Beneficial Uses of Dredged Material in Green Infrastructure and Living Architecture to Improve Resilience of Lake Erie

To maintain the navigational depth, 1.15 million cubic meters (1.5 million cubic yards) of sediment is dredged out from the federal harbors every year from Lake Erie, Ohio Coast. Treating this huge amount of dredged material is a major challenge due to the mobilization of potential contaminants causing depreciation in water quality and depletion of valuable land. Rather than treating the dredged material as a waste, we suggest investigating alternative ways to recycle and reuse the material within Green Infrastructure (GI) and living architecture applications. This study identifies potential applications of the dredged material in bioretention and vegetative roof systems, and examines the role of dredged material in these edaphic conditions. The paper discusses the beneficial uses of dredged material in GI by investigating the quality of dredged material and performances of GI built using dredged material through laboratory and field-testing. Preliminary results of a growth media using dredged material for the vegetative roof have been developed in lab/field studies that possess the performance values comparable to the current commercial product. The growth media containing lightweight aggregate, made from the dredged material, is observed to have high water retention capacity and high unit weight in comparison to a commercial product. The growth media leachate water test demonstrated the water quality to be comparable to the drained water from the commercial product. The growth media overwintered and advanced a rare plant species, Viola pedatifida, which is similar to conventional media. The beneficial uses of dredged material in the GI will help maintain the economic viability of harbors and ports along the shoreline of Lake Erie in Ohio and GIs, which were built using dredged material that can help address storm water management issues in urban areas due to extensive impervious surfaces.

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Environmental Effects of Dredging Program: Inland Waterways: Proceedings of a National Workshop on the Beneficial Uses of Dredged Material Held in St. Paul, Minnesota on 27-30 October 1987

10.21236/ada204670 ◽

1988 ◽

Author(s):

Mary C. Landin

Keyword(s):

Environmental Effects ◽

Dredged Material ◽

Inland Waterways ◽

Beneficial Uses ◽

National Workshop

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Alternative Strategies for the Disposal of UK Estuarine Dredgings

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1991.0271 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 24 (10) ◽

pp. 9-17 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M. S. de Silva ◽

G. Fleming ◽

P. G. Smith

Keyword(s):

Significant Proportion ◽

Dredged Material ◽

Atmospheric Emissions ◽

Land Restoration ◽

Alternative Strategies ◽

Dredged Sediments ◽

Quality Product ◽

Beneficial Uses ◽

Restoration Work ◽

Economic Considerations

UK research into the beneficial uses of dredged material is being undertaken at Strathclyde University, and includes initiatives in research in the use of dredgings for soil in land restoration projects, and for brick manufacture. Extensive research in the historically industrial River Clyde in Scotland has shown that pollutant levels do not preclude the use of selected materials for land restoration work. However, limitations are imposed on the use of the material for agricultural or grazing purposes at this time. Brick manufacture from clay sediments has proved that an attractive, quality product can be provided to the industry although some further testing is required; particularly in the area of atmospheric emissions during firing. The use of dredged clay for landfill capping and lining also remains a viable possibility. Economic considerations for each application vary, and require further investigation, however, the options are technically feasible and if employed on a larger scale, can account for a significant proportion of dredged sediments which are currently disposed of at sea.

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Marine water quality management in South Africa

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1995.0118 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 32 (2) ◽

pp. 281-288

Author(s):

Susan Taljaard ◽

Willem A. M. Botes

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Water Quality ◽

Quality Management ◽

Water Quality Management ◽

Management Plan ◽

Specific Reference ◽

Information Requirements ◽

Water Quality Guidelines ◽

Quality Guidelines ◽

Beneficial Uses

In South Africa the ultimate goal in water quality management is to keep the water resources suitable for all “beneficial uses”. Beneficial uses provides a basis for the derivation of water quality guidelines, which, for South Africa, are defined in Water quality guidelines for the South African coastal zone (DWAF, 1991). The CSIR has developed a practical approach to marine water quality management, taking into account international trends and local experience, which can be applied to any coastal development with potential influence on water quality. The management plan is divided into three logical components, i.e. • site-specific statutory requirements and environmental objectives; • system design with specific reference to influences on water quality; and • monitoring programmes. Within this management approach water quality issues are addressed in a holistic manner, through focused procedures and clear identification of information requirements. This paper describes the procedures and information requirements within each component of the water quality management plan, with specific reference to marine disposal systems. Ideally, the management plan should be implemented from the feasibility and conceptual design phase of a development and the timing of the different procedures within the development process are therefore also highlighted. However, the logical lay-out of procedures allows for easy initiation (even to existing disposal system) at any stage of development.

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Relocation of dredged material from Hamburg harbour in the River Elbe

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1998.0758 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 37 (6-7) ◽

pp. 241-248 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A. Netzband ◽

H. Christiansen ◽

B. Maaß ◽

G. Werner

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Benthic Community ◽

Dredged Material ◽

Far Field ◽

Beneficial Use ◽

River Elbe ◽

Operating Strategies ◽

Material Circulation

Besides the beneficial use of dredged material, sustainable relocation, which means keeping the sediments in the natural aquatic material circulation, is one goal for handling dredged material in the port of Hamburg. Decreasing contamination the River Elbe and new dredged material guidelines provide a basis for this. With comprehensive investigations, near- and far-field transport and the effects of relocation regarding the water quality and the benthic community were determined thus deveoloping conditions for future operating strategies.

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