Posted on May 14, 2025
ST. JOSEPH, MI — Hydraulic dredging will begin at the outer St. Joseph Harbor on Tuesday, May 13.
Boaters are asked to avoid the area while the work is being conducted.
Work is anticipated to be completed by Friday, May 23, if all goes according to schedule, said officials from the U.S. Corps of Engineers, Detroit District.
The purpose of dredging is to remove sediment caused by seasonal shoaling to help avoid interruptions to the commercial shipping season.
The work is part of a $1.5 million three-harbor contract with Holland-based King Co. Inc., that also includes the dredging of the outer Holland and Grand Haven harbors. Work in Holland concluded last week.
“St. Joseph Harbor is an important commercial harbor for shipping in West Michigan that historically has seen seasonal shoaling from weather events,” said Liz Newell Wilkinson, operations manager at the Grand Haven Office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is part of the Detroit District.
Wilkinson said early surveys show the harbor is in relatively good condition following the winter months.
If the sediment is too high and ships cannot enter the harbor carrying their maximum load, they are forced to take less freight, however.
To clear the shoal from the harbor, the U.S. Corps of Army Engineers will pump sediment through a temporary pipeline. The sediment will then be beneficially reused and placed at depth of about four feet deep along the shoreline south of the harbor starting at Park Street.
About 22,000 cubic yards of sediment is scheduled to be dredged.
In addition to dredging the harbor, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will monitor the dredging and placement in 2025 and 2026 to help identify ways to improve beach nourishment, officials said.
Monitoring includes looking at turbidity and cloudiness of the water by using several small orange buoys along the harbor. An underwater autonomous vehicle submarine drone will measure conditions in the water and an aerial drone will take photos of the work.
Boaters should avoid the dredge, pipeline, discharge pontoon and supporting vessels. Broadcast notices will also be issued for mariners.
Public beaches will remain open during placement as the material will be placed along the shoreline near private property.
However, the public will not be able to walk along the shoreline between Silver Beach and Lyons Park during active dredging due to safety concerns.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy previously approved a water quality certification for sediment to be placed in the area with a Section 401 water quality certification.
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.
