DNR to Delay Dredging of Buffalo Reef
In Houghton County, MI, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has postponed its plan to dredge the Keweenaw's Buffalo Reef until next year.
The DNR aims to remove copper mine tailings, known as stamp sands, from the Buffalo Reef fish spawning habitat in Grand Traverse Harbor. These sands threaten to cover crucial spawning and recruitment areas for Lake Superior whitefish and lake trout.
Previous harbor dredging efforts by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and others have maintained the waterway's accessibility for fishing, boating, and recreation.
The DNR has cited a poor bidding environment and potential conflicts with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who are working on the harbor wall, as reasons for rebidding the project to take place in 2026.
Author's summary: DNR delays Buffalo Reef dredging until 2026.