Client
South Florida Water Management District
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Location
South-Central, Florida
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Key BCI Staff
Richard Powers, PG, CPG
Les Bromwell, ScD, PE
Gene Medley
Carolyn Farmer
Leon Seale, EI
Craig Houdeshell
David Pearce, PE
Stephen Hjelle, PE
Carl Christmann, PE 
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Project Costs
$650,824
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Start Date
June 2007
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Completion Date
January 2008

Scope

BCI was hired by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) to design a hydraulic dredging project to remove a layer of fine-grained sands and organic sediments from the lake bottom at Eagle Bay on the north end of Lake Okeechobee.

While the main goal of the project is to restore the productive benthic habitat to this area of the lake, BCI had to design a process that would be cost-effective for the removal of the thin organic layer at the site, while meeting a strict total phosphorus standard for return water of 40 parts per billion (ppb) or less.

BCI's tasking over a six-month design period included:

• Collected, reviewed, and managed preliminary information to include water quality data, existing hydrologic and water quality models, sediment data, hydrographic surveys, and disposal site characteristics
• Identified dredging, sediment stabilization and dredged material management alternatives
• Characterized lake sediments to be dredged
• Developed conceptual plans for dredging, dewatering, and disposal
• Prepared dredging evaluation report outlining proposed dredging and disposal methodologies, delineation of dredging and disposal areas, and material handling and processing monitoring requirements
• Produced final engineering plans and specifications and obtained all permits needed for construction
• Assited the District in preparing bids and with the selection of a dredging contractor