Dredging could begin in South Haven this week.

South Haven Assistant City Manager and Harbormaster Michael Landis tells us a crew is in town waiting to begin. The operation would have started by now, but there’s been a bit of a delay.

“We were hoping that it was going to take place here this week, between Monday and Thursday,” Landis said. “The water’s been a little bit rough, so the operators can’t be out there doing the work.”

Landis says the crew could get to work Thursday. So, where are they dredging and why is it important?

“It’ll be at the mouth of the harbor on the south side. We have a shoaling, or shallowing, of the water that’s taken place over the last couple of years and generally, it’s between 11 and 12 feet. Currently, it’s about 8, so it’s preventing some traffic being able to enter and exit the harbor.”

For example, the Michigan Maritime Museum tall ship, Friends Good Will, couldn’t make its usual trip up to the Tulip Time festival in Holland because the South Haven Harbor was too shallow for it to navigate out.

Landis says if the dredging can’t start Thursday, the operation will be delayed until next week because the city doesn’t want it to take place during HarborFest, which is this Friday and Saturday.

Material dredged from the harbor will be placed at South Beach as part of a beach nourishment program.