Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Building from the Bay

Storm sediment finds new use in Havre de Grace: Debris once clogged boating channels
Sediment that clogged boating channels in Havre de Grace following two major storms last fall is being put to a new use.

The sediment dredged from the boating channels has been used to form a pond and a scenic path around the new waterway.

The pond and paths were built by a partnership between the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Boating Services, the Harford County Department of Parks and Recreation and the Swan Harbor Farm project.

The site also helps filter stormwater before it reaches the Chesapeake Bay and will be used to store material dredged from boat channels in the future.
The rivers pour enormous amounts of sediment into the Bay.  In most places, it just builds up, making the Bay more shallow, and eventually choking it out.  It can be calculated that if the Bay survives another 40,000 years before a new Ice Age, the continuing sedimentation will fill it up.  I'm not holding my breath.

However, making good use of the sediment that must be moved out of boat channels makes a lot of sense.

I wonder if the huge amounts of sediment building up behind Conowingo Dam could also be put to good use.  Most of it is old farmland that washed out of Pennsylvania.  Could it be used as a soil conditioner?  It's full of nutrients, but is it too contaminated by metals and organics to be safely used to grow food for human consumption?

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