The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Buffalo District, recently awarded a $1.1 million contract to conduct dredging of the federal navigation channel and harbor areas in Ashtabula Harbor, Ohio, during summer 2019.
The work was awarded to Ryba Marine Construction Company, based in Cheboygan, Michigan, on April 10, 2019.
Under this contract and a subsequent November 2018 $1 million agreement, approximately 430,000 cubic yards of material is to be dredged this year.
“ Ashtabula Harbor is an important part of Northeast Ohio, supporting over 1,500 jobs and generating more than $120 million annually in revenue ,” said Ohio Representative Dave Joyce.
“The Army Corps of Engineers’ regular dredging not only keeps the harbor clear, but also ensures it can continue to put money back into the Ashtabula community and drive our regional economy. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I’m proud to fight for the funding that supports these critical maintenance efforts and thank the Army Corps of Engineers’ for all they do for the Buckeye State.”
The contractor is anticipated to begin work in July 2019 with dredging to be performed in the outer harbor and lake approach channel.
USACE schedules dredging every 2-3 years in Ashtabula Harbor in order to maintain federally authorized depths. The outer harbor has authorized depths between 22 and 30 feet, while the Ashtabula River channel has authorized depths between 16 and 30 feet.