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EWN Publications

Beneficial Use of Dredged Material for Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Habitats: Overcoming Challenges and Seeking New Opportunities

Emily R. Russ, Amy H. Yarnall, Matthew T. Balazik, J. Travis Blanche, Austin J. Draper, and Safra Altman
February 7, 2025

About This Publication

There is a critical need to maintain and create conditions that are conducive for longterm survival of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) habitats, which provide multiple ecosystem services, using dredged material. This technical note (TN) was developed by the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)–Environmental Laboratory (EL) to address the specific challenges US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) practitioners at the district and division level face that impede the development of beneficial use of dredged material (BUDM) projects to restore, conserve, and expand SAV habitats. Different ways to overcome these challenges and opportunities that should be further explored are also addressed. The information in this TN was synthesized from discussions at a virtual workshop for USACE practitioners.

Research Projects

Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) habitats provide a variety of important ecosystem services, including fish habitat, nutrient sequestration, and protection from currents and waves. Some research suggests that open-w...