Interpreting the Process and Results of the Lower Passaic River Pilot Dredging Study
Type:
Presented during:
WODCON XVIII - 2007 Orlando, Florida, USA
Authors:
Romagnoli, et al
Abstract: In December 2005, the New Jersey Department of Transportation – Office of Maritime Resources (NJOMR) implemented a pilot-scale dredging program to remove 3,823 cubic meters (5,000 cubic yards) of sediment from a 0.61-hectare (1.5-acre) area of the Passaic River, New Jersey. The objective of this program, which was conducted as part of the Lower Passaic River Restoration Project (LPRRP), was to study a number of dredging issues, including sediment resuspension, dredging productivity, and material treatability. Another important NJOMR goal was to collect the information necessary to “scale up” to a much larger remedial dredging program – one that would be conducted sometime in the future.
If developed and executed properly, such pilot-scale studies can be very useful in assessing the feasibility of implementing a remedial approach on a larger scale within a specified area of interest. Such programs can also be instrumental in augmenting the nationwide remediation database.
This manuscript evaluates the potential utility of the LPRRP pilot-scale dredging program based on current knowledge of conditions in the lower Passaic River and experience gained from other dredging projects. Specifically, it reviews and discusses localized physical and chemical features of the lower Passaic River system as they pertain to the design and scope of the project and addresses equipment selection, monitoring design and other significant project issues with respect to stated data use and data quality objectives.
Keywords: Sediment removal, decontamination, tidal estuary