Marine Habitat Construction – Saginaw Bay (Fall 2025)

State of Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget

Walsh Service Solutions executed a large-scale marine construction project in Saginaw Bay to restore critical fish habitats. This strategic initiative was designed to reverse decades of habitat loss caused by sediment erosion, requiring precise material placement and high-frequency hydrographic monitoring.

Project Overview

  • Value: $1.93M

  • Timeline: Fall 2025

  • Location: Saginaw Bay, Michigan

  • Contract Number: 24454

Project Scope & Execution

  • Mass Material Placement: Strategically placed 20,350 tons of limestone rip rap to create a stable, long-term underwater reef structure.

  • Precision Engineering: Constructed a massive fish habitat reef measuring 570’ long by 190’ wide by 6’ deep.

  • Quality Control Surveys: Performed multiple pre- and post-placement hydrographic surveys to quantify material volumes and confirm the reef met strict design specifications.

  • Environmental Restoration: Targeted sediment erosion challenges to revitalize local aquatic ecosystems through durable stone engineering.

The Result

By successfully managing the logistics of massive stone transport and precise underwater placement, WSS delivered a critical environmental asset for the State of Michigan. The project ensures the long-term viability of the Saginaw Bay ecosystem while meeting all DTMB budgetary and timeline requirements.