The Detroit Engineer District staff have since compiled a summary/funding analysis of Great Lakes provisions. The Great Lakes region will receive $516.47 million in navigation maintenance funding in FY2026. This is an increase of more than $50 million, nearly 11%, over FY2025 levels. This continued growth reflects strong federal investment in the region’s ports and waterways. 

While the president’s proposed budget includes funding for Corps projects, it is typical for Congress to add to these funds in the final budget it enacts. The FY2026 budget includes discretionary spending items, including $75.99 million on Soo Lock asset renewal and maintenance; $61.01 million on Black Rock Lock asset renewal and maintenance; and $108.24 million in total for structure design, maintenance and repairs to 18 regional ports. 

Harbor maintenance spending on the Great Lakes has grown considerably over the last decade. “This has been the result of strong advocacy by the American Great Lakes Ports Association on Capitol Hill and with the administration for full use of Harbor Maintenance Tax revenue, spending down the surplus balance of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, making the case for our region, and the requirement that no less than 13% of annual expenditures go to Great Lakes port and navigation projects,” Brian Oszakiewski, executive director of the AGLPA, said in a recent newsletter. 

Leslie Zager, communications director for the American Great Lakes Ports Association (AGLPA), said, “We appreciate the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ continued commitment to Great Lakes navigation. The FY2026 work plan includes a historic $516 million for our region—nearly an 11% increase from last year. That kind of investment will allow them to address critical deferred maintenance on our breakwaters and piers and tackle long-term dredged material management for the system.” 

Zager added, “The Great Lakes received about 14.6% of Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund revenue this year, exceeding the 13% benchmark for our region. These numbers reflect the continued advocacy of AGLPA and others to ensure the critical importance of our ports and waterways is recognized at the federal level.” 

Read the summary of Great Lakes provisions here.

Feature photo: Dredging Grand Haven Harbor/Photo courtesy of U.S. Army Corpse of Engineers, Detroit District