INTERVIEW: Cargo ship chef dishes about her adventures on the Great Lakes
Some cooking students dream to one day land their dream job as chef in a fancy restaurant. But one chef has made a decades-long career cooking aboard ships on the Great Lakes. I recently talked with Katherine Schmuck who started the conversation explaining how a chance meeting in a bar got her culinary career started.
Read the story, listen to it and view images here: https://radio.wcmu.org/local-regional-news/2025-05-14/cargo-ship-chef-dishes-about-her-adventures-on-the-great-lakes?fbclid=IwY2xjawKUq5NleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFieTY4MThPNHJJREduMXF0AR7Ui0i7zxjLxds4fFlb5GLYEBkbNELLgBw2m1f9_ZobcnVO7H9WR_Wu9zoNFQ_aem_6JROikfRoQDtqY3RD7wqlg
Corps Detroit District receives $558.9 million investment from FY25 Work Plan
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, is receiving a total allocation in the Operations & Maintenance account of $291.2 million in the Work Plan, released May 15, 2025, for connecting channels and harbor projects, $264.1 million for the New Lock at the Soo construction project and $3.6 million to conduct investigation studies.
The released work plan provides the entire appropriation for the Corps of Engineers under the yearlong continuing resolution that was passed.
“This is an exciting opportunity for the Detroit District team to provide solutions to our regional infrastructure,” said Detroit District Commander Lt. Col. Wallace Bandeff. “Repairing, maintaining and improving our federal harbors and infrastructure is essential to bring resiliency to our communities, our economy and the environment. I know the Detroit District team and our partners are ready to deliver these historic investments!”
Projects to receive construction funding through the FY 25 Work Plan:
New Lock at the Soo, MI $264,130,000
Award Remaining Phase 3 Options (Downstream Work, Hands Free Mooring, Downstream Ship Arrestors); Construction Modifications; Supervision and Administration of New Lock
Projects to receive Investigation funding through the FY 25 Work Plan:
Menominee River Deepening, MI & WI $1,219,000
Complete the feasibility study phase
Southeast Michigan, MI $1,200,000
Continue the feasibility study phase
Tittabawassee, Chippewa, Pine and Tobacco Rivers, MI $1,200,000
Continue the feasibility study phase
Projects to receive O&M investments through the FY 25 Work Plan:
Michigan:
Alpena Harbor, MI $3,014,000
Arcadia Harbor, MI $153,000
Au Sable Harbor, MI $107,000
Big Bay Harbor, MI $1,655,000
Bolles Harbor, MI $2,523,000
Caseville Harbor, MI $832,000
Cedar River Harbor, MI $1,156,000
Channels in Lake St. Clair, MI $3,810,000
Charlevoix Harbor, MI $1,376,000
Cheboygan Harbor, MI $1,063,000
Clinton River, MI $4,550,000
Detroit River, MI $11,338,000
Frankfort Harbor, MI $ 2,426,000
Grand Haven Harbor, MI $ 13,638,000
Grand Marais Harbor, MI $1,378,000
Grand Traverse Bay Harbor, MI $ 1,528,000
Holland Harbor, MI $20,338,000
Inspection of Completed Works, MI $289,000
Keweenaw Waterway, MI $1,514,000
Lexington Harbor, MI $5,002,000
Little Lake Harbor, MI $1,880,000
Ludington Harbor, MI $2,078,000
Manistee Harbor, MI $3,977,000
Manistique Harbor, MI $2,738,000
Marquette Harbor, MI $1,616,000
Menominee Harbor, MI $366,000
Monroe Harbor, MI $4,847,000
Muskegon Harbor, MI $4,372,000
New Buffalo Harbor, MI $1,475,000
Ontonagon Harbor, MI $3,067,000
Pentwater Harbor, MI $2,218,000
Petoskey Harbor, MI $1,075,000
Point Lookout Harbor, MI $780,000
Port Sanilac Harbor, MI $3,457,000
Portage Lake Harbor, MI $267,000
Presque Isle Harbor, MI $1,266,000
Saginaw River, MI $6,019,000
Saugatuck Harbor, Kalamazoo River, MI $385,000
Sebewaing River, MI $2,225,000
South Haven Harbor, MI $1,740,000
St. Clair River, MI $3,539,000
St. Joseph Harbor, MI $3,309,000
St. Marys River, MI $124,789,000
White Lake Harbor, MI $438,000
Whitefish Point Harbor, MI $1,677,000
Minnesota & Wisconsin:
Duluth Superior Harbor, MN & WI $27,668,000
Minnesota:
Knife River Harbor, MN $1,178,000
Surveillance of Northern Boundary Waters, MN (LRD, MVD) $1,638,000
Two Harbors, MN $342,000
Wisconsin:
Port Wing Harbor, WI $2,483,000
The summary of work to be accomplished for each allocation and additional information regarding the entire Corps of Engineers’ Fiscal Year 2025 Work Plan can be found here: https://www.usace.army.mil/missions/civil-works/budget/#Work-Plans.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District
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Registration Now Open for Annual Soo Boatnerd Cruise
Join us for the Annual Boatnerd Freighter Chasing Cruise on the St. Marys River!
- When: Friday, June 27, 6-9 pm, rain or shine
- Where: Soo Locks Boat Tours, Dock #2 (next to the Valley Camp)
- Limit: 100 passengers
- Food: Pizza and salad included with paid passage
- General Adult Admission:
-Early Bird Adult $35.00 each (through May 31)
-Regular Adult $40.00 each (June 1-June 20)
-Procrastinator Adult $45 each (after June 20)
- Youth Admission, age 5-17: $15 flat rate
- Youth Admission, age 4 and under: FREE
- Students (age 18+) with a current, valid i.d. get a $5 discount off an adult ticket. The student must present their student i.d. when boarding.
This year’s St. Mary’s River cruise will be aboard a Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours boat on Friday, June 27. Boarding begins at 5:30 pm, and we cast off at 6pm. The cruise is three hours long. We plan to travel through the U.S. Locks, but that may change in order to chase freighters.
Pizza and salad are included in paid passage. There will be a cash bar on board. You can bring your own food and beverages (you cannot bring alcohol).
Reservations are a must, as the group is limited to 100 passengers. Mailed checks must be received no later than Friday, June 20.
If the cruise is not sold out by June 20, we will take online or cash (US funds only) reservations at the Procrastinator Price of $45.00 per General Admission ticket. Youth ticket rates stay the same as listed above.
Click link below to buy your ticket(s) online.
Contact Angie at griffinclawangie@gmail.com or 734-386-0899 if you have questions or to request any refunds. No refunds will be issued after June 19.
