ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF DREDGING IN ESTUARIES

Salt marsh estuarine environments along the Intracoastal Waterway of the southeastern Atlantic coast were studied to determine the environmental effects of dredging in these areas. The study dealt with the chemical response of salt marsh sediments to the deposition of dredge materials and with the water quality response to dredging and deposition of sediments in a salt marsh estuarine environment. After the initial destruction of the salt marsh plants due to spoil deposition, the rate of reequilibration of the marsh sediments to their original state (suitable for revegetation) is greatly dependent on the depth of the dredge spoil deposit. In natural and relatively unpolluted areas, dredging has no significant effects on water quality when either diked or undiked confinement techniques are used. In polluted areas in marine environments, water quality impairment caused by dredging activities does not necessarily bear any simple relation to the composition of the sediments to be dredged.

• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  345 East 47th Street
  New York, NY  United States  10017-2398
• Authors:
  • Windom, H L
• Publication Date: 1972-11

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 475-487
• Serial:
  • Journal of Waterways, Harbors & Coast Eng Div
  • Volume: 98
  • Issue Number: WW4
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Dredged materials; Dredging; Estuaries; Evaluation; Fills; Waste disposal; Water pollution; Water quality
• Old TRIS Terms: Estuarine pollution; Water quality evaluation
• Subject Areas: Environment; Marine Transportation; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00044095
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: American Society of Civil Engineers
• Report/Paper Numbers: 9342 Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 11 1973 12:00AM