Posted on May 23, 2025
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced dredging and other projects for Manistee, Ludington and Pentwater totaling more than $8 million.
The USACE the it has allocated $2.2 million for operations and maintenance of the Pentwater Harbor in its Fiscal Year 2025 Work Plan, according to a press release from Congressman John Moolenaar’s office.
“The Army Corps of Engineers FY25 Work Plan is wonderful news for our state, especially the communities like Pentwater on the shores of Lake Michigan. The Pentwater Harbor is a vital asset to the community, providing reliable access to Lake Michigan for thousands of residents and visitors. This crucial funding will help ensure the Pentwater channel is properly maintained to allow for continued access to the Pentwater Harbor,” said Moolenaar.
“We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Congressman John Moolenaar for his strong advocacy on behalf of Pentwater Harbor in Washington, D.C. that helped secure this funding and brought to light the importance of recreational harbors. We would also like to thank Senator John Busmstead and Representative Curt VanderWall, for their continued support and leadership at the state level,” said Pentwater Village Manager, Rachel Witherspoon, as quoted in the release. “We also want to thank the Pentwater community for their unwavering dedication to the harbor. Your commitment, engagement, and persistent efforts to raise awareness about the importance of recreational harbors like ours have made a significant impact and helped bring national attention to our needs.”
Witherspoon continued, “The USACE has long been a valued partner to the Village of Pentwater, and we look forward to continuing that partnership as we move forward with this project in the coming months. Together, and with this investment, we will work toward ensuring that Pentwater Harbor remains a vital and vibrant part of our community for generations to come.”
“We provide world-class recreational opportunities for tens of thousands of locals and visitors each year to experience a classic ‘Pure Michigan’ getaway. The health and viability of our channel is critical to our entire community,” said Mary Marshall, Pentwater Village Council President.
Currently, the Pentwater channel is at dangerously low water levels, risking damage to vessels attempting to navigating it which limits current access to Pentwater Harbor. The dredging project would prevent a closure of the channel, according to the Congressman’s release.
Pentwater will receive $2.218 million for the project with the funds allocated for dredging, assessments and critical structure safety maintenance according to the work summary included on the FY2025 Work Plan from the ACOE.
Ludington Harbor will benefit from funding totaling $2.078 million, as listed in the work plan. These funds will be used for dredging, assessments, and beach nourishment as well as other routine work.Ludington Harbor is a busy harbor, as home to the S.S. Badger and several industries that rely on the delivery of products used in their operations via maritime shipping.
Manistee Harbor has been allocated $3.997 million. These funds will be used for specific projects within the harbor, such as assessments, sediment sampling, and government fleet maintenance to South Breakwater and the Manistee Harbor North revetment. Revetment refers to repair and maintenance on structures such as seawalls and other structures along the waters edge.
The USACE Detroit District announced plans to dredge approximately 33,000 cubic yards of sediment from Manistee Harbor to address shoaling that impedes deep-draft commercial vessels. The dredging is scheduled to commence on June 27, 2025, under a $581,000 contract awarded to King Company of Holland, Michigan. Funding for this project is sourced from the Fiscal Year 2022 President’s Budget.
