In December 1989, "Acacia" responded to the grounding of USCGC "Mesquite" off of the Keweenaw Peninsula in Lake Superior. "Acacia" was able to assist in stabilizing the wreck and containing the diesel oil spill. She was awarded the Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation for her work, but winter storms destroyed the abandoned "Mesquite". The Coast Guard reassigned "Acacia" to Charlevoix, Michigan to replace "Mesquite". There was no replacement cutter assigned to Grand Haven, reducing the number of buoy tenders in the Great Lakes from five to four. The Coast Guard justified the move based on cost savings, but others attributed it to the influence of U.S. Representative Bob Davis, who represented Charlevoix in Congress. He was vice-chairman of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee at the time. The move left ill-feeling towards the Coast Guard in Grand Haven. "Acacia" arrived at her new homeport on June 15, 1990.