Posted on October 5, 2026
SEATTLE — Officials from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Seattle District, awarded a contract on Sept. 24 to conduct mechanical (clamshell) maintenance dredging of the Duwamish Waterway federal navigation channel in Seattle, Washington. USACE will oversee maintenance dredging performed by the contractor, American Construction Co., Inc.
Dredging is expected to begin no sooner than Dec. 1, 2026. Dredging work will be performed continuously, 24/7, with all in-water work concluded no later than Mar. 1, 2027. These in-water work window restrictions help minimize any potential impacts to out-migrating juvenile salmonids, forage-fish spawning, and to minimize interference with tribal fishing activities.
Maintenance dredging of up to 140,000 cubic yards will occur in shoaled areas of the turning basin, section A, and section B (stations 242+00 to 275+56). Dredged material will be placed at the Elliott Bay open-water disposal site.
The federal navigation channels will remain open for waterway users during dredging operations, but users are advised to slow down, reduce wakes, pay attention to rig marking, be cautious and maintain a safe distance from all dredging equipment.
USACE officials are asking fishermen and other users to move their boats, pots and gear to avoid it being damaged. All dredge work areas, including the navigation channel and placement site need to be kept clear of fishing and crabbing activity and gear during dredging.
Fishermen, crabbers and recreational boaters are encouraged to position themselves and their pots and gear at least 300 feet from the navigation channel and placement area boundaries to avoid boats and gear from drifting into the area used by the dredge. Boats and gear that drift into the navigation channel and/or placement area may be damaged or destroyed.
