Serving Holland, Lake Macatawa & the lakeshore
We handle all permits — EGLE, Army Corps & County
Lake Macatawa & lakeshore specialists
Lake Macatawa, the Lake Michigan shore, Pigeon Lake and Kalamazoo Lake. We fix shallow, silted docks and failing walls, and handle every permit for you.
40 min
from our Fruitport yard to Holland
200,000
cubic yards dredged on one lake job
40+ yrs
team experience on Great Lakes waters
100%
of permits handled for you
Macatawa & the lakeshore
Lake Macatawa is a 1,780-acre drowned river-mouth lake. Outside the shipping channel it's mostly less than 10 feet deep, and its watershed sends it a lot of sediment and nutrients. Shallow docks and soft bottoms are common, so dredging and wall design both need local know-how.
≈ 1,780 acres · channel to Lake Michigan
Mostly shallow outside the shipping channel, with steady sediment from its watershed. Docks lose depth and soft bottoms need walls with real embedment and tiebacks.
Most requested: dock dredging · seawalls · wall repair
Marinas & yacht clubs
Low Great Lakes water and a shallow lake make for tight slips. Precise mechanical dredging between docks, with sediment testing and a disposal plan.
Most requested: slip & fairway dredging · bulkheads
Park & Laketown Twps
Bluffs and dunes face big-lake waves. Repair revetments to the drawings or plan protection now, while the water is low.
Most requested: revetment repair · Shore Savers™
Port Sheldon
A small lake with a channel to Lake Michigan, between Holland and Grand Haven. Shallow edges and aging walls are common.
Most requested: seawalls · dock dredging
More about Pigeon LakeSaugatuck–Douglas
Where the Kalamazoo River meets the lakeshore towns. River sediment fills slips and edges. We plan dredging, testing and disposal together.
Most requested: slip dredging · seawalls
Associations & boards
Groups across the Macatawa watershed are working on water quality. Associations planning dredging or shoreline work can talk to us early about scope and budget.
Most requested: dredging plans · budgets · permits
Services in Holland
Lake Macatawa's soft bottoms need longer sheet and stronger tiebacks. We build walls that stay straight, and fix ones that lean or leak soil.
Macatawa docks keep filling with watershed sediment. We restore depth near docks and in bays, with permits on both sides of the county line handled.
Macatawa and Kalamazoo Lake marinas lose slip depth fast when water is low. Precise dredging with sediment testing and a disposal plan.
Park and Laketown Twp bluffs and dunes: revetments repaired to the drawings, or Shore Savers™ to keep your beach usable.
Also around Holland: dam repair, waterfront excavating and building moving & heavy hauling.
The Macatawa watershed sends heavy sediment and nutrients into the lake. Shallow docks keep losing depth unless they're maintained.
With Great Lakes levels below average, already-shallow slips and docks can become hard to use.
Start this fall or winter to have permits in hand before boating season.
Permits in Ottawa & Allegan Counties
Most Holland waterfront projects need more than one approval. We prepare the drawings, file the applications and deal with the agencies.
State + federal: EGLE & Army Corps
One Joint Permit Application covers both for most seawall, dredging and shoreline work.
County: soil erosion (Part 91)
Holland straddles a county line. Earth changes within 500 ft of water need a Part 91 permit from the Ottawa County Water Resources Commissioner (north) or the Allegan County Health Department (south). We file with the right one.
Local: city, village or township
City of Holland, Holland Twp, Park Twp, Laketown Twp, Port Sheldon Twp, Saugatuck and Douglas each have their own zoning and shoreline rules.
Not sure what your project needs?
Get our free checklist: every permit, every step and real timelines.
Free tool
Measure your area. See your volume instantly. Then get a free estimate report.
Estimated volume to remove
667 yd³
Dump-truck loads*
56
Area
0.21 ac
Likely best method
Mechanical dredging
*~12 yd³ per 3-axle dump truck. Volume = length × width × depth ÷ 27.
Communities we serve
Lake Macatawa, the Lake Michigan shore, and from Port Sheldon to Saugatuck–Douglas.
Contractors Marine LTD
2966 Farr Rd, Fruitport, MI 49415 · (616) 836-1911
Proven on West Michigan lakes
At Mirror Lake we tested the sediment, got the EGLE permit, built a 4.5-acre spoils pond about ½ mile away and dredged ~50,000 yd³. The lake was usable for boating as soon as we finished.
"Returned calls, completed project on time and budget, very knowledgeable and professional!"
Yes. We build and repair seawalls and dredge docks, slips and bays on Lake Macatawa, plus Pigeon Lake, Kalamazoo Lake and the Lake Michigan shoreline.
Lake Macatawa is shallow outside the shipping channel, and its watershed delivers a lot of sediment and nutrients. Silt settles near shore and around docks over time. Targeted dredging restores depth.
Most projects need an EGLE / U.S. Army Corps Joint Permit Application. For earth changes within 500 feet of water you also need a Part 91 permit from the Ottawa County Water Resources Commissioner (north of the county line) or the Allegan County Health Department (south), plus local zoning. We handle all of it.
Our yard is in Fruitport, about 40 minutes north. We schedule Holland-area site visits regularly, and our own equipment means no subcontractor delays.
Seawalls are priced per foot. Soft bottoms can call for longer sheet and stronger tiebacks. We give free site evaluations and written estimates.
Local crew. Honest advice. Permits handled. Book now for next season.
Free download
Get Your Free Estimate
Tell us where to send it.
Before you go
Getting waterfront quotes around Holland?
Our free guide shows what really drives the price, and the red flags that cost owners thousands.
