Dredging of Grand Haven Inner Harbor Moving Forward Thanks To Scholten’s Advocacy

WASHINGTON, D.C. - After months of relentless advocacy, U.S. Representative Hillary Scholten announced that dredging will move forward in the Grand Haven Harbor imminently. As of August 22, 2025, a U.S. Army Corps contract has been awarded, and dredging is set to begin this fall. For months, the project's future was uncertain due to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) new testing requirements necessary to issue dredging permits. Lengthy delays would have been catastrophic for West Michigan, potentially holding up supply chains and jacking up costs for consumers.

Despite USACE having funds and a dredging plan ready to go for the summer of 2025, a final sediment disposal standard threatened to delay the project. EGLE finalized draft sediment guidance mere weeks before the dredging cycle was set to begin. Since January, Rep. Scholten has been working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Whitmer Administration, and EGLE to ensure the project occurred this year-as dictated by the dredging cycle-while also addressing concerns about PFAS. She penned a letter to the Governor and EGLE underscoring how critical this project is to Grand Haven, as well as the greater West Michigan region. Since then, the Congresswoman has convened several stakeholder conversations to ensure Grand Haven's Inner Harbor is dredged this year.

"Nature sets dredging schedules-not the government. The Grand Haven Inner Harbor dredging project has been delayed for far too long, and I am thrilled to see that it is finally moving forward," said Representative Scholten. "By acting now, we are ensuring that our state doesn't lose out on critical federal funding or risk Grand Haven becoming unnavigable. I will continue working closely with EGLE and Governor Whitmer's team to make sure this project is completed on schedule."

"We sincerely thank Congresswoman Scholten and her team for their steadfast support in helping the City of Grand Haven work collaboratively with EGLE and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to advance necessary inner harbor dredging. Her leadership has been instrumental in ensuring this critical work moves forward while continuing to prioritize and protect our community's environmental values. Inner harbor dredging is vital to Grand Haven's economic vitality, supporting commercial navigation, local businesses, and the long-term sustainability of our waterfront economy," said Grand Haven City Manager Ashley Latsch.

"When EGLE, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and our local and state partners align around our shared goals, we can find solutions that protect Michigan's environment while supporting recreation and commerce," said EGLE Director Phil Roos. "The Grand Haven Inner Harbor dredging project is a great example of that collaboration in action. Together, we've ensured this critical project can move forward responsibly this fall and become a model for addressing PFAS-impacted projects across the state."

A delay in the dredging project would have threatened serious consequences, as Grand Haven's harbor is an economic powerhouse. This small harbor supports over 450 jobs and generates $88.8 million annually in regional economic impact. A missed dredging cycle could have increased shipping costs by 25 to 30%, disrupted road and agricultural supply chains across Michigan, and resulted in an estimated $3 to 5 million in additional costs that could ultimately fall on consumers.

The dredging of Grand Haven's Inner Harbor is also vital for delivering aggregate materials used in construction and agriculture across the state. Without dredging, nearly 2 million tons of materials could have gone undelivered this year, creating ripple effects across industries and potentially overwhelming nearby harbors unequipped to handle the volume. Ensuring reliable cargo shipping channels will help support ongoing construction efforts and keep projects on track.

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