President’s 2019 Budget Provides $68.8M for Detroit District

The President Trump’s Budget for fiscal year 2019 includes more than $4.7 billion in discretionary funding for the Civil Works program of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with more than $68.8 million for Detroit District projects around the Great Lakes.

The Civil Works budget funds the operation and maintenance program, which includes the maintenance of federal shipping channels on the Great Lakes, maintenance of federal structures, and the operation and maintenance of the Soo locks, in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. Incorporated in the budget is funding that will be used across the district’s jurisdiction in Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

“We stand ready to deliver the Detroit District projects planned for the 2019 fiscal year,” said Lt. Col. Dennis Sugrue, district engineer, Detroit District. “Our projects are a key component of the Great Lakes public infrastructure that promotes economic growth, quality of life, environmental health and national security.”

The fiscal year 2019 funding will be distributed among major Detroit District projects as follows:

  • St Marys River/Soo Locks, Mich. – $28 million;
  • Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis. – $7.5 million;
  • Detroit River, Mich. – $6.9 million;
  • Fox River, Wis. – $4.3 million;
  • Green Bay Harbor, Wis. – $3.9 million;
  • Milwaukee Harbor, Wis. – $2.6 million;
  • Saginaw River, Mich. – $2.4 million.

As with each year, most of the Detroit District navigation projects are funded through the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund. This year almost $60 million of the district’s operations and maintenance projects are funded from that account.

A total of $16 million will be used for dredging projects including the following locations: Duluth-Superior Harbor, Minn. and Wis., Green Bay Harbor, Wis., Milwaukee Harbor, Wis., Detroit River, Mich., Grand Haven Harbor, Mich., Holland Harbor, Mich., Ludington Harbor, Mich., Rouge River, Mich., St. Clair River, Mich., and St. Joseph Harbor, Mich.