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City hears Army Corps survey showing worse harbor conditions; dredging could remove 30,000 cubic yards
Summary
City staff reported the U.S. Army Corps surveyed the harbor on April 22 and the Corps is preparing a NEPA technical document; staff said the Corps may remove about 30,000 cubic yards in a future dredging project, compared with 12,000 cubic yards removed in 2020.
City staff told the council the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed harbor surveying on April 22 and that results indicate conditions inside the harbor have worsened. The Corps is preparing a technical document under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to detail dredging impacts and options.
Staff said the Corps is discussing removal of about 30,000 cubic yards in a future dredging effort, compared with roughly 12,000 cubic yards removed in the last dredge in 2020. The city is awaiting a formal dredging schedule; staff said the project is not officially scheduled and that 2027 is a possible timeframe. Staff credited community outreach to federal lawmakers—Sen. Johnson, Sen. Baldwin and Rep. Grothman—for moving the process forward and encouraged continued constituent engagement.
Why it matters If dredging proceeds at the scale discussed, it would be a significant harbor intervention compared with the 2020 work; NEPA preparatory work indicates environmental review and project scoping are underway. The city will continue to monitor Corps guidance and report scheduling updates to the council when available.
Next steps The City will await the Army Corps' NEPA technical document and any scheduling announcements; staff did not provide a firm project schedule during the meeting.
