The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Savannah District is using reclaimed dredge material from the Altamaha River to create a bird island habitat.
The island will provide roosting and foraging habitat for sea and shore birds, horseshoe crabs, and other species while protecting nearby marshes from erosion.
Using dredged sediment beneficially is an important component of USACE’s dredged material management strategy, significantly reducing disposal requirements.
With interest in beneficial use of dredged sediments at an all-time high, the timing is ripe to increase beneficial use.
Over 200 million cubic yards of material is dredged annually from the bottom of federally-constructed and maintained navigation channels to maintain safe passage in navigation channels for vessels.
Overall, about 10-15% of dredged material requires special handling, while the remaining 85% is available for beneficial use.
