The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Buffalo District announced it will begin the largest dredging operation on the Great Lakes this fall, targeting Toledo Harbor’s federal navigation channel.
The project is part of an $8.6 million, two-year contract awarded to Ryba Marine Construction Company, Cheboygan, Mich., which aims to maintain navigable depths for large vessels, keep commodities moving across the Great Lakes, and support economic activity throughout the region, a USACE press release said.
“Maintaining the operation of ports like Toledo is a core part of our mission and essential to the economic strength of the nation,” said Lt. Col. Robert Burnham, commander of the Buffalo District. “We’re proud of our partnerships with the City of Toledo and its port authority, the state of Ohio, and our representatives in Congress that have made this two-year contract award possible.”
Work will focus on the lower Maumee River and the lake approach channel and is scheduled to run from September through early December. Approximately 600,000 cubic yards of material are expected to be removed and placed in the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority’s confined disposal facility.
The dredging is funded through a $4.4 million task order issued May 6, marking the final year of the two-year agreement. The first phase, carried out in 2024, was funded through a $4.2 million task order.
Toledo Harbor, a deep draft commercial port, handled 10 million tons of cargo in 2022. Its primary shipments include iron ore (55%), coal and lignite (14%), soybeans (5%), and salt (3%). According to the Army Corps, port activity supports more than $592 million in business revenue, nearly 2,400 jobs, and over $183 million in labor income.
The Army Corps conducts maintenance dredging of Toledo Harbor annually, contingent on need and federal funding, the USACE statement said. Officials emphasize that operations like this are vital not only to Ohio’s economy but also to the broader Great Lakes region and U.S. maritime commerce.
