This project consisted of the creation of a 1,300± acre dredge disposal facility in the Chesapeake Bay. The project was divided into two parts for design and construction; Phase I which covered about 800 acres and Phase II which included about 500 acres.  The disposal facility was created by constructing an oval earth containment dike with a perimeter of about 9 miles, about 5 miles for Phase I and 4 miles for Phase II.  Dredge spoil would be placed inside the containment berm and about one half of the facility would be developed into wetland habitat thus the final disposal material level would be about El. +1 to El.+3 the other half would contain material to El.+20±. 

Services provided include geotechnical design for Phase I which included drilling 85 soil borings in water up to 14 feet deep, pushing 60 electric cone probes, conducting in-situ soil testing, conducting an extensive laboratory testing program, evaluation of underwater borrow areas for dike construction, evaluating various construction methodologies to minimize negative impact to environmentally sensitive areas, and provide a design for the containment structure.  Containment dikes were to be constructed by placing granular material along the proposed alignment using a hydraulic dredge. Extensive slope stability analysis was conducted to evaluate shallow and deep seated failures. 

In addition, laboratory tests were conducted to stimulate the borrow dredging and material placement process and to determine the slopes likely to be obtained using a hydraulic dredge for material placement.  We were retained by the Maryland Port Administration to provide construction phase services.  The project was let as a Contractor Quality Control project, and the ACOE provided construction management and quality assurance services.  We supported ACOE during construction by providing quality assurance inspection and testing and geotechnical engineering consultation on various issues which arose during construction. 

• Constructing an earth dike over soft foundation soils.
• Evaluating suitability of borrow soil for dike construction.