Maintenance dredging within navigation channels is necessary to maintain navigational safety. Whenever possible, the material removed during dredging should be used for beneficial purposes such as beach renourishment. ANAMAR was contracted by USACE-Jacksonville to collect and analyze surface grab samples from the Fort Myers channel and adjacent beach areas to determine the suitability of dredged material from the channel for use in beach renourishment.
Project Statute
- MPRSA 103
The main objective of this project was to perform a geotechnical investigation and analysis of surface grab samples collected from the Fort Myers channel and adjacent beaches on Estero Island to determine if maintenance dredge material from the channel is suitable for beach renourishment.
In 2004, Hurricane Charley caused major beach and dune erosion along the north end of Estero Island. This shoreline was designated as critically eroded by the Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems. To investigate whether maintenance material from the Fort Myers channel was suitable for renourishing Estero Island beaches, ANAMAR collected surface grab samples from the channel and the beach. Sieve analysis, visual percent shell, carbonate content, and Munsell colors were determined for each sample by a laboratory. ANAMAR compiled lab results into a report and conducted quality assurance on all received data to ensure data quality objectives of the project were met.
