Lower Wicomico River Maintenance Dredging, Wicomico County, Maryland

The scope includes the hydraulic dredging the lower half of the Wicomico River to its authorized depth of 14 feet (plus one foot of allowable overdepth). Approximately 120,000 cubic yards of silty material, with small pockets of sandy material, are to be dredged. Material will be placed beneficially for wetland restoration at the Deal Island Wildlife Management Area (WMA). Placement of material via pipeline will be utilized. Pipeline distance will be, on average, 8 miles, with a maximum pumping distance of 14 miles. The pipeline will travel through the Wicomico River and over land (approximately 4 miles) to reach the placement site. Wetland restoration is meant to increase migratory bird nesting habitat. The pipeline will be moved across the project placement areas to achieve the desired elevation. As such, careful attention to the prescribed elevation in placing the material is critical to the success of the project. Approximately 130 acres of land will be restored. Due to the location of the placement site being surrounded by water and the WMA impoundment, minimal land access is available with little to no access for heavy equipment from the land side of the project placement site. This project does not include containment structures or vegetation planting.

Division 35 -

Waterway and Marine Construction, Waterway and Marine Construction and Equipment, Dredging.