Introduction

Envisioning a Harbor for Homer’s Present and Future​

As Homer’s picturesque harbor continues to flourish, the need for harbor expansion has become more apparent than ever. With a commitment to preserving the natural beauty of Kachemak Bay and fostering a sustainable environment for future generations, we must work together to expand and modernize our harbor while helping to ensure that our hard-working community and the Kachemak Bay environment thrive.

In 2023, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) launched a study to assess the feasibility of building a new harbor basin for large vessels adjacent to the existing small boat harbor. The study addresses environmental considerations in addition to economics and engineering feasibility. The City of Homer (the City) will simultaneously identify and evaluate services and infrastructure needed to progress should an expansion be recommended by the study.​ The goal is to identify a realistic, right-sized solution to meet the needs of the large vessel industry in Alaska and thoughtfully plan for future flexibility. 

An expansion would include a basin and support infrastructure to adequately accommodate the large marine vessels presently tied three abreast on the transient float in the small boat harbor, as well as other large vessels that wish to home port here but are currently turned away because there is no room. As a community that depends on marine trades, a modernized harbor is critical to help ensure safe operations, dependable access, and long-term economic vitality. An expanded harbor facility could also moor the Coast Guard Cutter Aspen and potentially provide short-term moorage for the Coast Guard’s new fast cutter fleet for layover, provisioning, and repair work. If the USACE study results in a recommendation to proceed, the City will then decide whether to launch an effort to secure sources of funding and construct a harbor expansion.

In 2026, USACE released the Draft Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment (EA) for public and agency review and comment. Following the public comment period, the study team evaluated comments while refining the recommended plan. The study has also successfully confirmed with USACE leadership the technical viability and support to advance the preferred alternative, a slightly modified version of alternative 2 which was presented at a public meeting in early 2025. The project anticipates issuing a final Chief’s Report in March 2027. The Chief’s Report will serve as the basis for congressional authorization and future implementation of the project.