Conneaut Harbor Dredging Starting; Supports Safe Great Lakes Navigation, Strengthens Local and National Economy
CONNEAUT, Ohio — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District, will begin dredging operations in Conneaut Harbor to maintain safe and navigable waterways for Great Lakes commercial vessels, recreational boaters and other harbor users on Lake Erie.
The Buffalo District awarded a $4.1 million contract in June 2026 to Michigan-based Walsh Service Solutions to complete the work. Dredging operations started Sept. 1, with sediment to be recycled and beneficially used.
- $4.1M dredging project in Conneaut Harbor will maintain safe navigation for commercial ships and recreational boats.
- Dredging started Sept. 1 and will be beneficially used after recycling.
- Conneaut Harbor supports more than $271M in economic impact annually.
- Photos & B-roll available https://flic.kr/s/aHsmVNkiSJ.
“Maintaining the operation of ports like Conneaut is a core part of our mission and essential to more than $271 million in annual economic impact,” said Lt. Col. Aaron Anderson, commander of the Buffalo District. “Our work here does more than just clear a navigation channel – it sustains people’s livelihoods, supports their communities, and powers the regional and national economy.”
Approximately 75,000 cubic yards of sediment will be mechanically dredged from the federal navigation channel in the harbor entrance and up-river to the Canadian National docks. The material will be placed in a local sediment recycling facility for beneficial use.
Work started Sept.1 and will be completed by the start of October.
The harbor was last dredged in 2025, when approximately 70,000 cubic yards of material were removed. Conneaut Harbor is dredged annually depending on shoaling conditions, funding availability and federal navigation priorities.
Boaters are encouraged to use caution near active dredging equipment and maintain a safe distance from work areas. Dredging activities are coordinated to minimize disruption whenever possible and are not expected to impede navigation.
Conneaut Harbor is a deep-draft commercial harbor which handled 3.7 million tons of cargo, primarily iron ore (95%), with some limestone (2%), and sand and gravel (1%) in 2023. Waterborne transportation facilitated by the harbor supports $215.9 million in business revenue, 765 jobs, and $55.3 million in labor income to the transportation sector.
Authorized depths within Conneaut Harbor range from eight to 29 feet, with the shallowest depths in the access channel and the deepest depths in the outer harbor. The Corps of Engineers maintains these depths to support safe and efficient navigation for large vessels.
Operation, maintenance and dredging of harbors like Conneaut by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is critical to the economy of Ohio, the Great Lakes region, and the United States.
Photos & B-roll available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/buffalousace/albums/72157719280685018/
The Buffalo District delivers world class engineering solutions to the Great Lakes Region, the Army and the Nation to ensure national security, environmental sustainability, water resource management, and emergency assistance during peace and war. Learn more at www.lrd.usace.army.mil/buffalo.
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