Dredging kicks off at Ludington and Pentwater harbors

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, started the dredging operations in Ludington and Pentwater harbors on Lake Michigan last week.   

The projects represent about $1.25 million in dredging to keep the federal navigation system safe and open for commercial and recreational traffic.

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan-based MCM Marine, Inc., will dredge 81,323 cubic yards from the federal navigation channel lakeward of the breakwater heads and east to South Ferry Street.

The material will be used to nourish the shore about 5,500 feet south of the south breakwater for 3,500 feet southward.

The $684,001 contract was initially awarded May 11, but additional surveys showed more shoaling in the area. The contract was increased to $833,231 for the additional work.

Viking Marine, as a subcontractor, has already begun dredging and placement. The contract requires the work to be completed by September 25.

The King Co., Inc. of Holland, Michigan, will remove 59,081 cubic yards of material from the navigation channel near the pierheads upstream to Pentwater Lake.

The project contract, awarded March 30, for $299,025. Additional funding from the Work Plan in the 2023 Civil Works Budget added additional funding to increase the total award to $440,662.

Under the conditions of the contract, the project will be finished by December 2023.

 Material from the dredging will be placed near the shore between 800-3,300 feet north of the north pier.