Utilization of river sediments as topsoil to reclaim brownfields and other sites

摘要

Dredging of water bodies is done to maintain and enhance their economic and environmental qualities.This is necessarily accompanied by the need to deal with the dredged sediments.In the USA,dredged material was historically viewed as spoil to be disposed in the least expensive method;later,concern over social and environmental issues with dredging and sediment disposal created interest in finding better alternatives.Beneficial use of sediment as topsoil is an option for uncontaminated,finegrained material.Our studies in Illinois show that sediment improves degraded soil at old commercial and industrial sites or "brownfields." Due to improved handling technologies and changing perceptions beneficial use of dredged sediment will continue to gain acceptance.The challenge is to develop improved project designs and dredging and sediment handling technology.In the future,sediment may become an important commodity for restoration of ecological,agricultural,and urban landscapes hundreds of kilometers from dredging sites.