Posted on January 8, 2025
HOLLAND — Would the area benefit from deepening Holland Harbor?
That’s exactly what a new study will explore, after funding was earmarked for research in a federal bill signed into law by President Joe Biden over the weekend.
Holland Harbor was one of several waterways in Southwest Michigan included in S.4367, the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024. The legislation gives authorization to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to “improve federally regulated water infrastructure across the nation.”
U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, who represents Southwest Michigan, advocated for the inclusion of local projects and released a statement Monday.
“I am glad to see these important measures to improve infrastructure … signed into law,” Huizenga wrote. “By authorizing studies for Battle Creek, Holland, Kalamazoo, and St. Joe, the Army Corps of Engineers can strengthen the local economy, enhance recreational opportunities, and take steps to mitigate and address urban flooding.”
In Holland, the act authorizes a study to “examine the navigational and economic benefits” of deepening the harbor.
Currently, the project depth of the outer harbor is 23 feet, while the inner harbor into Lake Macatawa is 21 feet. The study will explore whether deepening both the inner and outer harbor depths would provide “for greater utilization of vessel capacity” and help avoid the need for “frequent and recurring” dredging.
At the moment, Holland Harbor can go from “at depth” to “critical” quickly, according to the release from Huizenga. It was most recently dredged in April 2024, when roughly 31,000 cubic yards of sediment was removed from the outer harbor.
