Posted on September 18, 2025
DETROIT — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District will dredge the Manistee Harbor federal channel to ensure safe navigation as early as Sunday, Sept. 21 — weather dependent.
The maintenance project will remove seasonal shoaling at the mouth of the channel, which impacts commercial traffic when left unaddressed.
Dredged sediment – State certified for placement along the shoreline — will be transported through a submerged pipeline about a half mile south of the Manistee South Pier. The material will be placed with a floating pontoon at the 4–12-foot bottom contour of the lake to allow natural wave action to renourish erosion points, while also minimizing interruption to beachgoers.
“Manistee Harbor has seen significant shoaling from weather events in recent years, necessitating the Corps of Engineers to dredge the harbor more frequently for large vessel traffic,” said Liz Newell Wilkinson, Grand Haven Office operations manager. “We thank the Manistee community leaders and public for their support in keeping our dredging operations safe and on schedule.”
Manistee is a significant receiving port on Lake Michigan, generating approximately $22 million in annual business revenue and $7 million in labor income for the transportation sector. The federal channel also serves as a harbor of refuge and home to the U.S. Coast Guard Station Manistee.
The public is asked to observe all posted signs, avoid the dredge pipeline, discharge pontoon and supporting vessels working in the area. The discharge in the nearshore creates dynamic hydraulic and lake bottom conditions and should be avoided.
Recreational boaters are asked to follow guidance from the Notices and Broadcasts to Mariners and avoid areas where orange buoys mark the pipeline every 500 feet. Yellow illuminated pontoons will mark each end.
King Co., based in Holland, Michigan, was awarded the $699,225.00 project to dredge 36,400 cubic yards of shoaling. Dredging is scheduled to be completed before Nov. 4.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, maintains a navigation system of 81 harbors and channels joining lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, St. Clair and Erie.
To learn more about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District visit: https://www.lrd.usace.army.mil/.
