(WASHINGTON) — In late May, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released its final navigation work plan for fiscal year 2025. The plan outlines resources that will be used for dredging, structure maintenance, and other priorities at every port in the United States.
A summary/funding analysis of Great Lakes provisions can be found here. Amounts shown in black are spending amounts originally proposed in the president’s FY 2025 budget and approved by Congress. Amounts shown in red are “additional” funds, which Congress has provided the Corps of Engineers to distribute administratively at its discretion.
While most of the Corps’ budget is often directed by Congress (line item by line item), Congress also continues to recognize the need to provide flexibility to the Corps based on its needs.
The Great Lakes summary shows that the Great Lakes region will receive a total of $466.21 million for navigation maintenance in FY 2025. Much of this is harbor dredging, lock renewal/maintenance, and other structural improvements. By way of comparison, the region received $374.04 million in FY 2024. FY 2025 represents a historic level of overall funding for the Great Lakes region for this type of investment.
Harbor maintenance spending on the Great Lakes has grown considerably over the past decade. This has been the result of strong advocacy on Capitol Hill for full use of harbor maintenance tax revenue, spending down the surplus balance of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, making the case for the region, and the requirement that no less than 13 percent of annual expenditures go to Great Lakes port and navigation projects.
– American Great Lakes Ports Association
