The navigable waters that fall under Section 10 are designated by Congress and are identified as those waters that are currently, historically and could in the future be used for interstate commerce (33 CFR 329.4). Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) regulates dredging in the Great Lakes and all other navigable waters under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. Prepare materials should you need to pursue dredging in the future.Understand jurisdiction for dredging projects and know who to contact for more information.Learning Objectivesīy the end of this section, you should be able to: This section provides an overview of the complexity of jurisdictional considerations, i.e., who is responsible for what areas when it comes to dredging and an overview of permit and funding requirements. Such sediment loading, the delivery and accumulation of sediments from a different location, as well as changing water levels will continue to influence the demand for dredging to clear access for boaters.

Increased storm intensities can increase the amount of stream and river sediment entering the lake, increasing sedimentation volumes in marina and harbor basins.

Contaminated dredged material should be transported and disposed of correctly, usually at a confined disposal facility. While there is an expanding industry that can make beneficial use of dredge material, there are still complications and special requirements if dredged material is or suspected to be contaminated. Dredging projects vary greatly - for example, some projects are part of an ongoing program of periodic maintenance necessitated by a natural filling in of sand and silt (sedimentation) some may be required for new harbor development and some may be emergency responses to severe weather events that caused sudden navigation hazards.ĭredging projects involve two operational components: removal of the sediment and disposal of the sediment (dredged material management).

Dredging, the excavation and removal of sediments and debris from the bottom of a water body, is necessary to ensure safe passage for ships and to maintain recreational access for boaters.

How does river dredging work