Abstract
Purpose
The potential negative effects of dredging on a sensitive marine environment (e.g. phanerogamic meadows, beaches, benthic populations) can be justification for restrictions on the dredging project or the creation of a dredging monitoring plan. The dredging of the Port of Genoa (Italy) provided the opportunity to study the concentration of total suspended solids, the physical characteristics of the water column, and the winds and currents determining the hydrodynamic characteristics of the port, and to test a double monitoring system for turbidity control.
Materials and methods
In the dredging operation of the Port of Genoa, we positioned a couple of fixed monitoring systems operating 24/7, consisting each of a conductivity–temperature–depth probe and two acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCP), near the two port entrances to monitor turbidity and currents. To make the monitoring strategy more efficient, to periodically control the data transmitted by the fixed stations and to ensure coverage of those areas not covered by the fixed monitoring system, a vessel equipped with a vertical ADCP and a conductivity–temperature–depth probe with a turbidimeter periodically followed the dredger during its daily operations.
Results and discussion
Using the data acquired during the pre-dredging and dredging phases, we considered turbidity and suspended solids variations caused by the dredging operation to study the evolution of the plume. The trailing suction hopper dredge (TSHD) plume extended from the surface throughout the entire water column at a distance of 50 m, with higher turbidity close to the bottom. At a distance of 200 m, the plume was much reduced. Instead, at a distance of 50 m, the turbidity produced by the backhoe was lower than that measured around the TSHD, while at a distance of 100 m the plume was reduced with only noticeable values near the bottom. Finally, we compared the turbidity data of the dredging with the background conditions near the Posidonia oceanica meadow present near the port.
Conclusions
The data presented in this paper indicate that the choice of a combined monitoring system can be a good practical solution for reaching two different objectives: (a) to follow the evolution and movement of the turbid plume, and ensure that it does not flow out of the port, contaminating the surrounding area or damaging nearby coastal habitats or the Posidonia oceanica meadows; and (b) to study the differences between the turbid plumes created by two dredging tools (backhoe and TSHD) under different wind–wave conditions.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bishop JR, Dammann WP (1996) Cabling and mooring a remotely operated ADCP for real-time data acquisition. OCEANS ’96. MTS/IEEE. Prospects for the 21st Century. Conf Proceed. doi:10.1109/OCEANS.1996.572557
Borum J, Duarte CM, Krause-Jensen D, Greve TM (2004) European seagrasses: an introduction to monitoring and management. The M&MS project. Denmark, 2004, 8–10. http://www.seagrasses.org
Boudouresque CF, Bernard G, Bonhomme P, Charbonnel E, Diviacco G, Meinesz A, Pergent G, Pergent-Martini C, Ruitton S, Tunesi L (2006) Préservation et conservation des herbiers à Posidonia oceanica. RaMoGe Publ. http://www.ramoge.org/filesfr/guideposidonie/posidonia_Ramoge.pdf
Bradley S (1999) Horizontal ADCP for remote mapping of currents. Current Measurement, 1999. Proceedings of the IEEE Sixth Working Conference on. doi:10.1109/CCM.1999.755223
Bufkin JM, Rivero U (1996) Real Time Digital Data Communication System for a Remotely Operated ADCP. OCEANS ’96. MTS/IEEE. ‘Prospects for the 21st Century’. Conf Proceed. doi:10.1109/OCEANS.1996.572551 DOI:dx.doi.org
Capello M, Bertolotto RM, Pieracci A, Cutroneo L, Gaino F, Tucci S, Vaccari M, Bassetti M, Fioravanti S (2008) Definition of the natural sediment dynamics before the dredging of the Port of Genoa (Italy). 5th International SedNet Conference. http://www.sednet.org/downloads/conference2008/8%20Marco%20Capello.pdf
Capello M, Budillon G, Cutroneo L, Tucci S (2009) The nepheloid bottom layer and water masses at the shelf break of the Western Ross Sea. Deep-Sea Res Pt II 56:843–858
Capello M, Cutroneo L, Castellano M, Orsi M, Pieracci A, Bertolotto RM, Povero P, Tucci S (2010) Physical and sedimentological characterisation of dredged material. Chem Ecol 26(Suppl):359–369
Chanson H, Takeuichi M, Trevethan M (2008) Using turbidity and acoustic backscatter intensity as surrogate measures of suspended sediment concentration in a small subtropical estuary. J Environ Manage 88:1406–1416
Clarke D, Martin A, Dickerson C, Moore D (2005) Characterization of suspended sediment plumes associated with knockdown operations at Redwood City, California. US Army Corps of Engineers. http://www.spn.usace.army.mil/ltms/20051012FinalReport.pdf
Defendi V, Kovacevic V, Arena F, Zaggia L (2010) Estimating sediment transport from acoustic measurements in the Venice Lagoon inlets. Cont Shelf Res 30:883–893
Dragos (2009) Turbidity Monitoring and Plume Sampling Results for City Dredge Disposal at the New Bedford Harbor CAD Cell # 2. Technical Memorandum. http://www.epa.gov/region1/superfund/sites/newbedford/299744.pdf
EEA (2005) Priority issues in the Mediterranean environment. UNEP, European Environment Agency (EEA), Copenhagen. EEA report n. 5/2005
Erftemeijer PLA, Lewis RRR III (2006) Environmental impacts of dredging on seagrasses: a review. Mar Poll Bull 52:1553–1572
Eurosion (2004) Living with coastal erosion in Europe: sediment and space for sustainability. Guidelines for incorporating coastal erosion issues into Environmental Assessment (EA) procedures. Final Report to the European Commission (Service contract B4-3301/2001/329175/MAR/B3). National Institute for Coastal and Marine Management (and partners), The Netherlands, May 2004
Gartner JW (2004) Estimating suspended solids concentrations from backscatter intensity measured by acoustic Doppler current profiler in San Francisco Bay, California. Mar Geol 211:169–187
Guillen JE, Ramos AA, Martinez L, Sanchez Lizaso JL (1994) Antitrawling reefs and the protection of Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile meadows in the Western Mediterranean Sea: demand and aims. Bull Mar Sci 55:645–650
Healy T, Tian F (1999) Report on the dredging and disposal monitoring programme for Pine Harbour Marina—1998. Coastal Marine Group, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Waikato, pp 42
Hill DC, Jones SE, Prandle D (2003) Derivation of sediment resuspension rates from acoustic backscatter time-series in tidal waters. Cont Shelf Res 23:19–40
Hoitink AJF, Hoekstra P (2005) Observations of suspended sediment from ADCP and OBS measurements in a mud-dominated environment. Coastal Eng 52:103–118
Holdaway GP, Thorne PD, Flatt D, Jones SE, Prandle D (1999) Comparison between ADCP and transmissometer measurements of suspended sediment concentration. Cont Shelf Res 19:421–441
HR Wallingford Ltd and Dredging Research Ltd (2003) Protocol for the Field Measurement of Sediment Release from Dredgers. Vereniging van Waterbouwers in Bagger-Kust en Oeverwerken, VBKO. http://www.clu-in.org/download/contaminantfocus/sediments/sediment-release-from-dredgers.pdf
Je C, Hayes DF, Kim K (2007) Simulation of resuspended sediments resulting from dredging operations by a numerical flocculent transport model. Chemosphere 70:187–195
LaSalle M, Clarke D, Homziak J, Fredette J (1991) Dredging operations technical support program. A framework for assessing the feed for seasonal restrictions on dredging and disposal operations, Technical Report D-91-1, U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA240567
Nairn R, Johnson JA, Hardin D, Miche J (2004) A biological and physical monitoring program to evaluate long-term impacts from sand dredging operations in the United States outer continental shelf. J Coastal Res 20:126–137
Nicoletti L, Paganelli D, Lattanzi L, La Porta B, Pazzini A, Targusi M, La Valle P, Preti M, Morelli M, Aguzzi M, De Nigris N, Lamberti A, Martinelli L, Bartoletti E, Bini A, degl’Innocenti R, Nicotra I, Viacava J, Tsihrintzis VA, Sylaios GK, Bertolotto RM, Paoli E, Cuneo C, Tucci S, Capello M (2007a) Partage, perfectionnement et application du protocole ENV I aux activités de dragage et de rechargement par des sables fossiles, et applications spécifiques pour l’étude de la turbidité. 1er Cahier Technique Phase A, Beachmed-e
Nicoletti L, Paganelli D, Lattanzi L, La Porta B, Pazzini A, Targusi M, La Valle P, Preti M, Morelli M, Aguzzi M, De Nigris N, Lamberti A, Martinelli L, Bartoletti E, Bini A, degl’Innocenti R, Nicotra I, Viacava J, Tsihrintzis VA, Sylaios GK, Bertolotto RM, Paoli E, Cuneo C, Tucci S, Capello M (2007b) Partage, perfectionnement et application du protocole ENV I aux activités de dragage et de rechargement par des sables fossiles, et applications spécifiques pour l’étude de la turbidité. 2er Cahier Technique Phase B, Beachmed-e
Nicoletti L, Paganelli D, Lattanzi L, La Porta B, Pazzini A, Targusi M, La Valle P, Preti M, Morelli M, Aguzzi M, De Nigris N, Lamberti A, Martinelli L, Bartoletti E, Bini A, degl’Innocenti R, Nicotra I, Viacava J, Tsihrintzis VA, Sylaios GK, Bertolotto RM, Paoli E, Cuneo C, Tucci S, Capello M (2008) Share, define and apply Protocol ENV I to dredging and beach nourishment activities using relict sand and specific tasks for the study of turbidity levels. 3er Technical Report Phase C, Beachmed-e
Nihei Y, Kimuzo A (2008) A new monitoring system for river discharge with horizontal acoustic Doppler current profiler measurements and river flow simulation. Water Resour Res 44. W00D20. doi:10.1029/2008WR006970
Ogle S (2005) A review of scientific information on the effects of suspended sediments on pacific herring (Clupea pallasi) reproductive success. Prepared for South Pacific Division of the US Army Corp of Engineers and the Long Term Management Strategy Science Assessment and Data Gaps Workgroups
RD Instruments (2007) Horizontal current profiling and waves measurement in one package. San Diego, USA
RD Instruments (2008a) Workhorse H-ADCP 300 kHz, Long-range horizontal ADCP, real-time current profiling and waves measurement in a single package. San Diego, USA
RD Instruments (2008b) Workhorse monitor, direct-reading 1200, 600, 300 kHz ADCP, real-time current monitoring. San Diego, USA
Reine KJ, Clarke DG, Dickerson C (2002) Acoustic characterization of suspended sediment plumes resulting from barge overflow. DOER Technical Notes Collection (ERDC TN-DOER-E15), U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS. http://www.wes.army.mil/el/dots/doer
Terrados J, Borum J (2004) Why are seagrasses important? Goods and services provided by seagrass meadows, in European seagrasses: an introduction to monitoring and management. The M&MS project. Borum J, Duarte CM, Krause-Jensen D, Greve TM Eds, Denmark, 8–10. http://www.seagrasses.org
Wilber DH, Clarke DG (2001) Biological effects of suspended sediments: a review of suspended sediment impacts on fish and shellfish with relation to dredging activities in estuaries. North Am J Fish Manag 21:855–875
Wu G, de Leeuw J, Skidmore AK, Prins HHT, Liu Y (2007) Concurrent monitoring of vessels and water turbidity enhances the strength of evidence in remotely sensed dredging impact assessment. Water Resour Res 41:3271–3280
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank Prof. Paul K. Nixon for the English revision of the paper, and the Editor-in-Chief, Philip N. Owens, and the three anonymous reviewers for their constructive suggestions and comments that greatly improved this manuscript. We also thank the Officers and the Crews of the two Italian Coast Guard Vessels (CP 276 and CP 288) and of the R/V Maso for their help during the monitoring operations. This study was funded by Research Funding of the Port Authority of Genoa.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Responsible editor: Jos Brils
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cutroneo, L., Castellano, M., Pieracci, A. et al. The use of a combined monitoring system for following a turbid plume generated by dredging activities in a port. J Soils Sediments 12, 797–809 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-012-0486-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-012-0486-0