Project Description
The Norfolk, Maintenance Dredging project aims to perform essential maintenance dredging at Naval Station Norfolk (NSN) on the Elizabeth River and Willoughby Bay in Norfolk, Virginia. This project encompasses two primary activities: maintenance dredging throughout the installation and the ocean and/or upland disposal of the dredged material. The Navy plans to dredge the entire waterfront pier area at NSN, including the new Pier 11S berth expansion area, CEP-111 bulkhead area, small boat channel, LAG marina, and V-50 basin. Over a 10-year maintenance period, approximately 7.7 million cubic yards of material will be dredged from a 340-acre area, equating to roughly 700,000 – 800,000 cubic yards of dredged material per year. The maximum maintenance dredge depths range from -11 feet at Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW) to -53 feet MLLW, including overdredge.
Major Challenges
Dredging offshore subject to what the Atlantic Ocean wants to throw at us in terms of weather, sea state and now in full hurricane season Stuyvesant discharging dredge spoils next to one of the most active ship channels on the Eastern Seaboard, including but not limited to 2-4 container ships daily, and across from worlds largest naval base. Transport and placing over 2 million cubic yards to an upland confined site and actively raising levee heights to add future capacity Dredge spoil placement surrounded by an active wildlife & bird nesting monitored by the owner.
Project Highlights
Key highlights of the project include efficient dredging operations, with approximately 3.2 million cubic yards of material to be mechanically dredged in the first phase, and potential hydraulic dredging if capacity becomes available at CIDMMA. The project’s flexible disposal options ensure adaptability in managing dredged materials. Notably, historical data indicates no documented adverse effects from authorized discharges at the NODS, supporting the suitability of this disposal site for the project.
Project Scope
The project scope encompasses maintenance dredging throughout the entire waterfront pier area at NSN, including the new Pier 11S berth expansion area, CEP-111 bulkhead area, small boat channel, LAG marina, and V-50 basin, with dredging depths ranging from -11 feet to -53 feet MLLW. The disposal of dredged material involves ocean placement at the NODS, pipeline placement at CIDMMA, disposal at other upland sites, or a combination of these alternatives, all while ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and obtaining necessary permits. The project will be executed in phases over a 10-year period, with approximately 3.2 million cubic yards of material dredged and disposed of in the first phase. Environmental compliance is a crucial aspect, requiring the obtainment of a Section 103 permit from the USACE and concurrence from the USEPA Region III, along with additional testing and coordination as required for continued disposal at NODS. Logistical coordination is essential, involving the management of dredged material transportation to various disposal sites, ensuring efficient and safe operations throughout the project duration.
