Regional Sediment Management in the Delaware Estuary
Regional Sediment Management in the Delaware Estuary Delaware Estuary Science and Environmental Summit 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Team Members Partnership for the Delaware Estuary
US Geological Survey
Delaware River Basin Commission
National Resource Conservation Service
Philadelphia Regional Port Authority
USEPA (Regions 2 and 3)
NJDEP
US Army Corps of Engineers
NJDOT
NJ Audubon Society
PADEP
Atlantic Coast Fish Habitat Partnership
DNREC
National Marine Fisheries Service
Philadelphia Water Department
Delaware Riverkeeper Network Maritime Exchange for the Delaware
River and Bay
Basis for RSM Workgroup Development Water Resources Plan for the Delaware River Basin (Sept
2004)(DRBC) Goal 3.4: ‘Employ regional approaches to sediment management’ Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for the Delaware Estuary (1996)(PDE) Council on Environmental Quality: Revised Principles C il E i l Q li R i d P i i l and Guidelines for Water Resources (2009 Draft ) USACE National RSM Program USACE N ti l RSM P
Existing efforts RSM Workgroup Formed September 2009 Communicate/identify sediment management strategies, opportunities and constraints for the Delaware Estuary Develop RSMP (September 2011)
Regional g Dredging g g Team Discuss ongoing dredge material management solutions Implement /facilitate RSM/beneficial use ‘projects’ conceptualized t li d b by RSMW
DELAWARE ESTUARY RSM WORKGROUP
RSM Plan Comprehensive long-term master plan to address the economic
and environmental benefits and long long-term term needs of sediment quality, sediment quantity, and dredged material management and beneficial use in the Delaware Estuary Develop recommendations for the development of new
programs, procedures, d and d management practices i Develop regionally-targeted regionally targeted goals goals, objectives and strategies
within a management framework to ensure consistent and fair consideration of Delaware Estuaryy RSM and beneficial use opportunities
RSM Plan Outline Outline Components Introduction Approach to RSM Delaware Estuary Background Regulatory Processes
Sediment Processes, Conditions, Uses Dynamics Principles Dredging Needs and Approaches Economics
Sediment Management Plan Objectives/Goals/Vision Data Gaps RSM Actions
White Papers
Sediment Quantity Sediment Quality Dredging Beneficial Use/Restoration
Recommendations
Estimated Benefits and Costs Funding Sources/Plan Monitoring I Implementation l t ti Plan Pl Recommendations R d ti Recommended Actions
6
Guiding Principles Existing sediment management is unsustainable • Several S l authorities/jurisdictions th iti /j i di ti • RSM/BU framework lacking
To create a “systems systems based approach” approach To design solutions that fit within the context of a regional gy strategy To improve sediment quality, quantity and sediment management while considering ecosystem interactions To have various agencies, special interest groups, and the public participate in the process Demonstrate RSM economic and environmental benefits
Goals Quality: Manage sediment quality in the system to ensure it is capable of supporting a healthy ecosystem, meets water quality standards and supports beneficial use of the sediments. sediments y Manage g sediment as a resource such that areas that Quantity: need sediment get it and those that don’t need sediment have outlets/methods to remove sediment or keep it out. Dredged Material Management: Evaluate and enhance dredging and dredged material management such that navigational (commerce) needs are met while ensuring protection of other resource uses/benefits. Beneficial Use/Restoration: Promote beneficial use of sediment for restoration, remediation and development such that the capacity for navigational dredging is supported and restoration goals are met.
Management Objectives/ Considerations
Integrate Navigation/Food Risk Management/Ecosystem Restoration missions Develop regional data sharing capability and analytical tools to evaluate future sediment conditions under alternative management strategies y use 15% of dredged g material Beneficially Facilitate regional coordination of dredging and disposal towards reducing annual O&M dredging costs and material to be dredged over time Better connect sediment dynamics associated with axis of estuary (channel) with marsh sediment dynamics Explore concept of marsh sills as a mechanism to accelerate marsh accretion protect shorelines and adapt to climate change accretion, Identify and implement high value, low-cost source control strategies in the Upper Basin D Develop l RSM Mitigation Miti ti B Bank k,R Restoration t ti T Trustt F Fund d or RSM T Tax tto facilitate management actions and implement specific projects Reconsider national policy including the USACE ‘federal standard’ /projectby-project least-cost alternative’ through the identification f off alternative funding sources or actual modification
Implementation Plan Develop and disseminate the RSMP
g g Technical and Advisoryy Partners Engage Identify funding strategy for implementation activities Craft metrics for assessing success/progress Adopt the vision, objectives and recommendations Select both regional and individual project RSM strategies for
development Wetland creation demonstration project CDF management and operations Marsh restoration Collaborate with RDT to facilitate RSM and BU opportunities
10
Regional Sediment Management in the Delaware Estuary
Discussion/Questions /Q
J. Bailey Smith [email protected]
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Team Members Partnership for the Delaware Estuary
US Geological Survey
Delaware River Basin Commission
National Resource Conservation Service
Philadelphia Regional Port Authority
USEPA (Regions 2 and 3)
NJDEP
US Army Corps of Engineers
NJDOT
NJ Audubon Society
PADEP
Atlantic Coast Fish Habitat Partnership
DNREC
National Marine Fisheries Service
Philadelphia Water Department
Delaware Riverkeeper Network Maritime Exchange for the Delaware
River and Bay
Basis for RSM Workgroup Development Water Resources Plan for the Delaware River Basin (Sept
2004)(DRBC) Goal 3.4: ‘Employ regional approaches to sediment management’ Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for the Delaware Estuary (1996)(PDE) Council on Environmental Quality: Revised Principles C il E i l Q li R i d P i i l and Guidelines for Water Resources (2009 Draft ) USACE National RSM Program USACE N ti l RSM P
Existing efforts RSM Workgroup Formed September 2009 Communicate/identify sediment management strategies, opportunities and constraints for the Delaware Estuary Develop RSMP (September 2011)
Regional g Dredging g g Team Discuss ongoing dredge material management solutions Implement /facilitate RSM/beneficial use ‘projects’ conceptualized t li d b by RSMW
DELAWARE ESTUARY RSM WORKGROUP
RSM Plan Comprehensive long-term master plan to address the economic
and environmental benefits and long long-term term needs of sediment quality, sediment quantity, and dredged material management and beneficial use in the Delaware Estuary Develop recommendations for the development of new
programs, procedures, d and d management practices i Develop regionally-targeted regionally targeted goals goals, objectives and strategies
within a management framework to ensure consistent and fair consideration of Delaware Estuaryy RSM and beneficial use opportunities
RSM Plan Outline Outline Components Introduction Approach to RSM Delaware Estuary Background Regulatory Processes
Sediment Processes, Conditions, Uses Dynamics Principles Dredging Needs and Approaches Economics
Sediment Management Plan Objectives/Goals/Vision Data Gaps RSM Actions
White Papers
Sediment Quantity Sediment Quality Dredging Beneficial Use/Restoration
Recommendations
Estimated Benefits and Costs Funding Sources/Plan Monitoring I Implementation l t ti Plan Pl Recommendations R d ti Recommended Actions
6
Guiding Principles Existing sediment management is unsustainable • Several S l authorities/jurisdictions th iti /j i di ti • RSM/BU framework lacking
To create a “systems systems based approach” approach To design solutions that fit within the context of a regional gy strategy To improve sediment quality, quantity and sediment management while considering ecosystem interactions To have various agencies, special interest groups, and the public participate in the process Demonstrate RSM economic and environmental benefits
Goals Quality: Manage sediment quality in the system to ensure it is capable of supporting a healthy ecosystem, meets water quality standards and supports beneficial use of the sediments. sediments y Manage g sediment as a resource such that areas that Quantity: need sediment get it and those that don’t need sediment have outlets/methods to remove sediment or keep it out. Dredged Material Management: Evaluate and enhance dredging and dredged material management such that navigational (commerce) needs are met while ensuring protection of other resource uses/benefits. Beneficial Use/Restoration: Promote beneficial use of sediment for restoration, remediation and development such that the capacity for navigational dredging is supported and restoration goals are met.
Management Objectives/ Considerations
Integrate Navigation/Food Risk Management/Ecosystem Restoration missions Develop regional data sharing capability and analytical tools to evaluate future sediment conditions under alternative management strategies y use 15% of dredged g material Beneficially Facilitate regional coordination of dredging and disposal towards reducing annual O&M dredging costs and material to be dredged over time Better connect sediment dynamics associated with axis of estuary (channel) with marsh sediment dynamics Explore concept of marsh sills as a mechanism to accelerate marsh accretion protect shorelines and adapt to climate change accretion, Identify and implement high value, low-cost source control strategies in the Upper Basin D Develop l RSM Mitigation Miti ti B Bank k,R Restoration t ti T Trustt F Fund d or RSM T Tax tto facilitate management actions and implement specific projects Reconsider national policy including the USACE ‘federal standard’ /projectby-project least-cost alternative’ through the identification f off alternative funding sources or actual modification
Implementation Plan Develop and disseminate the RSMP
g g Technical and Advisoryy Partners Engage Identify funding strategy for implementation activities Craft metrics for assessing success/progress Adopt the vision, objectives and recommendations Select both regional and individual project RSM strategies for
development Wetland creation demonstration project CDF management and operations Marsh restoration Collaborate with RDT to facilitate RSM and BU opportunities
10
Regional Sediment Management in the Delaware Estuary
Discussion/Questions /Q
J. Bailey Smith [email protected]
