Pier 1000 Marina in St. Joseph has started raising money to dredge part of the St. Joseph River this year.

Berrien County has secured a state permit for dredging in the area of the island, where boaters last year reported concerningly low depths, but the county has made clear it will not pay for the dredging. That’s falling on the boating community in the area while the cities of St. Joseph and Benton Harbor and St. Joseph Township work to establish a Harbor Authority to take care of it.

Pier 1000 now says it’s filing paperwork to create a non-profit that can take donations, and money is already being taken at the marina. They’re also looking for business sponsorships. The marina adds most of the dredging project will be paid for by local marinas and boaters, and they’re just asking for a little help.

Berrien County Community Development Director Dan Fette has told county commissioners dredging could be done as soon as this spring as long as the funds are raised. At last word, the county was waiting for one final approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which could come at any time.