ODNR Releases 2026 Dredge Plan

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has released its 2026 dredging plan for Grand Lake St. Marys.

For the first time in six years, the dredge crew is fully staffed. Two new crew members will be trained as dredge operators, which will require some training time, but a fully staffed program is positive news for the lake.

As of now, the plan is to set up all three dredges for production and training purposes. The crew will run Brutus and Hoedag full-time, as they are the most productive dredges – each capable of removing an estimated 150,000 cubic yards per year when operating at full capacity.

Pump-A-Little will be stationed near the ODNR office for training and will also be available to operate when the other dredges cannot due to breakdowns, rough weather, or other circumstances.

Provided the program remains fully staffed and there is adequate DMRA capacity, there is a possibility that all three dredges could operate full-time in 2027.

Many factors are considered when developing the annual dredging plan, including available DMRA sites and channel depths, which are now scanned using sonar technology.

In addition to sediment removal, the dredge team is also responsible for removing stumps, limbs, fallen trees, and other debris from navigation channels.

For questions or concerns, contact the ODNR park office at 419-394-3611.