Book Description

Disposition of dredged material has become a problem of such proportions that all potential solutions must be explored. The present study was conducted to survey existing knowledge of, inventory, describe, and evaluate the potential for using subaqueous pits, holes, or depressions as dredged material disposal sites. The scope was limited to investigating the estuaries, bays, rivers, and continental shelf areas of the Atlantic, Gulf, Pacific, and Great Lakes coasts of the United States. Included were all subaqueous depressions whether caused by dredging or extraction activities or by natural erosional events. The author concludes that the potential for having or creating man-made subaqueous disposal sites will depend upon demand and supply of the products excavated. Demand for construction aggregate in the vicinity of large coastal metropolitan areas and for shell as a source of aggregate or feed supplement. Adequate supplies for beach replenishment and construction aggregate are presently known or can be reasonably hypothesized, with economic constraints being the only hindrance to widespread usage. Conversely, shell supplies are limited, dredging areas are being curtailed, and the resulting pits fill rapidly. Thus, there is little potential, for shell dredging to leave extensive pits.