Long Term Evaluation Of Times Beach Confined Disposal Facility Buffalo New York An Update PDF Download

After the open-water disposal of dredged sediments was observed to have deleterious effects on the aquatic ecosystems of the Great Lakes, an alternative was sought to reduce the exposure of lake biota to dredged material contaminants. In 1970, the Rivers and Harbors Flood Control Act authorized the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to construct CDFs to contain material dredged from contaminated Great Lakes harbors and waterways. These CDFs may be located in open water, alongshore, or inland from a dredging operation. Most of those CDFs located in open waters are constructed of stone-walled dikes with synthetic or steel sheeting to prevent leaching of contaminants through the dike. The dredged material enters as a slurry through a discharge pipe from the dredging operation. Suspended solids (including contaminants) settle before the effluent drains through a weir system at the outlet of the CDF opposite from the discharge pipe. The size of Great Lakes CDFs ranges from a few to hundreds of hectares. Once filled, the land created by the dredged material potentially can be used for recreational areas, agricultural or industrial development sites, or as wildlife refuges. CDFs can be invaded by aquatic organisms via water-level fluctuations, storm events, or unauthorized stocking. A total of 38 CDFs have been established in the Great Lakes region.