Precipitation across the Great Lakes basin in June was below average, leading to dry conditions across much of the Great Lakes region. This has expanded to moderate drought and severe drought conditions in portions of the basin. As a result of these dry conditions, June monthly mean water levels across the Great Lakes either stayed close to their May levels or began to decline, when water levels would typically rise from May to June.
Marine traffic on the St. Marys River will not be allowed within 1,000 feet (shown in blue) at the time of any blast detonations for recreational boats, fishermen, swimmers, and general waterborne public. Red Flag Vessels, transporting bulk fuel or other hazardous materials, will not be allowed within 2,000 feet (shown in red) during blasts.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District will begin hydraulically dredging the federal navigation channel and nourishing the South Haven Harbor shoreline next week. The City of South Haven and Army Corps will dredge 57,300 cubic yards of material from the Black River Federal Channel.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New Lock at the Soo project remains on schedule as major construction continues with phases 2 and 3 this season in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

Regulatory Public Notices

LRE-2016-00179-50-S23

7/20/2023
Proposed and Existing Marina Construction in the Grand River at Grand Haven, Michigan

LRE-2021-01137-7-S23

7/20/2023
Proposed Cofferdam and Fill in the Detroit River at Trenton, Michigan

LRE-1999-120850-A23

7/18/2023
Proposed Removal of Screen Houses and Closure of Intakes and Overflow Canal associated with Decommissioning the St. Clair Power Plant in St. Clair River at East China, Michigan.

Other Public Notices

Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact, Environmental Assessment, and 404(b)(1) Evaluation for Rehabilitation of Shore Protection, Duluth Project Office, St. Louis County, Duluth, MN

4/26/2023
The Detroit District is proposing to rehabilitate the riprap shoreline protection along the Duluth Ship Canal property immediately north of the ship canal and extending along the shore for approximately 200 feet. Part of the reconstruction work is below the Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) of Lake Superior (elevation of 603.1 feet IGLD 1985). Associated upland work includes installation of a steel sheet pile T-wall along the length of the revetment that connects to the City of Duluth’s T-wall, replacement of the existing sidewalk and reconstructing two existing storm drains.

Dredged Material Open Water Placement, Charlevoix Harbor, Charlevoix County, Michigan

4/14/2023
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Detroit District, proposed action involves maintenance dredging of the Charlevoix Harbor federal navigation channel with placement of the dredged material into ½ mile by ½ mile (160 acres) open water placement site located offshore of Charlevoix County, Michigan. See Public Notice linked below for details, including a Preliminary Statement of Findings (SOF) and a Clean Water Act, Section 404(b)(1) Evaluation Of the Effects of Placing Fill Material into the Waters of the United States. Other documents referenced in the Preliminary SOF are also liked below.

Fall Protection Around The MacArthur and Poe Locks, Bridge Anchor Points for Temporary Bridges Across MacArthur and Poe Locks and Handrails Around the MacArthur Lock Gates, St Marys Falls Canal (Soo Locks), Sault Ste Marie, MI

4/5/2023
TO: All INTERESTED AGENCIES, PUBLIC GROUPS, AND CITIZENS The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Detroit District, is proposing work at St. Marys Falls Canal (Soo Locks, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan). The work includes the following: adding additional fall protection at the MacArthur and Poe Lock chambers, installing bridge anchoring points at the MacArthur and Poe Lock chambers, and MacArthur Lock handrails replacement (Enclosure 1). This project constitutes an “undertaking” under Section 106 of the NHPA. This notice is provided pursuant to Section 800.6 of 36 C.F.R Part 800, Protection of Historic Properties, and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), 54 U.S.C. § 300101 et seq. A copy of this public notice can be provided upon request or can be reviewed online at http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/ by clicking on the link to “Other Public Notice” in the bottom left corner. Fall Protection for Soo and MacArthur Locks Chambers: During the navigation season, for any maintenance or inspection activities that require approaching lock chamber walls, the USACE personnel are required to wear safety harnesses, secured to mooring points to reduce the fall risk, per an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirement (OHSA 1917.112(b)(1) which requires a guard rail at least 43 inches in height near an opening. Line handlers cannot use safety harnesses during mooring activities, as it poses a risk of entanglement with the mooring lines. During the winter maintenance season, the USACE utilizes temporary plastic barriers around dewatered locks to reduce the fall risk. The USACE has determined that additional safety measures, such as guard rails or concrete walls, are needed along the MacArthur and Poe Locks to meet current OSHA standards. Additional safety measures would help reduce the risk of a person falling into an empty or filled lock chamber, or a person being crushed between a vessel and a lock wall (the railing/wall will also reduce or eliminate the risk of drowning).

Latest News Releases

Detroit District accepting entries for annual photo contest
7/12/2023
DETROIT- The Detroit District invites photographers to enter its 8th annual photo contest highlighting U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sites across the Great Lakes.The top 12 photographs highlighting...
Corps of Engineers begins structure maintenance in Charlevoix
7/12/2023
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District will begin planned maintenance work in the navigation channel in Charlevoix, Michigan this month to replace deteriorating timber fenders along the...
U.S. Army Corps resumes Grand Haven dredging with additional E.coli testing
7/11/2023
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District (USACE) will resume dredging in Grand Haven Harbor on Wednesday, July 12, with additional testing for E. Coli and safety measures. King Co. Inc.,...

News Stories

New Lock at the Soo: Unlocking the Great Lakes
10/20/2022
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich., – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District works on unlocking the Great Lakes by providing a much-needed resiliency at the Soo Locks with the construction of the New...
ERDC, Buffalo District release dredged material guidance manual for Great Lakes region
9/2/2022
Researchers from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Environmental Laboratory and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Great Lakes Districts — Buffalo, Detroit and...
Commitment to high-quality USACE bridge inspections
3/4/2022
Structural cracks, buckled or bent steel, visual fretting corrosion – these are the kinds of things at the forefront of a bridge inspector’s mind. Oh, and don’t forget to quantify the severity and...

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