Dredging activities

Works on dredging and sediment management

• Sediment Sampling Guides for Dredging and Marine Engineering Projects in the St.Lawrence River, Volume 1 and Volume 2, are intended to help dredging and marine engineering project promoters and managers design and implement sediment sampling plans that address physico-chemical characterization concerns.
• Guide for physicochemical and toxicological characterization of sediments (2016) is the revised and updated version of the 1992 Guide méthodologique de caractérisation des sédiments. It aims to standardize sediment analysis methodology by establishing the performance criteria to be met.
• Criteria for the Assessment of Sediment Quality in Quebec (2007 edition)presents the results of the revision of the Interim Criteria for Evaluating Sediment Quality in the St. Lawrence River adopted in 1992. The report describes the new quality criteria and the process used to determine them.
• The Ecotoxicological Risk Assessment of Open-Water Sediment Disposal provides complementary information to refine the environmental analysis of dredged sediment management and improve the decision-making process.
• The document Butyltins in Sediments of the St. Lawrence River presents the results of the analysis of 250 sediment samples collected along the St. Lawrence River to provide an up-to-date picture of butyltin concentrations.
• The document Assessing sediment toxicity in the upper St. Lawrence estuary identifies the bioassay(s) that can be used to assess the toxicity of contaminated sediments in the brackish St. Lawrence estuary, in order to facilitate their management.
• The document Recommendations for the Management of Suspended Solids (SS) During Dredging Activities provides recommendations for the management of suspended solids during dredging and open-water discharge activities, which were established through a concerted process and after consultation with the various stakeholders concerned.
• Dredging specialists will find in the Guide for the Development of Environmental Monitoring and Surveillance Programs for Dredging and Sediment Management Projects  an approach to facilitate the design of environmental monitoring and follow-up programs (EMSP) for dredging and sediment management projects, as well as practical instructions for developing and implementing such programs.
• The Guidance document on collection and preparation of sediments for physicochemical characterization and biological testing complements the biological test methods in the Environmental Protection series, which describe toxicity or bioaccumulation tests on whole sediments, pore water or elutriates produced from sediments.
• The Guide pour le choix et l'opération des équipements de dragage et des pratiques environnementales qui y rattachent (French only) describes the characterization of sediments or the environmental assessment of dredging projects. It indicates the methods, techniques, equipment and modifications likely to improve the environmental performance of dredging operations.