How Long-Term Dredging Can Benefit the Community: Embracing Placement Sites In Holland, MI

Historic dredging activities in Holland, MI — a Federal commercial harbor — were done by the US Army Corps of Engineers using government plant with open water, offshore disposal. In the late 1960s, the State of Michigan prohibited open water disposal for "polluted" sediments, and the community was forced to find confined disposal facilities (CDF). Windmill Island CDF and Riverview CDF were two sites in Holland that were developed for placement of dredged materials. The sites were used alternately, allowing the material to dry out prior to its next placement. The Windmill Island site was the first to reach capacity, and it was capped with topsoil, seeded, and left for the material to settle. In 1998, the Riverview site was capped. Today, Windmill Island is being developed as a commercial and residential upscale development reminiscent of the villages of the Netherlands. And, the Riverview site is now home to the Window on the Waterfront Park.