1996
Beneficial use of dredged sediment
United Kingdom
Medway Estuary (Kent)
0.7115
51.3867
Habitat Enhancement
Demonstration or Pilot Project
In 1996 a total of around 4000m³ of dredged fine muddy dredged sediment taken from Cadnam Basin were placed on the lower intertidal (in a tributary of the Medway Estuary SPA) and left to dissipate. This 'trickle charge feeding' approach did not involve any retention devices.
This approach aimed for sediments to be redistributed within the intertidal through natural hydraulic processes and to promote the natural evolution of intertidal habitats.
The sediments were placed by split bottom barges and were left to gradually move it up the foreshore (trickle charge/feed).
Early results from this experimental recharge scheme indicated that bottom dumping and trickle feeding is a success for relatively small infrequent volumes of fine dredged material. Around 50% of the material is estimated to have been retained at the recharge site.