ST. JOSEPH, Mich. -- The U.S. Corps of Engineers, Detroit District will begin dredging outer St. Joseph Harbor on May 13 to remove shoaling, perform preventative maintenance at the harbor mouth to avoid interruptions to the commercial shipping season, and keep the federal channel open.

Authorities say hydraulic dredging -- pumping sediment through a temporary pipeline -- will be used to clear the shoal at the harbor.

The sediment will then be beneficially reused and placed at depth of about four feet deep along the shoreline south of the harbor starting at Park Street. About 22,000 cubic yards of sediment is scheduled to be dredged.

Holland, Mich.'s King Co. Inc. is doing the dredging as part of a $1.5 million three-harbor contract that also includes outer Holland and Grand Haven Harbors. 

“St. Joseph Harbor is an important commercial harbor for shipping in West Michigan that historically has seen seasonal shoaling from weather events,” said Liz Newell Wilkinson, the operations manager at the Grand Haven Office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District.

“Luckily, our early surveys show the harbor is in relatively good [condition] following the winter months and should be ready for a busy 2025 season."

The dredging is currently scheduled to be complete by May 23, unless weather impacts the work.

"In addition to dredging St. Joseph Harbor, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineer Research and Development Center will monitor the dredging and placement in 2025 and 2026 to help identify ways to improve beach nourishment," a project spokesperson said.

"The monitoring includes looking at turbidity, the cloudiness of the water, using several small orange buoys along the harbor. An underwater autonomous vehicle submarine drone (UAS) will measure conditions in the water and an aerial drone will take photos of the work."

Boaters are advised to avoid the dredge, pipeline, discharge pontoon and supporting vessels.

"Public beaches will remain open during placement as the material will be placed along the shoreline near private property," a spokesperson said. "However, the public will not be able to walk along the shoreline between Silver Beach and Lyons Park during active dredging due to safety concerns."