Lat / Long: 41o 44' 18" N, 87o 30' 30" W
NOAA Charts: 14926 & 14929
Description: The Calumet Harbor and River project is primarily located within the city limits of Chicago, Illinois, but most of its breakwaters, harbor navigation channel and anchorage areas are located in Indiana. The construction and improvement of this navigation project was originally authorized in 1899. The project as it exists today consists of an outer harbor protected by a 6,714 feet long concrete capped timber crib breakwater to the north and northeast and a 5,007 feet long stone filled steel sheet pile detached breakwater to the northeast. The project also includes (a) a 29 feet deep by 3200 feet wide harbor approach channel, (b) a 28 feet deep by 3000 feet wide outer harbor channel and anchorage area and (c) a 27 feet deep by 290 feet wide river entrance channel. The Calumet River portion of the project consists of a 27 feet deep navigation channel that runs about 7 miles inland to Lake Calumet. The 27 feet deep channel also connects to the 9 feet deep Illinois Waterway Project at 130th Street. Principle commodities transported on this project include taconite, limestone, cement, chemical fertilizers, petroleum products, grains, steel, salt and miscellaneous freight.
Navigation Depths: The above depths are the authorized navigation depths for the project and are referenced to Low Water Datum 1985. The actual navigation depths may vary due to fluctuations in the level of Lake Michigan and the occurrence of shoaling within the navigation channel. Dredging of shoaled materials from the Calumet River was completed in December 2003. The harbor portion of the project was last dredged in 2000. The most recent hydrographic survey of project was completed in June 2004. Copies of the survey can be obtained by contacting the:
U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District
Operations Technical Support Section
111 North Canal Street, Suite 600
Chicago, Illinois 60606-7206
Ph# (312) 846-5481
Fax# (312) 353-2141
Page Last Updated: 25 August 2004