Upland and Wetland Habitat Development with Dredged Material: Ecological Considerations

Regional habitat development and preservation priorities should be established by identifying target populations, groups, or communities and their support populations in an ecosystem context. Properly planned dredged material habitats can be both visually and functionally compatible with preexisting natural habitats. The character of any upland, island, wetland, or aquatic habitat is determined by both physical (geomorphological, hydrological, climatological) and ecological (succession, competition, predation) principles. Properly planned disposal operations serve to modify physical conditions and thereby influence (with some predictability) biological responses. Chemically enriched (polluted) dredged material can be used to develop productive fish and wildlife habitats if available information about mechanisms affecting chemical solubilization and biological availability is incorporated into project design. Consequences of habitat displacement are not easily avoided because of limited understanding about the relative value of various sizes and configurations of specific habitat types. An awarenes of existing information describing the value of habitat types to management target resources together with studies designed to clarify specific target population-habitat interactions provides the only insurance against cumulative reduction in fish and wildlife resources. Blanket habitat development policies used in lieu of consideration of the unique qualities of each ecosystem should be avoided. (Author) Report on Synthesis of Research Results. Dredged Material Research Program. Also available as Engineer Manual 1110-2-5018.