The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District has awarded an $11.7 million contract to DMYLES Inc., Niagara Falls, N.Y., to dredge the federal navigation channel in Cleveland Harbor twice in 2026, the agency announced.
The contract, awarded April 9, calls for the removal of approximately 250,000 cu. yds. of sediment from the upper Cuyahoga River during two windows: May 15 through June 30 and Oct. 1 through Nov. 30. Dredged sediment will be processed on land and deposited in a confined disposal facility.
Cleveland Harbor is a deep-draft commercial port that moved 13.8 million tons of cargo in 2023, led by iron ore at 64%, limestone at 16%, and salt at 9%. Waterborne commerce through the harbor supports $646.1 million in business revenue, $142.6 million in labor income, and 2,329 direct, indirect, and induced jobs in the transportation sector, according to the Corps. Across the broader regional economy, the harbor generates nearly $789 million in combined business revenue and labor income.
The harbor was last dredged in 2025, when contractors removed 255,651 cu. yds. of sediment. The Corps conducts maintenance dredging at Cleveland annually, subject to need and available funding.
