Dredging

Representatives Push for More Funding for Great Lakes Dredging

glbm — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 16:17:33 +0000

Detroit Free Press

June 10 2013

Three Michigan members of Congress are pushing a measure that could help generate more funding for harbor dredging in the state and across the Great Lakes.

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Photo Credit:

Robert Wilcox [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Federal Legislation Would Help With Great Lakes Dredging

glbm — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:27:18 +0000

Mike Simonson

May 21 2013

A $200 million backlog in Great Lakes harbor and channel dredging would end with a bill that just passed the U.S. Senate.

There is a lot at stake economically when ships have to load light: carry less cargo, or risk running aground in the Great Lakes. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc) says this bill will allow the Great Lakes to catch up on digging projects over the next six to seven years, putting the Great Lakes in better position to compete with the ocean ports.

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Weighing environmental, economic impacts of dredging

glbm — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:50:03 +0000

Emanuele Berry

April 25 2013

This year record low water levels have spurred the Michigan government to spend over $20 million on dredging. Many hope dredging will enable recreational and commercial boating to continue, preventing revenue loss.

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Harbor dredging in Carlton eyed for 2014

glbm — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:21:13 +0000

Jim Krencik

April 19 2013

CARLTON – The Army Corps of Engineers has committed to dredging a series of harbors along Lake Ontario in 2014, Congressman Chris Collins announced Monday.
Collins, R-Clarence, said the Army Corps now has the funding it needs to perform maintenance dredging in the federal channel at the Oak Orchard Harbor in Carlton and nearby harbors in Wilson and Olcott.

“The dredging of these three local harbors is long overdue,” said Collins. “Local residents and government leaders have been pushing the federal government to prioritize the work in order to maintain and maximize the harbors’ economic and recreational importance."

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$1.7 million Saginaw River/Bay dredging to have 'positive impact' on businesses, says chamber president

glbm — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:14:58 +0000

Alex Mitchell

April 19 2013

BAY CITY, MI — A $1.7 million Saginaw River and Bay dredging project scheduled to begin this May should have a positive impact on area businesses, according to Mike Seward, president and CEO of the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.

“I think the dredging will have a very positive impact on businesses along the water front and these businesses will begin to see better service,” Seward said.

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Dredging can churn up historical contaminants

glbm — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 21:31:43 +0000

Max King

April 16 2013

Dredging may be a solution to Great Lakes low water, but it can also lead to contaminated sediments re-merging into the water.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder recently signed a bill in March allowing an additional $20.9 million to be spent on dredging this year to help recreational and commercial boaters operate in low water levels.

The most common contaminant in the bottom of the Great Lakes is polychlorinated biphenyls, also known as PCBs, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

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St. Clair Boat Harbor won’t receive dredging funds

glbm — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 19:07:56 +0000

Jim Bloch

March 25 2013

"We’ll have boating in St. Clair this year,” said Stephanie Schriner, harbormaster of the Charles F. Moore Boat Harbor.

But it might be more dangerous and less robust than in past years.

The reason is the historically low water levels of the Great Lakes – and the fact that the harbor did not make the cut for a slice of the $21 million in emergency dredging funds through the state of Michigan.

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Pier 33 To Host Public Forum on Lake Levels, Dredging and Invasive Species Saturday March 16

glbm — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 18:36:15 +0000

St. Joseph, MI (PRWEB)

March 8 2013

Pier 33 will be hosting a public forum Saturday March 16 regarding important environmental issues pertaining to Lake Michigan and the St. Joseph River, including lake levels, dredging and invasive species.
This forum is in conjunction with Pier 33’s Spring Open House and will be held at Pier 33’s showroom, 250 Anchors Way in St. Joseph, MI. The event is open to the public and admission is free. Refreshments are provided by Pier 33.

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Great Lakes water levels spur Michigan Senate to OK cash for emergency dredging

glbm — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 18:25:26 +0000

Tim Martin

March 8 2013

LANSING, MI - Harbors and marinas in the Great Lakes State would get help from about $21 million for dredging projects through a bill approved Thursday by the Michigan Senate.

Senate Bill 233 – which advances to the Michigan House – would help 49 projects in the state.

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Water levels could cause problems for future dredging

glbm — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 16:39:00 +0000

Steve Schulwitz

March 5 2013

ALPENA - The City of Alpena is in line for an $800,000 grant that would dredge the downtown harbor, which will enable larger vessels, particularly large sailboats to enter, because of the decline in water depths in Lake Huron coupled with the fact the harbor hasn't been dredged in more than 20 years.

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Dredging money pouring into New Buffalo

glbm — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 18:39:31 +0000

Kelley Smith

February 28 2013

NEW BUFFALO — The New Buffalo CIty Council moved forward with plans to dredge shallow areas of the Galien River used by boaters to travel in the federal channel between the city’s harbor, boat launch and Lake Michigan during its Feb. 19 meeting.

The council unanimously approved a $6,500 bid for “Launch Access Channel” dredging engineering and a $7,138.75 bid for the launch channel dredging permit modification, both from Wightman & Associates.

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Michigan City, New Buffalo wrestle with low Lake Michigan water level

glbm — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 18:42:30 +0000

Stan Maddux

February 20 2013

MICHIGAN CITY | Record low levels on Lake Michigan have left waterfront communities in the region and throughout the Great Lakes scrambling to save their summer boating seasons.

In New Buffalo, for example, emergency dredging on a roughly 1,000-foot stretch of the Galien River is planned in the spring from the Whittaker Street bridge to the city's public boat launch.

Bob Stratton, owner of Service 1 Marine outside New Buffalo, says the water is shallow enough that he wonders if large boats will be able to make it into their slips without running aground.

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See which harbors and marinas would be helped with Michigan's emergency dredging plan

glbm — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:01:05 +0000

Tim Martin

February 13 2013

LANSING, MI - Harbors and marinas from the Upper Peninsula to metro Detroit would get some financial help under an emergency dredging plan developed by state officials in response to declining Great Lakes water levels.

The plan would rely on $21 million as proposed by Gov. Rick Snyder in his budget plan announced last week. The Legislature would have to approve a supplemental funding request and some financial transfers before the money could be allocated and spent.

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