Serves as a commercial harbor. Project depth is 29 feet in the approach channel, 28 feet in the outer harbor, and 27 feet in the main river channel. Approximately 12,153 feet of steel sheet pile and timber crib breakwater structures. The federal navigation channel within the harbor is 4.4 miles long.
Maintenance dredging in the river and harbor is regularly scheduled. River maintenance dredging last occurred in 2020 and harbor maintenance dredging last occurred in 2022. The dredged material is transported to the Chicago Area Confined Disposal Facility (CDF).
Routine maintenance of the Breakwater and Federal Channel is critical to maintain a safe and navigable waterway in this high-use port. This will reduce transportation cost of communities shipped within the Great Lake and the Nation.