from the federal navigation channel will be placed south of the South Pier in South Haven, Michigan. “We understand the eroded area in front of the water treatment plant may seem the logical placement site, however, we do not have National Environmental Policy Act approval to place there this year,” said Elizabeth Newell Wilkinson Grand Haven Resident Engineer. “We are hard at work on the required Environmental Assessment to evaluate whether or not we will be able to place material there next year and are hopeful in the results.”

15 Aug 2022

Corps of Engineers begins Line 5 tunnel EIS scoping process

DETROIT– The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is beginning the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline tunnel project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) scoping process with the Notice of Intent (NOI) publishing in the Federal Register today. The NOI informs the public of the upcoming environmental analysis and describes how the public can become involved in the EIS process for the Enbridge’s Line 5 Pipeline Tunnel project proposal to cross the Straits of Mackinac in Lake Michigan. “The Notice of Intent starts the scoping process, the 60-day period in which the Corps of Engineers solicits Tribal Nation, agency and public input to help define the range of issues and potential alternatives the EIS should address,” said Detroit District Commander Lt. Col. Brett Boyle. “The Corps of Engineers will ensure all voices are heard in an open, transparent and public EIS process.”