Federal officials are moving forward with a major dredging project in Rochester Harbor, awarding a $1.78 million contract aimed at maintaining shipping access and supporting regional commerce.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Buffalo District announced the contract was awarded April 28 to Ryba Marine Construction Co. of Michigan to dredge the federal navigation channel through the end of July.
The project will remove an estimated 250,000 cubic yards of sediment from the harbor, with material set to be placed in the open waters of Lake Ontario. Officials say the work is essential to maintaining safe and navigable depths for commercial vessels moving through the Great Lakes system.
Rochester Harbor is dredged on a roughly two-year cycle based on need and available funding. The last dredging took place in 2024, when about 80,000 cubic yards of sediment were removed.
The harbor plays a modest but steady role in the regional economy. In 2023, it handled about 70,000 tons of cargo, including cement and concrete. Federal data shows waterborne transportation tied to the harbor supports nearly $1.9 million in business revenue and about $800,000 in labor income, along with a small number of direct and indirect jobs.
Officials say dredging efforts like this help sustain those economic benefits by ensuring larger vessels can continue to access the port without restrictions caused by sediment buildup.
The Corps also estimates the harbor contributes roughly $2.7 million annually in combined business revenue and labor income tied to navigation and related activity.
Work is expected to be completed by the end of July, barring weather or other delays.
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