Optimization of Channel Maintenance Expenses

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers currently maintains its harbors to authorized channel dimensions determined several decades ago. Since that time, significant changes have occurred in the major parameters used as a basis for the authorized dimensions. Changes in the structure and volume of waterborne commerce, environmental protection efforts and their impact on dredging, and the size and type of fleet currently operating on the waterway systems may necessitate adjustments to optimize present maintenance expenses. The purpose of this paper is to present an evaluation procedure to optimize channel dimensions and levels of maintenance expenses according to the economic and operational conditions which presently exist or are anticipated in the near future. This paper presents a summary of the approach used and of the results obtained for several reconnaissance studies of Corps of Engineers projects on Lake Erie, including the dredging of such major harbors as Buffalo, Cleveland, Ashtabula, and Lorain. The methodology presented here is suggested as a model for reconnaissance level types of analysis. Hence, more attention is devoted in this paper to the approach rather than to specific findings which can be found in the detailed report.