Table 4. Potential Beneficial Uses of Dredged Material

Technical Note DOER-C2

May 1999

can be used to make realistic predictions and evaluations. The pathogen (coliform) analysis is used

to detect the presence of disease-causing bacteria, usually of fecal origin. Table 3 lists methods

and appropriate characterization tests for determining biological properties.

BENEFICIAL USES OF DREDGED MATERIAL: There are many potential beneficial uses of

processed dredged material in upland, wetland, or aquatic environments (see Table 4). The

properties, as well as the types and bioavailability of contaminants, will determine the beneficial

uses of a dredged material and the amount of processing needed to reduce adverse environmental

impacts. In addition, waste materials such as fly ash, alkaline wastes, and spent lime can be added

to dredged material to engineer a soil product that can meet specifications required for a particular

beneficial use. Examples are impermeable caps for landfills, superfund sites, and brownfields.

Table 4

Potential Beneficial Uses of Dredged Material

Upland Environments

Fill, subgrade construction:

Highway/road/airport landing strip

Asphalt, concrete, bricks

Washouts/barren areas along highways

Mine shaft fill

Covers for landfills, brownfield, superfund and mining sites

Earthen slopes

Biomechanical erosion control structures

Cemeteries

Manufactured soil products:

Landscaping

Bagged soil

Recreational areas/parks/campgrounds

Silviculture, horticulture, agriculture

Covers for landfills, brownfield, superfund and mining sites

Wetland Environments

Constructed wetlands for water quality improvement

Creation of mitigation, wildlife habitat wetlands, marshes, etc.

Erosion control, bank stabilization

Geotextile tube fill, berm construction

Biofilters for landfill leachate/seepage

Biofilters for acid mine drainage

Aquatic Environments

Capping open-water placement sites

Beach and shoreline nourishment

Solid structures for fish habitat

Geotextile tube fill

Creation of:

Islands

Tidal flats

Sea grass meadows

Oyster beds

Fishing reefs

Clam flats

Dike or berm construction