Posted on January 26, 2026
NEW BUFFALO — Members of the New Buffalo Harbor Commission received a status report on dredging plans for the city harbor’s federal “inner channel” during its Jan. 7 regular meeting.
City Manager Darwin Watson and Parks Director Kristen D’Amico said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to dredge the inner harbor this year (the schedule looks to be May into early June), adding that the Corps also did dredging last year (the first time since 2019).
D’Amico said the city will have Seaworks do depth soundings ahead of the dredging (likely in March at a cost of about $9,400).
Also discussed was the dredging fund which gets contributions from the city and various entities with boat slips in the harbor.
Watson said the city has contributed the lion’s share of the money in the fund, noting that during some recent years entities in the harbor were told not to pay and not all do now (a chart displayed during the Jan. 7 meeting showed the fiscal year 2025 fund balance at $150,196 with total revenues of $43,014).
He said it can cost more than half a million dollars to dredge the harbor, noting that last year’s Army Corps cost was $450,000.
Members of the Harbor Commission suggested looking at upping the amount charged.
Watson also gave updates on planned broadside dock and pedestrian bridge projects in the public beach area.
He said hopefully the dock project will start moving later this fall, in early fall or late summer.
Watson said the pedestrian bridge project has been submitted to the state of Michigan.
“So those two, hopefully we will see stuff going on this year with those.”
