SEDIMENT STRATEGIES:
Considerations and Case Studies for Beneficial Use
MID-ATLANTIC, NATIONWIDE
BENEFICIAL USE | WETLAND RESTORATION|
Status: Completed
Sediment Strategies highlights best practices for the beneficial use of dredged material (BUDM), presenting them in a clear and engaging format to help strengthen collaboration across agencies, communities, and industry. Marshes and tidal habitats along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, as well as the Chesapeake Bay, are disappearing at alarming rates due to marsh subsidence and accelerating sea-level rise. In Maryland, for example, wetland coverage has declined by 30–50% since 1850, threatening biodiversity, community resilience, and coastal protection. Beneficial use, the strategic placement of dredged sediment on coastal habitats, directly addresses these challenges by restoring marsh elevation, improving ecological function, and providing a cost-effective, scalable approach that links navigation, conservation, and infrastructure resilience.
This resource synthesizes insights from regulators, industry leaders, and practitioners nationwide, with a particular emphasis on Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay. Through case studies, key considerations, and practical guidance, Sediment Strategies builds a shared knowledge base for local governments, non-profits, landowners, and state and federal agencies to confidently design and advance sediment management projects. Developed by The Nature Conservancy’s Maryland/DC Chapter, with contributions from regional staff, the document complements existing initiatives and partnerships while promoting a circular sediment management system that benefits people, nature, and the economy.
Learn more:
- Download report from The Nature Conservancy’s website
Client: The Nature Conservancy
Collaborators:
Anchor QEA
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