Corps Contract Keeps Upper Mississippi Channel Open
River shippers and marine contractors should track the spring 2027 dredging start and its two-year schedule.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Construction
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' St. Paul District awarded a $9.1 million contract to Brennan Marine on September 29 to move 325,000 cubic yards of dredged sand from the Grand Encampment site to a permanent upland placement area near Wabasha. The contractor has two years to complete the work, which is expected to begin next spring.
Why it matters
The project frees up future temporary storage space at the placement site, and dredged sand storage capacity is needed to prevent navigation channel closures on the Mississippi River. For Minnesota businesses that depend on barge traffic, keeping the channel open is the operational concern behind the contract.
The $9.1 million award covers the movement of 325,000 cubic yards of sand, with the contractor given two years to finish. The St. Paul District maintains a 9-foot navigation channel and 13 locks and dams between Minneapolis and Guttenberg, Iowa.
The players
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
The federal agency that maintains the Mississippi River navigation channel and its locks and dams, and that awards contracts for dredging and channel maintenance.
Brennan Marine
A La Crosse, Wisconsin-based marine contractor that performs dredging and river construction work on the upper Mississippi.
The details
The dredged sand is moved from the Grand Encampment site to a permanent upland placement area near the Zumbro River Flats, south of Wabasha. The beneficial use of the sand will convert the upland site into sand prairie and dune habitat, which the Corps ties to its engineering with nature approach. Dredging work is expected to begin next spring.
Timeline
September 29, 2026: Contract awarded to Brennan Marine.
Spring 2027: Corps officials anticipate dredging work will begin.
Two years after start: Contractor's deadline to complete the project.
Market Landscape
The contract reflects the Corps' ongoing channel maintenance role on the upper Mississippi, where dredged material storage determines whether navigation stays open. Beneficial-use projects that turn dredged material into habitat are part of the agency's engineering with nature approach.
Operators in marine transport and river-dependent shipping should watch the dredging schedule, since channel closures would affect barge movements. Construction firms that bid on federal channel work should note that contracts of this size carry a two-year performance window.
The takeaway
Track the spring 2027 start date and any navigation advisories the St. Paul District issues during dredging. Companies that depend on Mississippi River barge access should confirm contingency shipping plans with qualified logistics advisors before the work begins.
What happens next
Dredging work is expected to begin next spring, with the contractor's two-year completion window running from the start date.
Further reading
For related context on heavy civil work across the state, see Construction coverage in Minnesota.
