New Buffalo Harbor will be open for boating this season. This year Lake Michigan water levels are at an all-time low and levels are expected to continue dropping this summer, adversely affecting boating throughout the Great Lakes.
Despite this, New Buffalo Mayor Warren Peterson is resolute, “ safe navigation in New Buffalo Harbor is a top priority of the City of New Buffalo.”
Taking action, the City of New Buffalo has awarded Donkersloot and Sons Marine the bid to dredge New Buffalo Harbor at the City Transient Marina boat slips and the Launch Access Channel.
The Federal Navigation Channel (the Galien River from the Whittaker Street Bridge to the Harbor mouth at Lake Michigan,) will be dredged by a contractor from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This work is expected to begin the middle of June. U.S. Senator Carl Levin announced on his website that funding for this project is from Superstorm Sandy relief.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers performed soundings on the Federal Navigation Channel in March.
Dredging the City Transient Marina boat slips and the Launch Access Channel is being funded by a Waterways Grant as part of the State of Michigan’s Emergency Dredging Plan states that the total average annual economic impact of registered boats on Michigan’s economy yields: $3.9 billion in trip and craft spending, $1.9 billion in value added, $1.3 billion in personal income, and 51,329 jobs.
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Source: cityofnewbuffalo, June 13, 2013