What You Need to Know About Dredging

October 14, 2020 9:41 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Dredging is the process of removing silt, sediment, weeds or other invasive material from a body of water. Lakes, rivers, ponds and water features can all benefit from the efforts of dredging contractors. Sometimes, we remove lake sediment buildup in Jeffersonville, IN to make it safer for boats or to reduce debris that interfere with habitats. Here are the four types of dredging and when they are used to benefit water bodies:

  • Hydraulic dredging: This method addresses sediment at the bottom of a body of water. It uses a suction dredger to literally vacuum up the sediment and run it through a pipeline to a dumping site. Hydraulic dredging works best if you only need to handle fine material, as its capacity is limited, but it’s environmentally sound and can remove sediment and debris with the least disruption to aquatic life, which is ideal for sensitive environments.
  • Mechanical dredging: A much simpler process, mechanical dredging involves loading equipment onto a barge that floats on the surface. For smaller lakes and rivers, dredging can occur from the shore and not require a barge—especially if your contractor has a long-reach excavator. Rather than using hydraulic suction, dredging equipment reaches to the bottom of the water body and scoops sediment and debris out of the water and onto the barge or a dump pile on shore. When it fills up, the debris is removed to the dumping site. This technique works well if your job in Jeffersonville, IN involves large rocks or other types of heavy lake sediment buildup.
  • Hydro raking: If a pond or lake contains nuisance vegetation, hydro raking is the way to go. This method removes vegetation, root structures and soft organic debris on smaller water bodies. It uses a barge with a backhoe that is equipped with either a digging bucket or a rake. This technique works well in water that is as shallow as 18 inches. This works great for water bodies that provide habitat for helpful plants and algae. If this technique is regularly performed on ponds, you will enjoy a much healthier habitat and save financial resources with better ecological preservation.
  • Riprap: This is not necessarily a type of dredging, but an extra step to take after dredging to better preserve your water habitat. Riprap is normally slabs of limestone that are installed along the edges of lakes and ponds. It stabilizes the shoreline and reduces erosion so less sediment ends up in the water. Dredging contractors can often install it once they finish your job, and if they don’t have the resources for that part, chances are they know someone who does this on a regular basis. Riprap can reduce the time needed to dredge and become a vital peace in a healthy aquatic habitat.

Estes Excavating, Inc. are dredging contractors in Jeffersonville, IN. We offer the skill and experience necessary to remove lake sediment buildup and perform needed environmental cleanup on public or private land. Call us today for assistance with spillage or waste runoff in your pond, lake, river or creek.

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