Posted on August 27, 2025
U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten announced that the dredging project will move forward following months of delays because of new sediment testing requirements.
GRAND HAVEN, Mich. — Dredging of the Grand Haven Inner Harbor is set to begin soon, following the awarding of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) contract after months of delays.
There were plans to begin the dredging in the summer of this year, U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-Michigan) said in a release, but new sediment testing requirements by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) delayed the process.
Rep. Scholten said she has been advocating for the project to move forward since January, and was working with the Whitmer Administration, USACE and EGLE to ensure that the project happened in 2025. She said that EGLE’s new testing requirements were finalized just weeks before the dredging was supposed to begin.
“Nature sets dredging schedules–not the government. The Grand Haven Inner Harbor dredging project has been delayed for far too long, and I am thrilled to see that it is finally moving forward,” said Rep. Scholten. “By acting now, we are ensuring that our state doesn’t lose out on critical federal funding or risk Grand Haven becoming unnavigable. I will continue working closely with EGLE and Governor Whitmer’s team to make sure this project is completed on schedule.”
In the release, Rep. Scholten warned that delaying the dredging project could have serious consequences for the economy of Grand Haven and West Michigan as a whole. She said the harbor supports over 450 jobs and generates $88.8 million annually in regional economic impact, and warns that missing a dredging cycle could have increased shipping costs by 25 to 30%.
“We sincerely thank Congresswoman Scholten and her team for their steadfast support in helping the City of Grand Haven work collaboratively with EGLE and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to advance necessary inner harbor dredging. Her leadership has been instrumental in ensuring this critical work moves forward while continuing to prioritize and protect our community’s environmental values. Inner harbor dredging is vital to Grand Haven’s economic vitality, supporting commercial navigation, local businesses, and the long-term sustainability of our waterfront economy,” said Grand Haven City Manager Ashley Latsch.
The dredging is set to begin this fall, but no exact date was given.
