T.

Owen
K.Park

Dredging
Dredgingmethods
Casestudy
Methodsformitigatingadverseeffects
Commentsandconclusions

Definitionofdredging
Dredging istheprocessofunderwaterremovalof
materialfromthebedorbanksofawaterway
anddisposingthematerialatadifferentlocation.
Classification
Purposes ofdredgingaretodeepen/widen
waterwaysfornavigation,toregaincapacitywithin
reservoirs,ortoreplenishsandonbeaches.
Locations fordredgingincluderivers,reservoirs,and
seashores.

LawsandRegulations,andAgencies
U.S.LawsandRegulations,andAgencies
MajorEnvironmentalLawsandRegulations

NationalEnvironmentalPolicyActof1969
ComprehensiveEnvironmentalResponse,
CompensationandLiabilityActof1980
CleanAirAct
ResourceConservationandRecoveryActof1976
FederalWaterPollutionControlActof1972
(amendedandrenamedtheCleanWaterActof
1977)
RiversandHarborsActof1899(TheRefuseAct)
MarineProtection,Research,andSanctuariesAct
of1972(commonlycalledtheOceanDumping
Act)
CoastalZoneManagementActof1972
EndangeredSpeciesActof1973
FishandWildlifeCoordinationActsof1934,
1956,and1958
ToxicSubstancesControlAct
andmanymore(completelistcanbefoundat
USACEwebsite)

Governancetoproceeddredgingproject
(i.e.potentialpermittingagencies)

USNationalMarineFisheriesService
USFishandWildlifeService
USEnvironmentalProtectionAgency
StateFishandGameAgencies
StateWaterQualityCertifyingAgencies
StateCoastalZoneManagementAgencies
OtherFederalandStateAgencies

S.KoreanLawsandRegulations,and
Agencies
MajorEnvironmentalLawsand
Regulations

FundamentallawofEnvironmental
impactassessment1990
LawofEnvironmentalimpact
assessment1993
LawofEnvironmentalimpact
assessmentinEnvironmental,
Transportation,Disaster1999
LawofNaturalEnvironment
Conservation1999
LawofAggregateCollection1991
LawofStream1961
Lawofwastemanagement2007

Governancetoproceeddredgingproject
(Nationalriver)
MinistryofTransportationandMaritime
Affairs
MinistryofEnvironment

(Localriverandstream)
Localgovernment
LocalbranchofMOCTandME

Planninganewdredgingproject

Designdredgingplanperoneofthefollowingmanuals
U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineersEM111025025,DredgingandDredgedMaterialPlacement
EngineeringManual
IntegratedNationalRiverRestorationManual2011,Korea

ConsiderationsforDredgingandDredgedMaterialDisposal
Selectionofproperdredgeplantforagivenproject
Selectionofproperequipment
Determiningwhetherornottherewillbedredgingofcontaminatedmaterial(i.e.completing
apreprojectEnvironmentalAssessment)
Adequatedisposalfacilities
Longtermplanningformaintenancedredgingprojects
Characterizationofsedimentstobedredgedtosupportanengineeringdesignofconfined
disposalareas
Determiningthelevelsofsuspendedsolidsfromdisposalareasanddredgeoperations
Disposalofcontaminatedsediments
Controlofdredgingoperationtoensureenvironmentalprotection
Determiningquantityofmaterialtobedredgedanddisposed
Obtainingappropriatepermits
Consultingwithlocalresident
Determiningtheaffectsonriverresponse(i.e.headcutting,morphology,etc)
Cost,Time

Dredging,perspectivefromriver
mechanics

Considerationofthemajorfactorscausing
riverbedaggradation

DredgingaffectsonRivermorphologyinthe
upstreamanddownstreamdirection
Longtemmodelingforassessingdredging
effectshavetobecarriedoutbeforeproject
implementation
Dredgingandstructuralmeasures,suchas
hydraulicstructurestostabilizeriverchannel,
canbeconsideredforminimizingpost
projectmaintenance
(e.g.)InMississippiRiver Bendwayweirscouldmakedredging
reducedby80%(RiverMechanicsp270)

ClassificationofDredgingMethods

HydraulicDredges

Pickupthedredgedmaterialbymeansofsuctionpipesandpumps
Excavatedmaterialisdisposedbymeansofahopper,pipelineor sidecasting
Typicallyselfpropelled
Typesincludesuctiondredges(Hopper,Dustpan,Cutterheadwithclosednosebasketorwithopennosebasket,Trailing,Auger,
Jetlift,Airlift),WaterInjection,Pneumatic,
Cutterheaddredgesarethemostefficient,versatile,andwidelyused.
CutterheadDredge

DustpanDredge

BucketDredge

MechanicalDredges

Liftthedredgedmaterialbymeansofdiggersorbuckets
Excavatedmaterialisdumpedintodisposalbargesforunloadingatthedisposalsite
Typicallynotselfpropelledandmustbetowedtotheworksite
Typesincludedipperdredge,bucketdredge(withclamshell,orangepeel,ordraglinebucket),Grab,BedLeveler,Krabbelaar,
Snagboat,Amphibious
Considerablefinematerialislostfrombucket,andthemaximumconcentrationofthesuspendedturbidityplumeistypicallyless
than1,000ppm.

(1)HydraulicSuctionDredges

cutterhead ladder ladderpump controls hull

mainpump engine spud floatanddischargepipeline
disposalarea inletzone finesedimentdeposits
adjustableeffluentweir dischargeofclarifiedeffluent

(advantages)
Lowcostandhighrateofproduction
Canpumplongdistancewiththeaidof
boosterpumpstations
(disadvantages)
Bulkingoffinesediment
sedimentdewateringrequired
(properlocations)
Hopperdredge:selfpropelled,shallow
coastalharbors
Dustpandredge:selfpropelled,for
dredgingnoncohesivematerial
Cutterheaddredges:mostwidelyused,
foralluvialmaterialincludingcompacted
claysandhardpans
(Cost)
US$3~6$/m3

(2)MechanicalDredges

Dipperdredge

Mechanical(bucket)dredges
Excavates submergedsediments
withabucket
Deliveraproducthavinglowwater
content,buttheproductionrateis
low
Disadvantages
Finesedimentislostwhenraised
fromdeepunderwater
Cangenerateconsiderable
turbidity
Classification
Dipperdredge
Bucketdredge
Cost:US$3$10/m3

Bucketdredge

(3)Othermethods
<Siphondredges>
Usedinreservoirsedimentdredging
(casesinChina)
Slurryforcedthroughthepipelinebythe
differentialheadbetweenthewater
surfaceinthereservoirandthedischarge
point (w/opump)
Mobiletype,fixedtype
Twomajorlimitations
lackofreliabilityofsystem
limitedhydraulicgradient
<Pneumaticdredges>

useachamberwithinlets,outofwhich
thewaterispumpedwiththeinlets
closed.Afterthat,excavationbegins

Casestudy(1) 4MajorRivers
RestorationProject

Projectforsecuringwatersupplyand
morefloodcontrolcapacitycopingwith
climatechange (1.3billionm3 forwater
supply,0.92m3forfloodcontrol)

Totaldredging:57millionm3

Floodwaterlevelwillbedecreased
0.4m(YoungsanRiver)~3.9m(Nakdong
River)

Dredges
:hydraulicdredgingships(deepchannel)
+backhoe(shallowchannel)

Mitigationmeasuresforadverseeffects
:Vacuumdredging+doublesilt
protectors+realtimeturbiditysensing

Casestudy(2) YantzeRiver
(20012010)
6majorprojectsundertakenduringthe
current10yearperiod(200110)
Dredgingthe414kmstretchoftheriverto
enablethepassageof1,000dwtbargefleets
Eradicatingtheshoalsandrapidscreated
bytheconstructionoftheThreeGorges
Dam
(20112020)
Dredgenext395kmareaandareasbelow
theThreeGorgeReservoirfor10,000dwt
bargefleets
Next497kmstretchtoallow20,00050,000
dwtbarges
Completethedredgeafter312kmreachin
thenextreach
(Budget)
US0.2billiondollarsfor5yeardredging
project

Casestudy(3) MissouriRiver

In1929,theMissouriRiverNavigation
Commissionestimatedthetotalamount
ofgoodsshippedontheriverannuallyat
15milliontons(doesnotmeetthe
estimatebyuntil)
Forthenavigation,almostallofthe
MissouriRiverwasdredgedfromthe
lower500 miles(800 km)oftheriver.
Alsothisriverhasbeencommercially
dredgedforatleast70years to
supplysandandgravelforconcrete
andasphaltusedinconstructionand
roadbuilding.(minimum:250,000
tonsperyearin1935,maximum9
milliontonsin2002)
EPAscorneddredginginMissouri
River forinappropriateenvironmental
impactassessmentrecently

Casestudy(4) LakeSpringfield,Illinois

Builtin1934(1635haimpoundment,
73.9Mm3,4.5mdeep),butby1984,capacity
reducedby13percent(storageloss:
9.5Mm3)

primarypurposeistoserveasthesourceof
drinkingwaterandIllinoisrecreationcenter,
aswellasthesourceofcondensercooling
waterfortheutility'slakeshorepowerplant

(Reservoirdredging)
during1987~1991,2.28Mm3dredged
unitcost:US$3/m3
conventionalcutterheaddredgewasapplied
fromthe2nd phase,boosterpumpwasused
sediment:66%clay,33%silt,1%sand
containmentdike1.2~7m,dewateredfor2
yrs
effluentturbidity1~2mg/L

Casestudy(5) TheworldinDubai,UAE

Measuringapproximately9kminwidth
by7kminlength,thedevelopmentwill
coverapproximately9,340,000square
meters

Byseabeddredging,over326million
cubicmetersofsand waspumpedto
formtheislandsaswellasbuildinga26
kilometerlongovalshapebreakwater.

(procedures)
1.UsinglargedredgesTSHD,withhopperswithaminimum
of18,000m3,reachingalevelof10meters.
2.Sincetheheight10to7,theemptyingjobiscarriedoutby
smallerdredges
3.Bytheuseofsmalldredgestheyusethemostamountof
materialthatcanbedepositedbyemptyingnormally
untilthe5meters.
4.Toreachalevelof+3meters,theprojectionbyblastingthe
sand ismade.

Methodsformitigatingadverse
effects
(1)Disposalofdredgedsediment

BeneficialUsesofDredgedMaterialInclude:Aquaculture,ConstructionMaterial,Topsoil,Berm
Creation,Capping,LandCreation,ShoreProtection,BeachNourishment,FishandWildlifeHabitats,Wetland
Restoration,FisheriesImprovement,andmore

Casestudy:HillsboroughBayCDF,FL
Beneficialusesincludedfishand
wildlifehabitats,andwetland
restoration
Twocontaineddisposalfacilities
(CDF)islandswerebuilt.Marshes
werecreatedalongshorelinesand
nestinghabitatprovidedonisland
surfaces.Marshplantingandlimited
bioengineering(riprap)wasprovided
forphysicalprotection.Smoothcord
grasssprigs,withmangroveseed
podswereplantedinthemarsh
stand.

Casestudy:PalosVerdesShelfPilot
CappingProject,LowAngelesCounty,CA
Pilotprojecttotesttheabilitytocap
contaminatedsedimentinplaceasapotential
cleanupactionforthePalosVerdesShelf
SuperfundSite
Threecells werecappedwithvaryingcap
thickness,sedimenttypes,andplacement
methods
Constructionofthepilotcapcompleted
September2001,monitoringongoing

Methodsformitigatingadverse
effects
(2)Alleviatewaterqualityperturbation
Methodsofminimizingwaterquality
perturbation:

UsingaSiltCurtain
EffluentTreatment through
clarifiertanksandfiltrationunits
Biofiltration infiltrationof
effluentthroughforestfloors
(adverseeffectscouldoccurtothe
forest,however,somethodnot
widelyused)
FishExclusionCurtain
DredgingTimingWindows
avoidingdredginginlowflows,and
duringfishmigration
WaterQualityMonitoring
SpillContingencyPlan perthe
AESLEngineeringTechnicalReport

Methodsformitigatingadverse
effects

(3)minimizingriverchange

Adverseecologicaleffectsofdredging
include,butarenotlimitedto:

Substrateremoval,andthushabitatandspeciesremoval,which
requiresrecolonizationofdisturbedareas.
Alterationofbottomtopography,whichinturndestroyslocalhabitat.
Localresuspensionofsedimentsandincreaseofturbidity.
Spreadofsedimentandassociatedcontaminantsinthesurroundingsof
thedredgingsite.
Disposalofcontaminatedsediment

TheConfinedDisposalFacilityatKetelmeerinthe
Netherlandsisagoodexampleofbestpractice.

Methodsforminimizingadverseeffects:

SiltCurtaintocontainturbidity
Selectionofappropriatedredgingmethodto
minimizeresuspensionofsediments,and
maximizecaptureofcontaminatedsoil(i.e.usinga
cutterheadsuctiondredgewithclosednose
basket
Properdisposalofcontaminatedsedimentina
properlydesignedConfinedDisposalFacility(CDF)

Methodsformitigatingadverseeffects
(3)minimizingriverchange(contd)
Rivermorphology
Potentialeffectsofdredgingonrivermorphologyincludeheadcuttingand
bankcutting,resultinginlossofriversideproperty,andsteepeningofthe
riversystem,includingtributaries.

CaseStudy:KawRiver,KansasCity,KS
Cause:Sandandgravelminingfromriverbottomusingdredging
methods.
Problem:Localizeddredgedareaswerereplenishedwithsand
erodedfromriverbanksandtributariesupstream,resultingin
lossofriversideproperty,lossofriparianvegetation,
degradationofbankstability,andlocalscouraroundbridge
piersandhydraulicstructures.
Solutions:Regulate wheresandandgraveldredgingisallowed
sothatoverdredging(i.e.exhaustingtheriversystem)is
avoided,andencouragesandandgravelpitminingoutsideof
theriversystem.

5.Conclusions

CommentsandConclusions
ThetwomajorclassesofdredgersareHydraulicandMechanical. The
maintypesofdredgesincludesuction,bucket,anddipperdredges.
Alotofdredgingprojectshavebeendoneandstillaregoingon inrivers,
reservoirsandseas.
Advantagestodredgingincludeimprovingthedepthandwidthof
navigablewaterways,andusingdredgedmaterialforapplications
includingbermconstruction,wetlandsrestoration,beachreplenishment,
andmuchmore.
Adverseeffectsincludedegradationofwaterquality,adverse
environmentalimpacts,andadversegeomorphologicalimpacts,toname
afew.Tomitigatethenegativeimpacts,diversemethodsappropriatetoa
particularprojectshouldbeimplemented
Dredgingprojectsmustbeapprovedbymanyfederalandstate
governmentalagenciesandmustadheretoalonglistofregulations.