Development of Methodology for Predicting Fate of Dredged

PURPOSE: A method of dredged material disposal used by site managers on inland rivers is called mechanical redistribution. This involves initially placing the dredged material on the adjacent banks of the channel where the material is dredged. With the onset of high flows moving down the river, the material is then either pushed back into the stream or is expected to be eroded by the overbank flows. There is a need for a numerical predictive capability for the fate of dredged material disposed in this manner. This technical note (TN) describes such a capability. BACKGROUND: Dredging and the subsequent disposal of the dredged material occur in most of the nation's inland waterways that are used for commercial navigation. An important aspect in determining the impact of these operations is predicting where and how the disposed material is dispersed and/or deposited after the disposal operation. The initial deposition may take place over a time frame ranging from minutes to hours. A second major consideration is the longer-term sediment movement patterns (over a time frame of perhaps days or months) in or near the disposal sites and waterways. One method of dredged material disposal that is sometimes used on inland waterways involves the placement of the dredged material along the banks of the waterway. During high-water periods