Managing Dredged Sediment Placement in Open-Water Disposal Sites, Upper Chesapeake Bay

Maintenance dredging of fine-grained sediment that accumulates in the shipping channels in the Upper Chesapeake Bay is an ongoing process necessary to ensure navigational access to the Port of Baltimore. Nine designated open-water disposal sites adjacent to the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal approach channel have been utilized since the 1960s for maintenance dredging, providing for low cost placement alternative to other options. Most of the designated open-water sites have either filled to capacity or have been discontinued due to environmental concerns. In 2001, an agreement was reached between the State of Maryland and environmental advocacy groups to end open-water disposal in 2010 and place all future dredged sediments in confined sites or utilize for beneficial purposes. It is essential that the remaining capacity of available open-water sites be maximized in an environmentally acceptable manner to provide adequate time for the development of beneficial use options or confined placement sites.