How Will Dredging Be Done?

When the first phase of dredging begins, the dredging work and associated activities are expected to last approximately 28 weeks, from mid-May to November.

To remove sediments from the river bottom at the rate EPA has set for the first phase of the project, mechanical dredges with clamshell buckets designed for environmental dredging will operate 24 hours a day, six days a week, under normal conditions.

Dredging will start at the northern end of Rogers Island (near the Fort Edward Yacht Basin) and generally progress south. Dredging in the eastern channel of Griffin Island, located downstream of Rogers Island, will also begin early in the Phase 1 program.

Up to eight dredges may be operating simultaneously. The sediment will be placed on barges for transport to the Processing and Transportation Facility. The barges will be moved through the river by tugboats.

Champlain Canal Route

Because of the location of the processing facility, it will be necessary to transport all of the barges loaded with dredged sediment through Lock 7 north along the Champlain Canal for a short distance. Barges carrying backfill material needed to cover dredged areas may also pass through Lock 7. A fleet of 14 barges will be used for both purposes. During peak operations, these barges may make a total of 30 one-way trips through the lock each day.

Operations at the processing and transportation facility will occur 24 hours a day, six days a week, under normal conditions. Up to three barges may be docked at the wharf at any time. Dredged material will be unloaded by either a crane or excavator. Large debris such as rocks and tree limbs will be sorted out. The remaining sediment will be processed through a trommel screen and hydrocyclones to sort out additional gravel and sand.

Debris, rocks and sand will be transferred by dump truck to an on-site staging area near the rail yard. The remaining fine sands and silt material will be pumped to a 750,000-gallon tank from which it will be sent through 12 filter presses for dewatering. The dewatered sediment removed from the presses, called "filter cake," will be trucked to enclosed staging areas near the rail yard.

Two Million Gallons Per Day

Water collected during the dewatering process, along with rain that falls on material handling areas, will be collected for treatment. The on-site water treatment plant will be able to handle approximately two million gallons of water per day. Once treated, water will be discharged to the Champlain Canal. Monitoring will verify compliance with requirements established by EPA.

The Rail Yard

Dewatered sediments will be loaded from staging areas to gondola-style railcars for off-site transport. These cars are shaped like a rectangular box and will be lined to ensure the sediment remains inside. On average, during Phase 1, one full 81-car train will leave the processing facility and one empty train will return about every four to five days.

Habitat Restoration

GE will work to restore the habitat in the river where dredging occurred. Approximately 120,000 plants, consisting of a variety of submerged aquatic and wetland species, will be planted in some of the areas dredged during Phase 1. Other dredged areas will be allowed to recover naturally.