Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Habitat Management Series #12 Winter 2013

Harbor Deepening: Potential Habitat and Natural Resources Issues

Working towards healthy, self-sustaining populations for all Atlantic coast fish species or successful restoration well in progress by the year 2015 Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Habitat Management Series #12 Winter 2013

Harbor Deepening: Potential Habitat and Natural Resources Issues

prepared by the ASMFC Habitat Committee

Approved by the ISFMP Policy Board February 2013

A report of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission pursuant to U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Grant No. F13AF00228 Cover Photo Credit: http://www.port-of-charleston.com/images/photos/MSC%20Bruxelles%204898%20LORES-cr.jpg Harbor Deepening - 1 - - 1 Deep draft container ship. Photo credit: Doug Clarke credit: Photo ship. container Deep draft

projects. Each project can projects. This document describes document This impacts inform potential to decision-making on future water habitat may affect fishery may habitat water ways. in numerous resources in terms of costs and benefits. and benefits. of costs in terms the habitat, respect to With deep- to shift shallow- from and a net gain of deep-water and a net gain of deep-water in every Inherent habitat. tradeoffs deepening project are deepening project entails a net deepening project entails habitat loss of shallow-water not always represent the full represent not always of modified substrate. footprint varying every extents, To constructed channels must allow for sufficient angle of repose. Geological rock formations can incorporate incorporate formations can rock Geological repose. angle of sufficient for constructed channels must allow width the authorized Thus, softer formations. by side slopes required side slopes than the gentler steeper of the channel basin does Although the port projects are generally classified as “channel deepening” projects, it is important projects, to “channel deepening” the portAlthough classified as generally projects are Depending on the types formations of geological widening. also involve deepening may understand that side slopes of the silts and clays), sand, versus limestone channels run (e.g., which the navigational through series of incremental improvements to navigation infrastructure that has occurred in tandem with other has occurred that infrastructure navigation to improvements series of incremental features. bathymetric and tidal riverine estuarine, coastal, to alterations consequences for local, regional, and national economies. Likewise, however, they also represent large-scale they also represent however, Likewise, economies. and national regional, local, for consequences in a progression a represent they also fish habitat. existing and historical In most cases, of modifications final stages of deepening to 50 final stages of deepening ft. constructionOther ports, and Philadelphia entering such as Miami, are pursuing aggressively are and Charleston, Savannah Lauderdale, Fort including while others, phases, economic tremendous Clearly these projects can have in details. Each project differs deepening projects. navigation conditions. Not surprisingly, multiple ports along the Atlantic coast have initiated navigation navigation initiated multiple ports have coast along the Atlantic surprisingly, Not conditions. navigation serving Channels deeper draft vessels. Ports the the larger, accommodate to improvements infrastructure Jersey is in the York/New 50 ft, been deepened to of New and the Port already of Norfolk have and Baltimore present expansion of the locks, as well as future expansion, which ultimately will service will which ultimately expansion, ships with a draft as future as well locks, of the expansion present affecting ports drivers economic Berthing and harbors. for major implications 60 ft, have approaching safe provide channels and turning that basins require vessels larger the substantially handle facilities to In 2014, an upgrade of the locks in the Panama Canal will be completed, allowing for passage of “Post- passage of for allowing will be completed, Canal of the locks in the Panama In upgrade 2014, an The and a draft 160 ft of 1,200 ft with maximum dimensions of 49.9 ft. wide, class vessels long, Panamax” Introduction Harbor Deepening: Deepening: Harbor Issues Resources Habitat and Natural Potential - 2- Harbor Deepening

Example of a “bucket” or “clamshell” dredge loading a barge using an open an open bucket. Photo Credit: Doug Clarke proceed only through adherence to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, which ideally includes transparent consideration of fish habitat as an important attribute in the evaluation of project- specific merits. Awareness of the many inherent tradeoffs affecting fish habitat in deepening projects can minimize conflicts and provide insights into short- and long-term impacts and means to mitigate them.

While the issues associated with harbor deepening projects can be geographically specific, there are a number of alterations associated with these projects that should be considered when evaluating the potential effects on habitats and associated biological resources. These can include alterations in the water quality and physical characteristics of the harbor and associated drainage systems, as well as both direct and indirect effects on critical biological resources. The following sections identify some of the potential changes that should be considered.

Water Quality Effects

• Evaluate the extent of salinity intrusion into freshwater areas and redistribution of vertical and horizontal salinity zones. Assessments should determine the extent of altered salinity regimes, both spatially and temporally. • Determine if altered or exacerbated occurrences of bottom hypoxic conditions could occur that may prevent benthic habitat access or use by fishery resources. • Consider the potential exposure of nutrient-rich sediments to the water column. • Predictive models need to be robust with adequate resolution to predict changes in circulation and water quality appropriate for specific areas of concern. – Hydrodynamic and water quality models should have 3-D capabilities such that horizontal salinity gradients can be integrated over depth to drive the baroclinic portion of the convective mode of estuarine circulation. Modifications to depths and salinity gradients on the buoyancy-driven and non-tidal circulation should be examined. – Vertical resolution should be sufficient to accurately predict water quality conditions in the bottom meter of the water column. – Horizontal resolution should be sufficient to accurately predict changes in peripheral water bodies and habitats (e.g., wetlands, tidal rivers and tributaries within the project’s area of influence). - 3- Harbor Deepening The dredger Queen of the dredger The of silt as a trail leaves Netherlands in channel deepening commenced 8, 2008. February Port Phillip Bay, James ABC News, Credit: Photo http://www.abc.net.au/ Fisher, reslib/200802/r222333_876404.jpg Potential effects of sea level rise under scenarios that reflect low, moderate, and high rates of change rates and high moderate, reflectlow, that rise under scenarios of sea level effects Potential close as as stations from using data of the model(s) should be evaluated and validation Calibration Model applications should address both normal and drought conditions based on the historical based on the historical conditions both normal and drought Model should address applications record as well as severe weather occurrences. occurrences. weather as severe as well record should be considered. resources. practicable sensitive to – – – sediment transport pathways within harbor settings. Consequent changes to the sediment budget may budget may the sediment changes to Consequent harbor within settings. transportsediment pathways dredging. channel maintenance future and frequency of, the need for, or decrease increase the harbor. sedimentation, both within and outside the channel. Sediment transport both within and outside the channel. sedimentation, used where models should be appropriate. and coves. history of concern. stages of species vessels. i.e., aerial extent of shallow habitat lost versus deep habitat gained, and the implications for various life life various for and the implications gained, habitat deep lost versus habitat aerialof shallow extent i.e., Consider potential for salinity intrusion into freshwater aquifer and resultant effects. and resultant aquifer freshwater salinity into intrusion for potential Consider on lands surrounding affect hurricanestorm surge may channel configuration the altered how Evaluate reach, and modify channel given in a of sedimentation rates can affect configuration channel Altered Consider consequences of potential relocation of turbidity maximum zone(s). relocation of potential consequences Consider construction effects of turbidity with and impacts potential plumes associated of increased Evaluate Consider the impacts of contaminants. Consider of suspension and redistribution creeks to tidal especially time, residence on flushing and and effects patterns circulation water Evaluate Evaluate tradeoffs in habitat types and attributes associated with widening aspects associated in habitat attributes of deepening projects, types and tradeoffs Evaluate deep-draft with passage of large associated erosion shoreline increased for Determine the potential • • • • • • • • • Physical Effects - 4- Harbor Deepening Photo Credit: Carl LoBue, The Nature Conservancy Nature The LoBue, Carl Credit: Photo Winter flounder in submerged aquatic vegetation. aquatic flounder in submerged Winter • Identify potential for beneficial uses of dredged beneficial uses of dredged for potential • Identify habitats. existing or protect enhance to material will techniques excavation • Determine if specialized such as blasting or use of hydro-hammers; be used, source one obvious underwater sound represents such as the use of Mitigationmeasures, of concern. • Evaluate effects of dredged material disposal material effects of dredged • Evaluate and biota activities habitats on adjacent habitats from upland disposal, effluents (e.g., disposal areas). ocean to adjacent to due altered existing habitats effects on • Evaluate disposal areas. approved expand to need any bubble curtains might be appropriate. Where bubble curtains be appropriate. might habitats and submerged aquatic vegetation. aquatic and submerged habitats nesting areas) or any Essential Fish Habitat (EFH), including effects on the accessibility of those habitats by of those habitats on the accessibility (EFH), including effects Habitat Fish Essential or any nesting areas) use them. the species that and ship-strike with construction activities issues associated and passage of deep-draft vessels. areas versus upper reaches if relevant). upper reaches versus areas of differing windows for various sections of the project if warranted (e.g., bottleneck areas, lower estuarine lower bottleneck areas, various sectionsfor (e.g., warranted of the project if windows of differing appropriate for the area. Are HIS models available for key species and sufficiently refined to predict project to refined key species and sufficiently for HIS models available Are the area. for appropriate impacts? invertebrate assemblages. invertebrate distribution of vegetated wetland species, resident and resident species, wetland distribution vegetated of of and abundances migratory distributions, species Determine the extent and effects of dredging on sensitive bottom habitats, such as hard bottom/reef bottom/reef hard such as habitats, bottom on sensitive Determine of dredging and effects the extent Evaluate effects on sensitive shoreline habitats (e.g., intertidal shellfish habitats, vegetated shorelines, bird bird shorelines, vegetated intertidal shellfish habitats, (e.g., habitats shoreline on sensitive effects Evaluate Determine suitability of dredging windows to minimize impacts related to critical species, including use critical species, to impacts minimize related to windows Determine suitability of dredging noise including marine mammals, species and protected endangered and on threatened effects Evaluate Evaluate effects on spawning and migration of anadromous and diadromous species. diadromous and of anadromous and migration on spawning effects Evaluate non-migratory of species. relationships and habitat spawning on the effects Evaluate Consider the effects of water quality the changes on water of the effects Consider Suitability Habitat that Index (HSI) models are Ensure Credit: http://www.atlascopco.com/microsites/Images/ac0050862_456.jpg Credit: Bubble curtain in use to minimize intrusion of contaminated water. Photo Photo water. of contaminated Bubble intrusion curtain minimize in use to • • • • • • • • Biological Effects - 5- Harbor Deepening http://www.layfieldenvironmental.com/Content_Files/Images/ Product/Lomond_Turbidity_Curtain_9_N._Side_-_Orange.jpg Turbidity curtain for dredging. Photo Credit: Credit: Photo curtain dredging. for Turbidity the above bullets. bullets. the above bridge alterations, private spur channels, existing port facilities, removal or relocation of utilities and relocation or port existing removal spur channels, facilities, private bridge alterations, in identified impact resources that the natural trenching) pile driving, practices (e.g., entail pipelines) may practices and controls such as closed buckets for mechanical dredges and silt curtains and mechanical dredges buckets for such as closed be should practices and controls considered. It is important to consider that modifications in infrastructure required for the deepening project (e.g., the deepening projectfor (e.g., Itrequired in infrastructure is importantmodifications that consider to habitats or species of concern may be exposed to suspended sediment plumes, dredging management management dredging plumes, suspended sediment to be exposed may of concern or species habitats more precise assessment of assessment precise more 10 years ) evaluations of ) evaluations 10 years deepening impacts and a benefits allows mitigation deepening projects also may deepening projects also may management take an adaptive (e.g., Long-term approach. from the estuaries. the estuaries. from harbor for mitigation The mitigated by restoring sturgeon sturgeon restoring by mitigated upriver areas spawning to access sturgeon, permanently by by permanently sturgeon, by and temporarily dredging will be respectively, blasting, deepening of both Savannah deepening of both Savannah Harbor, Wilmington Harbor and loss of nursery for habitat unusual elements rarely seen in other project types. For example, deepening of Savannah Harbor will deepening of Savannah example, seen in other project For types. rarely unusual elements salinity and injecting intrusion reduce reservoirs to distributaries and building freshwater include rerouting For the patterns. flushing the harbor impacts in perpetuity altered into offset from to oxygen dissolved of habitats. Mitigation designs that take into account the spatial distribution of habitats within a harbor distribution of habitats the spatial account take into Mitigation that designs of habitats. is more habitat especially stages where stages, range of fish life a broader across effective should be more harbor deepening projects can include for mitigation scale, the larger due to Also be limiting. likely to and live/hardbottom, follows the same process used for typical dredge-and-fill projects; however, the larger the larger typical dredge-and-fill used for projects; the same process however, follows and live/hardbottom, distribution such as the spatial opportunitiesconsiderations, to include landscape ecology scale affords impacts caused by the proposed incremental deepening, rather than impacts construction, historical rather from deepening, incremental impacts the proposed caused by laws. passage of modern environmental before constructionbecause the historical usually occurred corals, seagrass, mud flats, as salt marsh, mangroves, such direct loss of habitats, Mitigation replaces that Mitigation harbor upon deepening projects typically compensatoryDiscussion of habitat for focuses mitigation •

- 6- Harbor Deepening Photo Credit: Doug Clarke Credit: Photo Bucket dredge using a closed bucket. using a closed bucket. dredge Bucket Note: Economic and other issues not specific to habitats and associated natural resources are not considered in this document. considered not are resources natural to habitats and associated and other issues not specific Economic Note: Harbor and channel deepening projects are invariably complex, posing a plethora of challenges during their posing a plethora complex, invariably Harbor and channel deepening projects are should be established as a and habitat of fisheryresources Protection planning and construction phases. of the project. the life primary throughout and continued goal early process in the planning Conclusions for harbor deepening often includes socioeconomic components to address land-based activities, such as address to harbor components deepening often includes socioeconomic for project.from a harbor deepening result that additional truck traffic accommodate to constructing roadways islands or oyster reefs in shallow water areas and building offshore berms to provide storm protection and protection storm to provide berms and building offshore areas water in shallow reefs islands or oyster and projects monitoring are part use These beneficial also often integrated of an serve as artificialreefs. of this report, mitigation that outside the scope it should be noted While program. management adaptive While not described as mitigation, harbor not described on beneficial use deepening projects as mitigation, While often include a component include building marsh may components These policy requirements. federal address to material of dredged additional mitigation that would be triggered when monitoring shows impacts are greater than anticipated anticipated than impacts greater are shows monitoring when be triggered would that additional mitigation Harbor of such a program. is an example is not performingor mitigation Savannah as expected. as well whether project effects are consistent with those envisioned within the Environmental ImpactStatement. within the Environmental with those envisioned consistent whether project effects are include pre-approved program management and adaptive monitoring of an integrated best examples The - 7- Harbor Deepening http://www.mass.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ADDITIONAL http://www.nap.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/ http://www.nan.usace.army.mil/Missions/Navigation.aspx http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/ http://sav-harbor.com/ http://www.nap.usace.army.mil/Portals/39/docs/Civil/Deepening/ http://www.nan.usace.army.mil/Portals/37/docs/harbor/Harprogrep/ http://www.sac.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/ http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/shexpan/Home.html http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Portals/44/docs/Planning/ http://www.nan.usace.army.mil/Missions/Navigation/

http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Navigation/ http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dmf/programsandprojects/fish_hab_ http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/oceandumping/dredgedmaterial/ DRMCD%20-%20Final%20Environmental%20Assessment%20-%20September%202011.pdf Silt Curtain Pilot Study Silt Curtain Pilot NewYorkNewJerseyHarbor/HarborProgramReports.aspx Assessment: Environmental Environmental Assessment: Assessment: Environmental ea.pdf – – – gov/dfwele/dmf/publications/tr_47.pdf publications.htm for Restrictions (TOYs) Year of Time Massachusetts Department Recommended of Marine Fisheries: in Massachusetts: Resources Marine Fisheries Protect to Projects Alteration Coastal Massachusetts Department Marine Fisheries: Cape Cod and Islands Resource Recommendations Recommendations and Islands Resource Massachusetts Department Cod Cape Marine Fisheries: Municipal Dredging: for EPA: Identifying, Planning, and Financing Beneficial Use Projects Using Dredged Material Beneficial Material Dredged Using Projects Use Beneficial and Financing Planning, Identifying, EPA: Manual: Planning Use upload/2009_02_27_oceans_ndt_publications_2007_beneficial_use_manual.pdf Navigation/NavigationProjects/JacksonvilleHarborChannelDeepeningStudy.aspx PeerReviewReports/Port%20Everglades%20IEPR_Final%20Report_final.pdf Harbor Channel Deepening: Jacksonville Miami Harbor Deepening: NavigationProjects/MiamiHaborDeepeningStudy.aspx Deepening: Everglades Port Delaware River Main River Channel Deepening: Delaware DelawareRiverMainChannelDeepening.aspx Savannah Harbor Deepening Project: Harbor Deepening Project: Savannah Jersey Harbor Deepening: York/New New Savannah Harbor Deepening: Savannah Charleston HarborCharleston Deepening: CharlestonHarborPost45.aspx Other Relevant Sources: Other Relevant Hopper Dredge. Photo Credit: Doug Clarke Credit: Photo Dredge. Hopper ongoing or planned deepening projects: to related and documents of information Sources - 8- Harbor Deepening

NOAA technical Memorandum, NMFS-NE-209: Impacts to Marine Fisheries Habitat from Nonfishing Activities in the Northeastern United States: http://www.fpir.noaa.gov/ Library/HCD/NOAA%20Technical%20Memo%20NMFS- NE-209.pdf NOAA Technical Memorandum, NMFS-F/SPO-70: National Gravel Extraction Guidance. A review of the effects of in- and near-stream gravel extraction on anadromous fishes and their habitats, with recommendations for avoidance, minimization, and mitigation: http://spo.nwr.noaa.gov/tm/ tm70.pdf NY Department of Environmental Conservation: Marsh Loss and Beneficial Use of Dredged Material: http://www. dec.ny.gov/lands/5489.html

Deep draft container ship. Photo Credit: Doug Clarke USACE dredging literature database: http://el.erdc.usace. army.mil/e2d2/ USACE dredging technology transfer site: http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/dots USACE Waterways Experiment Station: http://www.wes.army.mil/Welcome.html USACE Coastal & Hydraulics Laboratory, Effect of Dredging:http://chl.erdc.usace.army.mil/dredging USACE The Environmental Effects of Underwater Explosions with Methods to Mitigate Impacts: http://www.denix.osd.mil/nr/upload/underwaterexplosions.pdf

Literature References:

Thomas M. Keevin. Review of Natural Resource Agency Recommendations for Mitigating the Impacts of Underwater Blasting. Environmental Planning Branch, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District, 1222 Spruce Street, St. Louis, MO 63103–2833A

Barry S. Drucker, William Waskes, and Mark R. Byrnes, 2004. The U.S. Minerals Management Service Outer Continental Shelf Sand and Gravel Program: Environmental Studies to Assess the Potential Effects of Offshore Dredging Operations in Federal Waters Journal of Coastal Research. Winter 2004, Vol. 20 Issue 1, p1