Ladner Sediment Group
What is dredging?
Dredging involves the removal of fine gravel and silt materials from a riverbed, coastline, reservoir, or other body of water. Dredging is used to restore/maintain water depth to ensure safe Navigation of Marine Vessels.
Benefits of Dredging
Dredging helps to increase water flow and transport capacity in a river. An extreme form of dredging involves realigning a river by carving out water channels. This is typically carried out to move potential floodwater past essential areas.
River dredging has been done for many years, and not just as a flood prevention measure. When it comes to flood prevention, dredging is most effective in combination with other flood risk management practices.
Concerns with Dredging
The primary concern raised with regards to dredging is that of Environmental consequences. Dredging can alter or damage wildlife habitat if it is not performed with respect to the area and species within that specific area.
Recent environmental projects are re-purposing dredge material taken from one area where there is large accumulations and deposited the material to restore a habitat marsh. Sturgeon Bank Restoration Project