This website is scheduled to migrate to www.lrd.usace.army.mil on January 15, 2024.
The M/V Happy Rover and tug Wyoming enter the Soo Locks' MacArthur Lock in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan heading to Lake Superior.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, urges caution around Great Lakes harbor piers and breakwaters, particularly during high wind and wave events. Accidents can occur near harbor structures during turbulent weather late in the year. The lakeshore attracts residents and visitors who may not be aware of the powerful impacts strong winds and storms can bring to shorelines and harbor structures.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers closes the Soo Locks Visitor Center in Canal Park at 7 p.m. Oct. 31 for the 2023 season.
The Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center in Duluth, Minnesota celebrates 50 years with an event Thursday, September 28 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Congratulations to our winners and many, many thanks to everyone who submitted photos and voted! Meanwhile - keep taking those pictures for the 2024 contest! A link to the downloadable calendar will be posted this fall.
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-2018-00704-35-S23

11/29/2023
Proposed Inland-Excavated Boat Well, Dredging, and Riprap in the St. Marys River at Barbeau, Michigan

LRE-1988-110332-S23-2

11/21/2023
Proposed Structure Removal, Seawall, Riprap, Spring Piles, Docks, and Discharge of Fill in Clinton River at Harrison Township, Michigan

LRE-1927-70090-S23

10/19/2023
Proposed Bank Stabilization and Stormwater Outfall Replacement at the Belle Isle Water Intake Facility in Detroit River at Detroit, Michigan.

Other Public Notices

Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact and Environmental Assessment for Hartley Park Green Infrastructure Improvements, Duluth, St. Louis County, Minnesota

12/5/2023
The USACE proposes partial cost reimbursement to the City of Duluth, pursuant to Section 569 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999, Public Law 106-53, as amended. The cost reimbursement would be applied to the tentatively selected plan, which consists of the diversion and treatment of collected roadside stormwater. The roadside stormwater would be diverted to the Hartley Park Natural Area and treated through an underground sedimentation vault near the road, followed by a dual-purpose wet sedimentation and flood storage basin with the eastern portion providing sediment storage in the deep pond and the western portion constructed as a filtering wetland. A series of terraced biofiltration basins designed to treat and filter the stormwater will be constructed with the final outlet as a diffused discharge prior to entry to a tributary to Tischer Creek, a cold water trout stream.

Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact and Environmental Assessment for Muskegon Walkway and Revetment Rehabilitation

11/8/2023
The tentatively chosen alternative will consist of excavating critical dunes to create access routes and work and storage areas to remove and replace a concrete walkway. The selected alternative includes 3,000 cubic yards (cyds) of excavated dune sand. The excavated sand will be placed west of the project site along the Lake Michigan shoreline. The proposed project will also include removal and replacement of the existing walkway and grouted stone impacting a 7.5ft wide by 2,300ft long area. The new walkway will include seven curb openings with 20ft-by-20ft turnabouts. The proposed project will also include a temporary access route along the walkway with an average width of 16ft and a maximum width of 24ft. Three (3) work and storage areas with dimensions of 70 feet wide by 150ft long and access and storage areas in the existing parking lot and along the existing concrete walkways. The work period is expected to begin in Summer 2024 and last a full construction season.

Development of Cultural Resources Management Plan and Programmatic Agreement for the Soo Locks

9/12/2023
Development of Cultural Resources Management Plan and Programmatic Agreement for the Soo Locks TO: All INTERESTED AGENCIES, PUBLIC GROUPS, AND CITIZENS The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Detroit District, proposes to update the Cultural Resources Management Plan for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, St. Marys Falls Canal (Soo Locks), Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan (Attachment 1) and develop a new Programmatic Agreement (PA) to implement the updated CRMP. The Soo Locks is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL). This notice is provided pursuant to Section 800.6 of 36 C.F.R Part 800, Protection of Historic Properties, and Section 106 of 54 U.S.C. Subtitle III, National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). 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.

Latest News Releases

MacArthur Lock closing for seasonal repair, maintenance
11/30/2023
AULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Soo Locks’ MacArthur Lock will close for the Navigation Season 7 a.m. Dec. 17, 2023, through April 24, 2024, to perform dam safety inspections and routine maintenance.The...
High winds, storms, wave action increase hazards
11/21/2023
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, urges caution around Great Lakes harbor piers and breakwaters, particularly during high wind and wave events. Accidents can occur near harbor...
Soo Locks Visitor Center closes for 2023 season
10/25/2023
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers closes the Soo Locks Visitor Center in Canal Park at 7 p.m. Oct. 31 for the 2023 season.Visitor Center hours for the remainder of Oct. are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. The...

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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