The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works program is set to receive more than $7.4 billion in discretionary funding for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), with the Detroit District being allocated just over $159 million for various projects. Among these projects, the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study is of particular importance to the region, with $3 million being earmarked for it. The study will span across the three Great Lakes Corps of Engineers Districts, namely Detroit, Buffalo, and Chicago, and will aim to identify vulnerable coastal areas and recommend strategies to enhance the coastal resources’ ability to withstand, recover from, and adapt to future hydrologic uncertainty brought about by both natural and man-made coastal environments. The need for the study was highlighted by recent high-water events that impacted the Great Lakes region.

The budget also seeks funding for investigations that will offer local communities, including those that are disadvantaged, technical and planning assistance to help reduce their flood risk, with an emphasis on non-structural solutions. The Detroit District will benefit from investigation funding for various studies, such as the Menominee River Deepening navigation study, the Rodgers Lake Habitat Pokagon Band aquatic ecosystem restoration study, as well as three flood risk management studies for the Peavine Creek Stabilization, Pokagon Band-Potawatami Tribe, Southeast Michigan, and Tittabawassee River Chippewa River, Pine River, and Tobacco River.

Upper Peninsula projects include:

• Keweenaw Waterway $1,908,000

• Manistique Harbor $308,000

• Marquette Harbor $256,000

• St. Marys River, Soo Locks $107,727,000