Congressional leaders press Corps on dredging backlogs, capacity and beneficial use of sediment

Chairman Collins said dredging of harbors is a top priority for his state and urged the Corps to streamline dredging processes, contracting and environmental timing. "Despite this incredible growth at Georgia seaports, it has been years since Brunswick Harbor had been dredged to its federally authorized depth," he said, describing shoaling and operational risk.

Nut graf: Republicans and Democrats pressed the Corps' civilian and military leadership on how to reduce backlogs that threaten navigation and supply chains, whether the Corps can expand dredging capacity with industry partners and Corps assets, and how to direct dredged material toward beneficial uses such as beach renourishment and habitat restoration.

Assistant Secretary Adam Tell told the panel dredging capacity is "critically important" and that the Corps must examine contracting and environmental windows that constrain work. He said the Corps is studying ways to expand the environmental windows and to recapitalize Corps dredging assets.

Lieutenant General Graham said the Corps is “working collaboratively with industry to bring capacity on board,” noting progress with pipeline dredges and plans for hopper dredges. He said the Corps expects a replacement hopper dredge — to be known as the Donnelly — by 2027 to help shore up ocean‑going hopper capacity where commercial supply falls short. Graham also flagged limited capacity in the Great Lakes region as a current concern.

Members representing other ports pressed for continued maintenance funding and for priority attention to local projects. Representative Figures invited Corps leaders to Mobile to celebrate completion of a deepening project and asked about beneficial reuse of dredged material; Corps witnesses said beneficial reuse is a priority and that it is a “win‑win” when material can be used for shoreline restoration, wildlife habitat or beach renourishment.

Ending: Witnesses committed to follow up on district‑level schedules and on the Corps’ dredging capacity report required by statute; the Corps also said it would provide the committee an update on efforts to expand dredge capacity and beneficial‑use pilots.