The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers solicited and received 95 proposals from across the country for beneficial use of dredged material pilot projects pursuant to Section 1122 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016.
A team of subject matter experts evaluated the proposals and selected 10 projects for the program, including a proposal to beneficially use dredged material from the Barnegat Inlet navigation channel in Ocean County, N.J.
Barnegat Inlet is one of the most dangerous inlets on the East Coast from a navigation standpoint. The District typically dredges the inlet twice a year with the USACE-owned dredge Currituck or Murden. However, a large amount of sediment remains shoaled in the state and federal navigation channels with limited funds and places to put the material.
The District is currently working in partnership with the state of New Jersey on the pilot project, which will incorporate Regional Sediment Management and Engineering with Nature principles. The project is expected to be implemented as a one-time dredging and beneficial use placement effort providing environmental and economic benefits and reducing future channel maintenance.
Section 1122 requires USACE to establish a pilot program to carry out 10 projects for the beneficial use of dredged material. Proposed projects included projects for the purposes of providing storm damage reduction; promoting public safety; protecting, restoring and creating aquatic ecosystems; promoting recreation; enhancing shorelines; civic improvement; and, other innovative uses and placement alternatives that produce public economic or environmental benefits.