Project Status & Disclaimer: Construction of the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP) was completed in 2025. The SHEP is currently in the post-construction environmental monitoring phase. This project is distinct from the 2026 Savannah Harbor Deepening Study led by the Georgia Ports Authority. This website serves as a public repository for documents associated with the SHEP.
Project Overview
The Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP) deepened the Savannah River Federal Navigation Channel from 42 feet to 47 feet below mean lower low water (MLLW), allowing larger and more heavily loaded vessels to call on the harbor with fewer tidal delays.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is the lead federal agency, working in close coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Marine Fisheries Service. The project's non-federal sponsors include the Georgia Department of Transportation and the Georgia Ports Authority.
In conjunction with the deepening, USACE offset environmental impacts through mitigation measures such as installing a dissolved oxygen system, re-routing freshwater flow in the upper harbor, preserving 2,245 acres of freshwater wetlands, and recovering remnants of the CSS Georgia.
Primary Project Documents
- Link to Environmental Impact Statement (currently on the website)
- Assesses the environmental impacts of the harbor deepening and outlines mitigation plans.
- Link to General Re-Evaluation Report (currently on the website)
- Documents the updated economic justification and technical feasibility analysis for the harbor deepening.
- Link to Engineering Supplemental Studies (currently on the website)
- Provides engineering data, hydrodynamic modeling, and design parameters for construction.
Post-Construction Environmental Monitoring
Following the completion of construction, the project entered a multi-year post-construction environmental monitoring phase. The map and table below outline the specific locations, elements, and timelines observed to ensure all environmental mitigation features perform as intended.
For more detailed information, please visit the SHEP Environmental Monitoring Program website.