Dredging is about to start in the St. Joseph Inner Harbor.
According to St. Joseph Harbormaster Michael Moran, the dredging being conducted by Dean Marine will take place next week. The work is contracted through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and is critical to maintain the commercial shipping channel.
Moran says the project will be done with an excavator on a barge, moved by the tug, Ann Marie. The operations will continue 24/7 until dredging is complete. He says the equipment will be marked by day and will be well lighted during the night, and all vessels coming through the area are reminded navigate well clear of the dredging equipment.
Moran says while viewing the dredging is encouraged from public property like the Upton Arboretum, Paddler’s Park, the Turning Basin sidewalk, and the Paw Paw River pedestrian bridge, everyone is reminded to avoid trespassing on property owned by the shipping docks or other private property.
Dredged material will be trucked from Dock 63 to the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport.
