Permitting, FERC and Corps review could stretch dredging timeline into 2027

Steve Johnson walked attendees through the permitting sequence and warned that some reviews can be time‑consuming, particularly FERC reviews for flow or dam‑related issues. "That FERC thing...can take 9 months or up to a year," Johnson said, and advised starting key federal contacts early so that construction could fit into the legal dredging window.

Johnson also identified the state Department of Water permit form (referred to as form 42946) and said that some stream work could require direct contact with the Army Corps of Engineers and IDEM rather than automatic programmatic routing. Because fish spawning constrains in‑water work, he explained the practical construction window is usually July through December, and the group is targeting a 2027 start once funding and permits are in place.