Maintenance Dredging of Charleston Harbor, Ashley River, and U.S. Navy Channels in Cooper River Charleston and Berkeley Counties, South Carolina

摘要

Environmental impacts of this project include: Short-term increase in turbidity and sedimentation; smothering of plant and animal communities in disposal areas; temporary frightening of birds and mammals in the area; temporary reduction of phytoplankton and zooplankton; possible oxygen reduction due to disturbance of anaerobic bottom sediments; short-term reduction of benthic organism populations in the path of the cutterhead and in the offshore disposal area; increase in local mosquito population; possible adverse effect of fish larvae due to increased turbidity; minor increase in air pollution during dredging operations; and stimulation of the local, state and national economy. Adverse environmental effects include: Temporary increase in turbidity and siltation in the vicinity of the dredge and disposal areas; temporary decrease in primary production resulting from turbid waters; possible loss of organisms through leaching of toxic substances from upland disposal areas; possible reduction in dissolved oxygen levels as a result of the dredge disturbing organic materials undergoing anaerobic decomposition; possible displacement of wildlife species; alteration of existing vegetation in disposal areas; destruction of some benthic organisms by the cutterhead; and increase in the local mosquito population.