Beneficial Reuse of Dredge Spoils for a More Resilient Coast-Video

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Video Summary

The presentation describes Louisiana’s coastal land loss, driven by sea-level rise, ground subsidence, reduced sediment supply, saltwater intrusion, currents, and wave erosion. Coastal communities, infrastructure, habitats, fisheries, and tourism are increasingly at risk. Beneficial reuse of dredged sediment can help restore marshes, barrier islands, beaches, and protective ridges; the U.S. Army Corps estimates that much of dredged material could be reused. Examples show sediment creating marsh at suitable elevations and forming east–west barriers that can reduce storm-surge impacts.<br /><br />Success requires careful planning and engineering: investigating borrow and placement areas, protecting existing habitats and infrastructure, selecting target elevations, accounting for settlement and cut-to-fill differences, and designing stable containment dikes. Construction must also manage challenging soils and avoid overfilling or losing slurry. The speaker concludes that coastal restoration is relevant to deep-foundation design, since changing ground conditions and sediment placement may affect piles through settlement or down-drag.

Keywords

Louisiana coastal land loss

dredged sediment reuse

marsh and barrier island restoration

storm surge protection

pile settlement down-drag