Appendix E: Multiple Dump Fate (MDFATE) of Dredged Material Model

Appendix E

Multiple Dump Fate (MDFATE)

of Dredged Material Model

Introduction

This appendix provides information on the computer program Multiple Dump

Fate (MDFATE) formally known as Open-Water Disposal Area Management

Simulation (ODAMS) (Moritz and Randall 1995). MDFATE is a site manage-

ment tool that bridges the gap between the STFATE (Johnson 1990) and

LTFATE (Scheffner et al. 1995) models. It simulates multiple disposal events at

one site to predict the creation of navigation hazards, examine site capacity, and

conduct long-term site planning. MDFATE uses modified versions of STFATE

and LTFATE for simulations. Similar to LTFATE, local wave and tide infor-

mation input is required as well as disposal-site boundaries and bathymetry. The

disposal-site bathymetry can be either automatically generated (flat or sloping),

or actual bathymetric data from an ASCII file can be imported. The suspended

solids and conservative tracer portions of STFATE are removed so the modified

STFATE version models the convective descent, dynamic collapse, and passive

diffusion process only.

Because of the modified LTFATE version, MDFATE can also account for

cohesive and noncohesive sediment transport, cohesive sediment consolidation,

and noncohesive avalanching. MDFATE can also simulate capping based on the

slow release of material from a barge/hopper so it may spread evenly on the

bottom with a minimum amount of momentum imparted to the primary mound.

This appendix provides an overview of the theoretical background of

MDFATE, personal computer (PC) requirements, required input, and typical

output.

Appendix E MDFATE Model