Toledo Harbor dredging project to begin in Ohio

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Buffalo District is launching a major dredging operation at Toledo Harbor, Ohio, scheduled to begin on October 2, 2026. The project, described as the largest annual dredging operation on the Great Lakes, aims to remove approximately 750,000 cubic yards of material from the Maumee River federal navigation channel.

The work will continue through January 2027 under a two-year, $11.1 million contract awarded to Michigan-based Ryba Marine Construction Company. The dredging covers the channel from the turning basin upstream to the mouth at Maumee Bay. Dredged material will be placed in confined disposal facilities managed by the USACE and the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority.

Maintaining the harbor is critical for regional commerce; Toledo Harbor handled 11 million tons of cargo in 2023, with iron ore making up 53 percent of that volume. The port supports more than $1 billion in annual economic impact and approximately 2,822 jobs.