President Barack Obama’s proposed budget for next year includes $31 million for dredging commercial harbors and navigation channels in the Great Lakes.
Shipping interests have called for stepped-up dredging to improve the safety of waterborne cargo transportation. Low water levels sometimes forces shippers to lighten their loads, which cuts into their profits.
Lt. Col. Mike Derosier is district engineer for the corps’ Detroit district. He said Monday the 15 projects that would be funded by Obama’s budget would support a stronger economy, environmental protection and safer infrastructure.
Projects in Michigan would include dredging of the Detroit and Saginaw rivers and harbors in Grand Haven, Holland, Muskegon and Manistee.
Other dredging would take place in Ohio, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Indiana.
