Duluth-Superior harbor dredging begins early August

Dredging in the Duluth-Superior harbor is set to begin in early August, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

A $2.72 million contract has been awarded to Roen Salvage Co. from Sturgeon Bay, to mechanically dredge about 76,000 cubic yards of material from the harbor. That material will be moved to the Erie Pier Confined Disposal Facility (CDF) and the 40th Avenue West Placement Area.

Dredging will begin in early August, is set to be complete by November 1. Erie Pier site work will be complete by March 2023.

The dredged material brought to the 40th Avenue placement site will help complete the St. Louis River Remedial Action Plan. Navigation channel dredged material was beneficially used in 2018 to construct shallow water habitat features within the 40th Avenue West restoration project. To complete the plan, the 2022 project will broadcast bio-medium material over the remaining constructed features to enhance macroinvertebrate colonization and aquatic plant growth.

In addition to dredging and placement, the contract requires some additional work to be completed at the Erie Pier CDF. This includes excavation and transportation of 140,000 cubic yards of material from the settling ponds to the stockpile areas within Erie Pier. In addition, the contract awards two options for mowing and brush clearing within Erie Pier CDF boundary.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, maintains a navigation system of 81 federal navigation projects including the channels joining lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, St. Clair and Erie.