Photo By Maj. Avery Schneider | Overhead views of Lorain Harbor in Lorain, Ohio, May 20, 2021. The U.S. Army Corps of...... read more read more
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District, will begin dredging operations this week in Lorain 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 $2.5 million contract in June 2026 to Michigan-based Walsh Service Solutions to complete the work. Dredging operations are scheduled to start Sept. 15, with sediment to be recycled and beneficially used.
“Maintaining the operation of ports like Lorain is a core part of our mission and essential to nearly $37 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 45,000 cubic yards of sediment will be mechanically dredged from the federal navigation channel in the harbor entrance and up-river to multiple docks. The material will be placed in a local sediment recycling facility for beneficial use.
Work is scheduled to start Sept. 15 and will be completed by October.
The harbor was last dredged in 2025, when approximately 40,000 cubic yards of material were removed. Lorain 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.
Lorain Harbor is a deep draft commercial harbor which handled one million tons of cargo, including limestone (93%) and salt (2.4%) in 2023. Waterborne transportation facilitated by the harbor supports $27.6 million in business revenue, 103 direct, indirect, and induced jobs, and $9.1 million in labor income to the transportation sector.
Authorized depths within Lorain Harbor range from 17 to 29 feet, with the shallowest depths in the turning basins and the deepest depths in the entrance channel. The Corps of Engineers maintains these depths to support safe and efficient navigation for large vessels.
Operation, maintenance and dredging of harbors like Lorain by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is critical to the economy of Ohio, the Great Lakes region, and the United States.
Photos of dredging in Lorain Harbor are available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/buffalousace/albums/72177720298143599/ Aerial Photos & B-roll of Lorain Harbor are available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/buffalousace/albums/72157719339914916/
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 http://www.lrd.usace.army.mil/buffalo.
| Date Taken: | 09.14.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 09.14.2026 14:32 |
| Story ID: | 574633 |
| Location: | LORAIN, OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 23 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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