The USACE St. Louis District’s Dredge Potter returned to the water last week following routine dry dock maintenance and has begun its 2026 dredging season on the Mississippi and Illinois rivers.
Operated by the St. Louis District, the 94-year-old vessel plays an important role in maintaining the navigation channel on the Mississippi and Illinois rivers.
With a crew of 52 civilian employees working across three watches, the Potter can operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the dredging season to help keep commercial traffic moving safely and efficiently.
In 2025, the dredger removed approximately 4.7 million cubic yards of river sand from 36 locations along the Mississippi and Illinois rivers.