The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says crews are removing more than 14,000 cubic yards of sediment from the mouth of the Grand River in Grand Haven. The crew will then take the sediment and deposit it approximately 8 to 12 feet below water about a mile south of the southern pier.
This project does not, however, address the inner harbor of the 2.5-mile federal channel, where plans for dredging areas with PFAS concerns are ongoing with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy about water quality testing and future placement.
The dredging issue caused uncertainty for locals over the past few months. When officials were ready to coordinate dredging of Grand Haven’s inner harbor, EGLE implemented a new policy requiring PFAS testing for sediment prior to being removed from the channel.
State Representative Greg VanWoerkom, who represents Grand Haven and neighboring communities, announced Friday that EGLE approved the 401 Water Quality Certification for the inner harbor, while officials believe the lower portion of the harbor is expected to be certified very soon.
Current dredging should be complete by the end of June, while the inner harbor project should take place from late September through mid-October.
