Harbor Maintenance Funding Annual Appropriations Should “Hit the Target” The Harbor Maintenance Tax is a fee collected from users of the maritime transportation system in order to fund the Army Corps of Engineers’ operation and maintenance activities. In the Great Lakes, these activities include regular dredging of harbors, maintenance of breakwaters, and operation of... Read More
Throughout the Great Lakes region, coastal areas are under threat from fluctuating lake levels and extreme weather events. While we cannot control the weather, ports and their host communities can be better prepared through long-term planning. The Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study was launched in 2016 by Great Lakes states in partnership with Army Corps... Read More
In 2010, Congress authorized a Port Infrastructure Development Program to be administered by the U.S. Maritime Administration. While the program remained unfunded for many years, Congress provided first-year funds in the FY2019 Consolidated Appropriations Act. Specifically, the legislation provides a total of $292.7 million and stipulates that grant funds are to be issued to public... Read More
In recent years, Great Lakes ports have been working to develop new business in two distinct areas: containerized cargo shipping, and passenger cruise tourism. These new business sectors have presented a challenge for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The processing of shipping containers and passengers is more complicated than the processing of traditional Great... Read More
The Harbor Maintenance Tax is a fee collected from users of the maritime transportation system in order to fund the Army Corps of Engineers' operation and maintenance activities. In the Great Lakes, these activities include regular dredging of harbors, maintenance of breakwaters, and operation of the Soo Locks. Despite the fact that adequate revenue is... Read More
Throughout the Great Lakes region, federal navigation infrastructure is in need of reconstruction and repair. Critical infrastructure includes the Soo Lock complex in northern Michigan and the St. Lawrence Seaway locks in upstate New York. Additional investments are necessary to restore federal breakwater structures protecting harbors and urban waterfronts throughout the region. Read More
Throughout the United States, road and rail congestion threaten the flow of commerce and economic growth. To address congestion, transportation planners are examining how local waterways can play an increased role in accommodating the movement of freight. The Great Lakes navigation system provides our region with a cost effective, waterborne transportation alternative. An impediment to... Read More
The problem of aquatic nuisance species has challenged the Great Lakes region for more than 20 years. There are a number of vectors by which non-native species might enter the Great Lakes, including the ballast water of ocean-going vessels. In response to this problem, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and most... Read More
Constructed between 1887-1922, the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS) provides a connection between the inland river navigation system and the Great Lakes, facilitating the movement of commercial maritime commerce and recreational boating. The waterway also serves an important role in the sanitation and flood control system serving Chicago and Northwest Indiana. In an effort to... Read More
The opening and closing dates of the St. Lawrence Seaway vary from year to year due to weather conditions and the demands of commerce. The system's locks have opened as early as March 20 and as late as March 31. The closing date has ranged from December 24 to December 31. Read More
The Great Lakes include 20 percent of the world’s surface freshwater and host a diverse ecosystem of aquatic and terrestrial life. Launched in 2010, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) was created to accelerate efforts to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Great Lakes Basin ecosystem. The GLRI seeks to... Read More