.

Planning for Sustainable Dredging

And

Sediment Management

Harbors, Navigation & Environment Seminar

And GreenPort Americas 2010

May 4-6, 2010

03M-0097.2

Sustainable Sediment Management (SSM)

What is it?

Comprehensive approach for addressing the long-term management/conservation of sediments within a watershed to maintain current (and future?) beneficialuses while addressing regionalEnvironmental, Economic, and Social concerns.

03M-0097.3

Sustainable Sediment Management

Key Features:

Sediment is a resource not a waste

Emphasis on conservation andbeneficial use

Requires integrated, cross-programmatic coordination

03M-0097.4

Component of

Sediment

Management

Traditional Approach Sustainable Approach

Scoping/Goal

Development

Relatively small geographic scope

Relatively short temporal scope

Based primarily on regulatory

requirements

Goals focused on fixing specific

problems

Watershed or basin-level

Long-term perspective

Based upon the needs of a broad range of

stakeholders

Goals developed through interactive process with

stakeholders

Goals reflect balance of social, environmental and

economic objectives

Stakeholder

Engagement/

Communication

Limited, public-hearing style

engagement

Primarily one-way flow of information

Focused on presentation of results

Relatively narrow set of stakeholders

Communication limited to certain

stages of process

Starts very early in process; continues throughout

process

Designed to generate collaboration and buy-in

Two-way flow of information encouraged

Broad range of stakeholders sought for

engagement

Communication occurs throughout process

Alternatives

Identification

Driven by regulatory requirements

Relatively narrow set of alternatives

considered

Alternatives generated by “experts”

Driven by stakeholder feedback

All ideas considered valid initially to consider broad

range of alternatives

Considered within long-term, large-scale context

Consider options that represent “geo-mimicry”

o Working with nature

o Building with nature

o Operating with nature

03M-0097.5

Component of

Sediment

Management

Traditional Approach Sustainable Approach

Analytical

Approach

Limited to environmental and

economic issues that can be

quantified

Designed to inform experts who will

make decisions

Impacts considered in a “stovepiped”

fashion – driven by regulations

Limited consideration of uncertainties

Starts with foundation of sediment budget

Driven by issues of concern to stakeholders

Considers social and environmental issues that

may be difficult to quantify

Integrates consideration of ecosystem services

Based upon system-wide considerations, including

synergies and interactions

Considers uncertainties

Designed to help range of stakeholders

understand the implications of alternatives

Decision-Making Decisions made by small group of

decision-makers

Decision-making occurs “behind

closed doors”

Broad-based decision-making process

Significant stakeholder engagement and

communication during decision-making

Connection to sustainability drivers explored

during decision-making

Implementation Driven by schedule and budget

Impacts of implementation processes

not considered

Considers social and environmental impacts of

implementation processes

Customized approaches to reflect local needs

Flexible approaches to allow for adaptation as

implementation proceeds

Monitoring Limited

Focused on functioning of engineered

systems

Wide range of impacts monitored

Metrics reflect goals established at outset

Designed to keep stakeholders informed and

provide basis for adjusting approaches as

implementation proceeds

03M-0097.6

Sustainable Sediment Management Strategies

“System-based approach”

Integrated management of littoral, estuarine, and riverine sediments

Consider climate change

Local project decisions based on effects to system

Engages many stakeholders

Potential economic and environmental impacts beyond project site

03M-0097.7

Historical Present

03M-0097.8

Sustainable Sediment Management Components (examples)

Dredging and dredged material placement

Building structures that divert or trap sediment

Erosion protection for shorelines

Sand and gravel mining

03M-0097.9

Sustainable Dredged Material Management (SDMM) Objectives

Regional approach

Identify sediment budget for region

Identify and inventory dredging requirements

Projected new work and maintenance

Federal

State

Local

Industrial/Private

Identify and inventory material placement capabilities

and capacities of existing sites

Active management/monitoring is essential to optimize

capacity at existing sites

03M-0097.10

SDMM Objectives (continued)

Identify potential beneficial use projects

Identify potential beneficial use products/markets

Develop ranking criteria to prioritize dredging and placement/beneficial use options

Establish (or utilize existing) stakeholder groups (Regulators, environmental groups, citizen groups, trade/business groups, etc.)

03M-0097.11

Beneficial Uses Habitat restoration/enhancement

(wetland, upland, island, and aquatic);

Aquaculture

Parks and recreation (commercial and

non-commercial);

Agriculture/horticulture/forestry;

Mine and quarry reclamation;

Landfill cover for solid waste

management;

Beach Nourishment/Shoreline

stabilization;

Industrial and commercial use;

Material transfer (fill, dikes, roads, etc.);

Construction material; and

Multipurpose/innovative land-use

concepts.

Habitat creation

Shoreline Stabilization

Reclamation

Beach Nourishment

03M-0097.12

SDMM Objectives (continued)

Thorough evaluation of alternatives & trade-off

analysis

Environmental benefit

Capacity

Cost

Regulatory acceptability

Technical risk

Develop and maintain a public outreach

campaign

03M-0097.13

SDMM Historic Challenges

Lack of funding for dredging, placement, and

beneficial use projects

Limited federal cost-sharing available

Conflicting agendas (sometimes even between

Federal agencies)

Many users often competing for limited placement

capacity

Federal channels, state/local & private terminals

create complex dredging & placement needs

Trend is larger and deeper draft ships – many

channels need to be deepened

High environmental benefit options can be very

expensive

03M-0097.14

What is a USACE DMMP?

DMMP Addresses: Dredging needs

Disposal capabilities

Capacities of placement areas

Environmental compliance requirements

Potential for beneficial usage of dredged

materials

Indicators of continued economic justification

Regional Sediment Management

Normally 100% federally-funded

Contains an integrated NEPA document

Justifies follow-on, site-specific FS Studies

03M-0097.15

DMMP Study Flow Chart

PublicInput

Geographic AreasIdentification

AlternativesIdentification

PrimaryScreening

InitialAlternatives

List

AlternativesDevelopment

Screening CriteriaDevelopment

Trade-OffAnalysis

AlternativesEvaluation

Suite ofAlternatives

EIS &Implementation

Plan

Draft

DMMP

PublicInput

PreliminaryAssessment

NEPANotice of

Intent

Record of

Decision

Final

DMMP

Public Meetings

PublicInput

03M-0097.16

CENAB DMMP Process –Alternatives? Sustainable?

Maximize Use of Existing Placement Sites

HMI, PIERP, Open Water placement, etc.

New Placement Sites

CAD/CDF, Island Creation/Restoration, etc.

Innovative Use

Building Products, Mines/Quarries, Agricultural Placement, Shoreline & Wetland Restoration

Poplar Island

03M-0097.17

!(

!(

!(

Back

River

Magothy River

Severn River

Chester River

Eastern

Bay

South River

Gu

npow

der R

iver

Bu

sh R

iver

Sassafras River

Elk

Riv

er

Nor

thea

st R

iver

Olney

Essex

Bowie

Towson

Severn

Parole

Laurel

Easton

Carney

Arnold

Waldorf

Overlea

Odenton

Dundalk

Crofton

Clinton

Chillum

Bel Air

Arbutus

Adelphi

Glasgow

Groveton

Woodlawn

Rosedale

Pasadena

Lochearn

Friendly

Ferndale

Fairland

Elkridge

Edgewood

Columbia

Bethesda

Aberdeen

Rose Hill

Fort Hunt

Arlington

White Oak

Rossville

Parkville

Kettering

Greenbelt

Calverton

Baltimore

Alexandria

South Gate

Pikesville

Perry Hall

Lake Shore

Joppatowne

Glenn Dale

Eldersburg

Colesville

Beltsville

Aspen Hill

Washington

Westminster

Walker Mill

Takoma Park

Rosaryville

Mays Chapel

Hyattsville

Green Haven

Glen Burnie

Forestville

Coral Hills

Catonsville

Mount Vernon

Hybla Valley

South LaurelSeverna Park

Reisterstown

Randallstown

Owings Mills

North Laurel

Milford Mill

Middle River

Langley ParkCollege Park

Cockeysville

Camp Springs

Silver Spring

Riviera Beach

Ellicott City

Brooklyn Park

Bel Air South

Bel Air North

North Bethesda

New Carrollton

Havre de Grace

East Riverdale

Fort Washington

Wheaton-Glenmont

Greater Landover

Hillcrest Heights

Suitland-Silver Hill

Oxon Hill-Glassmanor

Lutherville-Timonium

Greater Upper Marlboro

Lansdowne-Baltimore Highlands

t:/dmmp/mxd/Harbor_Approach.mxd

!(

!(

Baltim

ore H

arbor; C

raighill E

ntran

ce

Back

River

Magothy River

Severn River

Chester River

Site 104 (Proposed)

Pooles Island Disposal Area

Cox Creek Disposal Area

Legend

Shoreline1840 to1860

SAV

Historic Oyster Bars

Oyster Restoration SitesBaltim

ore H

arbor; C

raighill E

ntran

ce

Chester River

Site 104 (Proposed)

Legend

Shoreline1840 to1860

SAV

Historic Oyster Bars

Oyster Restoration Sites

Web-based GIS

03M-0097.18

CENAB DMMP –Tradeoff Analysis

14,000 combinations – Optimal curve established to select recommended plan

Once suites developed meeting sufficient capacity, comparison between cost & environmental benefit

Selected most cost efficient means to achieve environmental benefit

Applied theory of acceptable legal/political risk, eliminating those too risky

03M-0097.19

Alternative Suites Development – All suites for C&D and Chesapeake Bay (MD)

All Suites

$0

$200

$400

$600

$800

$1,000

$1,200

$1,400

0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000

Millio

ns

Habitat Benefit Index(Based on BEWG Scores)

To

tal C

os

t

Deep Trough Suites Lg Island Suites Poplar Island Suites Norfolk Ocean Suites Artificial Island Suite

03M-0097.20

Alternative Suites Development –C&D and Chesapeake Bay (MD) Legal/Acceptable Suites

All Legal Cost-effective Suites

$0

$200

$400

$600

$800

$1,000

$1,200

$1,400

0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000

Millio

ns

Environmental Benefit Index(Based on BEWG scores)

To

tal C

ost

Deep Trough Suites Large Island Suites Poplar Suites Norfolk Ocean Suites Artificial Island Suite

03M-0097.21

CENAB DMMP –Recommended Plan

Chesapeake Bay Approach (VA) Channels

Existing Open Water Placement

Harbor Channels

Multiple Confined Disposal Facilities along Patapsco

C&D Canal Approach and Chesapeake Bay Approach (MD) Channels

Poplar Island Expansion

Large Island Restoration-Mid Bay

Wetland Restoration

03M-0097.22

SUMMARY

A DMMP is a valuable tool for a region’s plan for

the sustainable management of dredged

material. Maintaining a watershed focus,

applying sediment management principles, and

prioritizing beneficial use will ensure a cost

effective, environmentally sound approach that

can easily respond to the changing needs of the

region in the future.