INTRODUCTION

Waterborne transportation is the most efficient and economical means for national and international commerce, and continued maintenance and development is necessary to ensure continuing benefits. Dredging is a viable option for developing and maintaining ports, harbors, coastal channels, and inland waterways. Protection and enhancement of the environment associated with waterway infrastructure operation and maintenance (O&M) is a substantial priority. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is faced with the challenge of maintaining a viable navigation system through dredging while providing necessary environmental protection or enhancement. Thus, navigation dredging and environmental requirements are inseparable. The USACE is involved in virtually every navigation dredging operation performed in the United States. The Corps navigation mission entails maintenance and improvement of about 40,000 km of navigable channels serving about 400 ports, including 130 of the nation s 150 largest cities. U.S. dredging costs to maintain viable navigation now approximate $600 million annually and are increasing. These costs are borne by individual dredging projects, and are increased by Federal and state statutory requirements for environmental sustainment.

Research and development are integral components of managing the USACE dredging program to assure an efficient and environmentally sustainable navigation system. Integration of operational and environmental aspects of dredging and disposal must be accomplished within a climate of increasing dredging workload needs and environmental constraints with decreasing fiscal and manpower resources. The Dredging Operations and Environmental Research (DOER) program addresses documented requirements of the primary...