Leland Takes Harbor Dredging Into Its Own Hands

The Leland Michigan Chamber of Commerce said that a new cutter suction dredger, built by DSC Dredge for Leland Township Board, was put into the water for the first time on April 8.

Fully functional with just one operator, the 68-foot-long Wolverine can reach dredging depths down to 25 feet below the surface and allows for maximum particle clearance of 6 inches. It offers single-truck portability in almost every geographical location, DSC said.

“Purchasing the DSC dredge provides Leland Harbor with complete certainty on maintaining channel depths and keeping our harbor open,” noted Tony Borden, Harbor Commissioner. “It is the ultimate solution for our annual dredging needs.”

“The project is very much needed, as the marina channel entering to the slips was completely closed. The dredge is new to Leland, but will avoid the hiring of a contractor to keep the harbor open,” said David Driver, DSC Field Service Technician.

He explained that the investment Leland has made in its dredge will be met in less than three years.

“For many years to come, Leland Township will be able to keep its marina free and clear of fill for the many boaters who use the facility. DSC Dredge Michigan Division is very proud to deliver this equipment within its home state,” he said.

Background

With no dredging taking place in 2015 and 2016, the harbor had silted completely shut by January 2017. But the community of Leland had already decided in the summer of 2016 to take matters into its own hands.

The Harbor had approximately $250,000 in financial reserves when it chose to purchase a new 10-inch Wolverine Class cutter suction hydraulic dredge, manufactured at DSC Dredge’s Greenbush, Michigan, facility.

With another $250,000 required to purchase the dredge, the town created a crowdfunding site in December 2016, and the donations began to roll in – so quickly that it was able to raise the full amount required in less than a month.

Taking delivery of its Wolverine Dredge in mid-April 2017, a crew of Leland township employees received full training over the next week, so that they can now rely upon their own resources – at a minimal annual cost – to keep the harbor cleared, DSC said.

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