Great Lakes Dredging Team

Buffalo, Chicago, and Detroit Districts
Published Feb. 8, 2024
Updated: Nov. 5, 2024

A red crane drops dredged sediment in a scow floating on a river channel.
A dredging vessel crane fills a barge with material pulled from the bottom of the Cuyahoga River while performing maintenance dredging, Cleveland, Ohio, Nov. 15, 2023. USACE’s Civil Works mission - including dredging - provides a key foundational component of the nation’s public infrastructure that facilitates economic growth, quality of life, environmental health and national security for the American people. (U.S. Army photo by Dave Bala)
A red crane drops dredged sediment in a scow floating on a river channel.
231114-A-A1409-1005
A dredging vessel crane fills a barge with material pulled from the bottom of the Cuyahoga River while performing maintenance dredging, Cleveland, Ohio, Nov. 15, 2023. USACE’s Civil Works mission - including dredging - provides a key foundational component of the nation’s public infrastructure that facilitates economic growth, quality of life, environmental health and national security for the American people. (U.S. Army photo by Dave Bala)
Photo By: Andre Hampton
VIRIN: 231114-A-A1409-1005

Our Mission

The Great Lakes Dredging Team (GLDT) provides a forum for the exchange of information regarding best practices, lessons learned, innovative solutions, and sustainable approaches to dredging and dredge material management throughout the Great Lakes region.

About the GLDT

The GLDT is not an advisory body. Its purpose is not to furnish advice to the federal government and the organization does not operate in any official capacity to oversee or direct the federal government. The purpose of the GLDT is to foster an exchange of information among participants regarding various aspects of the dredging process and dredged material management.

Information exchanged via the GLDT assists the U.S Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in implementing the USACE Environmental Operating Principles, which were developed to ensure USACE missions include integrated sustainable environmental practices. These principles direct USACE to:

  • Foster sustainability as a way of life throughout the organization.
  • Proactively consider environmental consequences of all Corps activities and act accordingly.
  • Create mutually supporting economic and environmentally sustainable solutions.
  • Continue to meet corporate responsibility and accountability under the law for activities undertaken by the agency which may impact human and natural environments.
  • Consider the environment in employing a risk management and systems approach throughout the life cycles of projects and programs.
  • Leverage scientific, economic, and social knowledge to understand the environmental context and effects of Corps actions in a collaborative manner.
  • Employ an open, transparent process that respects views of individuals and groups interested in Corps activities.

 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractor, The King Co., Inc. conducts maintenance dredging at Holland Harbor in Michigan May 2022.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractor, The King Co., Inc. conducts maintenance dredging at Holland Harbor in Michigan May 2022.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractor, The King Co., Inc. conducts maintenance dredging at Holland Harbor in Michigan May 2022.
Corps of Engineers to replenish Michigan’s eroding beaches
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractor, The King Co., Inc. conducts maintenance dredging at Holland Harbor in Michigan May 2022.
Photo By: Emily Schaefer
VIRIN: 220513-A-CE999-1001
The Great Lakes Dredging Team (GLDT) provides a forum for information exchange among organizations interested in dredging and dredged material management. Participation in team activities is voluntary and open to the public. The GLDT strives to be inclusive and broad participation by diverse stakeholder organizations is key to the strong functioning of the team. The GLDT member entities include federal, state, and local governmental agencies:

Federal Agencies:
  • Department of Defense/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)
  • Department of the Interior/U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS)
  • Department of the Interior/United States Geological Survey (USGS)
  • Department of Transportation/Maritime Administration (MARAD)
  • Department of Agriculture/Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
  • Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
  • Department of Homeland Security & U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
State Agencies (representing resource management, environmental protection, and transportation functions):
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • New York
  • Ohio
  • Pennsylvania
  • Wisconsin
  • Great Lakes Commission
Municipal Agencies:
  • Great Lakes port authorities
Interested stakeholders who may participate in the meetings include:
  • Great Lakes Fishery Commission
  • Northeast-Midwest Institute
  • Academic interests (Sea Grants and universities)
  • Trade associations and business groups (Lake Carriers’ Association, dredging companies, engineering firms, etc.)
  • There is an outstanding open invitation for any interested entity or member of the public to participate in meetings of the GLDT.

The GLDT generally holds two primary events a year, a face-to-face meeting, and another virtual meeting via webinar. The face-to-face meeting is traditionally held in the spring and the webinar is traditionally held in the fall. The annual meeting and webinars are open to the public.

The activities of the GLDT consist of gathering information about best practices and lessons learned regarding dredged material management from practitioners inside and outside of the Great Lakes basin. This involves identifying published guidance documents as well as soliciting expert advice from those with experience on innovative or novel approaches to dredged material management.

Committees

The GLDT is organized by only governmental (federal, state, and local municipal) agencies. Committee members are only federal, state, or municipal staff. The three GLDT committees (Organizing Committee, Technical Committee, and Outreach Committee) work together in locating this input and bringing it forth to the larger GLDT via webinars and meetings which are open to the public for participation.

An Organizing Committee has been established to provide administrative, coordinative, and oversight functions for the GLDT. The organizing committee typically meets via conference call every 4 to 8 weeks.

The Technical and Outreach Committees work together to accomplish the mission of the GLDT in identifying, soliciting, and disseminating information regarding local and regional technical and institutional dredging issues. These committees provide a forum for expressing and understanding the perspectives of the various stakeholders regarding dredging issues, with the goal of enabling the sustainable maintenance of the Great Lakes Navigation System. The goal of the two committees is not to obtain consensus among members and stakeholders, but openly exchange information regarding dredging and dredged material management, including input from stakeholders and the public. These two committees hold conference calls and webinars on an ad hoc basis; these calls and webinars are always open to the general public.

The Technical Committee is comprised of dredged material practitioners who have technical expertise and/or experience with actual operations involving navigation dredging and dredged material management both inside and outside of the GLNS. They are a source of information regarding best management practices for dredging operations and handling of dredged material. Click here to view the Technical Committee Workplan.

The Outreach Committee acts as a clearing house for distribution of member-created products and information pertaining to dredging and dredging-related activities to communicate to broad and diverse groups who have an interest in maintenance of the GLNS. In addition, they obtain, organize, and provide information internally in a timely manner to ensure maximum transparency. Their relationships and communication skills support Outreach Committee activities.

Participants of the organizing committee, and leadership (chairs) of the technical and outreach committees are decided by a nomination process and mutual agreement among existing organizing committee participants. Committee chairs will provide leadership for a 2-year period beginning at the annual spring face-to-face meeting. Leadership terms may be repeated.

Mechanical dredging operations on the Buffalo River
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District contractor Ryba Marine Construction Co. dredges the Buffalo Harbor in Buffalo, NY, September 23, 2020. Dredging of harbors like Buffalo’s ensures accessible depths for large vessels, the continued flow of commodities across the Great Lakes, and the economic viability of United States waterways. (U.S. Army Photo by Jess Levenson)
Mechanical dredging operations on the Buffalo River
Buffalo River dredging, Fall 2020
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District contractor Ryba Marine Construction Co. dredges the Buffalo Harbor in Buffalo, NY, September 23, 2020. Dredging of harbors like Buffalo’s ensures accessible depths for large vessels, the continued flow of commodities across the Great Lakes, and the economic viability of United States waterways. (U.S. Army Photo by Jess Levenson)
Photo By: Jess Levenson
VIRIN: 200923-A-PG036-001

Grey stone on a metal barge
Stone sits on a barge, waiting to be placed in the Ashtabula Harbor as part of a submerged stone wall in creation of a beneficial use of dredged sediment placemeent area in Ashtabula, Ohio, October 14. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District and its contractor, Michigan-based Great Lakes Docks and Materials, L.L.C. completed substantial construction of the area in October 2021. (U.S. Army Photo by Joseph Kolat)
Grey stone on a metal barge
Ashtabula 204 Beneficial Use of Dredged Material Project
Stone sits on a barge, waiting to be placed in the Ashtabula Harbor as part of a submerged stone wall in creation of a beneficial use of dredged sediment placemeent area in Ashtabula, Ohio, October 14. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District and its contractor, Michigan-based Great Lakes Docks and Materials, L.L.C. completed substantial construction of the area in October 2021. (U.S. Army Photo by Joseph Kolat)
Photo By: Joseph Kolat
VIRIN: 211014-A-A1409-006
Dredging, Dredged Material Management, and Beneficial Use of Dredged Material Management
Ecological Impacts and Environmental Windows
Open water and Nearshore Placement
Sediment Quality and Characterization
Sediment Remediation
Sediment and Watershed Management
A tug boat next to construction equipment on water.
Stone is placed in the Ashtabula Harbor as part of a submerged stone wall in creation of a beneficial use of dredged sediment placemeent area in Ashtabula, Ohio, October 7. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District and its contractor, Michigan-based Great Lakes Docks and Materials, L.L.C. completed substantial construction of the area in October 2021. (U.S. Army Photo by Joseph Kolat)
A tug boat next to construction equipment on water.
Ashtabula 204 Beneficial Use of Dredged Material Project
Stone is placed in the Ashtabula Harbor as part of a submerged stone wall in creation of a beneficial use of dredged sediment placemeent area in Ashtabula, Ohio, October 7. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District and its contractor, Michigan-based Great Lakes Docks and Materials, L.L.C. completed substantial construction of the area in October 2021. (U.S. Army Photo by Joseph Kolat)
Photo By: Joseph Kolat
VIRIN: 211007-A-A1409-007
Great Lakes Dredging Team Meeting, Sept. 24-25, 2024, Erie, Pn.
Great Lakes Dredging Team Meeting, Sept. 6-7, 2023, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
Great Lakes Dredging Team Informational Webinar, March 16, 2023
Great Lakes Dredging Team Meeting, Sept. 14-15, 2022, Milwaukee, Wis.
Great Lakes Dredging Team Informational Webinar, Feb. 9, 2022

If you are looking for or interested in a presentation from 2021 or previous years, please reach out to the Great Lakes Dredging Team at GLDT@usace.army.mil to request a copy.

A tugboat and construction equipment on water.
Stone is placed in the Ashtabula Harbor as part of a submerged stone wall in creation of a beneficial use of dredged sediment placemeent area in Ashtabula, Ohio, August 13. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District and its contractor, Michigan-based Great Lakes Docks and Materials, L.L.C. completed substantial construction of the area in October 2021. (U.S. Army Photo by Joseph Kolat)
A tugboat and construction equipment on water.
Ashtabula 204 Beneficial Use of Dredged Material Project
Stone is placed in the Ashtabula Harbor as part of a submerged stone wall in creation of a beneficial use of dredged sediment placemeent area in Ashtabula, Ohio, August 13. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District and its contractor, Michigan-based Great Lakes Docks and Materials, L.L.C. completed substantial construction of the area in October 2021. (U.S. Army Photo by Joseph Kolat)
Photo By: Joseph Kolat
VIRIN: 210813-A-A1409-002
This section contains resources provided on behalf of the Lake Ontario Regional Dredging Council by the Niagara-Orleans Regional Alliance representatives Lynne M. Johnson and David E. Godfrey of the Orleans and Niagara County New York legislatures, respectively. These documents support the Small Harbor Shared Dredging Management presentation which they gave to the Great Lakes Dredging Team (GLDT) on March 16, 2023. If you have questions about these resources for shallow draft or recreational harbors, please reach out to them directly using the contact information provided in their presentation.

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Sept. 2024: GLDT Annual Meeting Materials and Resources
Resources from the Great Lakes Dredging Team annual meeting held in Erie, Pennsylvania, September 24-15, 2024...