Posted on September 30, 2026
FAIRPORT HARBOR, OHIO — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District awarded a $39.3 million contract to Michigan-based Walsh Service Solutions, LLC on Sept. 25 to conduct dredging of the federal navigation channel in Fairport Harbor from 2027 through 2029.
The contract was funded, in part, by $33.3 million in fiscal year 2026 earmark funds and is intended to address a significant backlog of 1.3 million cubic yards of dredged material in the harbor to address navigation issues for Great Lakes vessels.
- Earmark funding supporting $39.3M dredging contract to address 1.3M cubic yard backlog.
- Dredging will focus on the outer harbor and up the Grand River from 2027-2029.
- Fairport Harbor has an annual economic impact of more than $63M, handles 1.8M tons of cargo annually and supports 184 jobs.
“Maintaining the operation of ports like Fairport is a core part of our mission and essential to more than $63 million in annual economic impact,” said Lt. Col. Aaron Anderson, commander of the Buffalo District. “Our team is excited to tackle the backlog of dredging because it does more than just clear a navigation channel on the Great Lakes – it sustains people’s livelihoods, supports their communities, and powers the regional and national economy.”
Dredging will focus on areas needed to be accessed by commercial shipping and local industry, from the outer harbor to multiple areas up the Grand River.
Work is scheduled to take place over the course of three construction seasons, from 2027 through 2029.
Approximately 306,000 cubic yards of sediment will be dredged in each of the three years with approximately 70,000 cubic yards placed into a new nearshore site west of the harbor, and remaining quantities placed in a sediment recycling facility owned and operated by Kurtz Bros., Inc.
Dredging of Fairport Harbor is normally scheduled to be conducted by USACE every two years, based on need and the availability of funding. The more frequent cycles of dredging from 2027-2029 are considered backlog dredging.
Fairport Harbor is a deep draft commercial harbor which handled 1.8 million tons of cargo, including limestone (72%), salt (16%), and sand and gravel (6%) in 2023. Waterborne transportation facilitated by the harbor supports $49.1 million in business revenue, 184 direct, indirect, and induced jobs, and $14.2 million in labor income to the transportation sector.
Operation, maintenance and dredging of harbors like Fairport by USACE is critical to the economy of Ohio, the Great Lakes region, and the United States.
