Posted on June 29, 2026
A DredgeWire Exclusive
DredgeWire is pleased that Eric Ramírez Barreto of RMZ Marine will be contributing insightful pieces for DredgeWire with his insights on the maritime market.
We think you’ll be intrigued by what he has to say.
Here is his third column.
The US Army Corps of Engineers recently awarded a $53 million contract to construct additional restoration features at James Island in the Chesapeake Bay using material dredged from the Port of Baltimore navigation channels.
To me, this is one of the better examples of how navigation maintenance and ecosystem restoration can work together.
The contract was awarded to C&C Joint Ventures LLC of Gloucester, Virginia, as part of the Mid-Chesapeake Bay Island Ecosystem Restoration Project, a partnership between the @U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Baltimore District and the State of Maryland.
The scale is significant.
James Island is planned to provide more than 2,000 acres of restored island and habitat. Barren Island, the project’s first construction phase, adds another 72 acres. The restoration material comes from maintenance dredging of the Port of Baltimore federal navigation channels, and project costs are shared approximately 65% federally and 35% by the State of Maryland.
The project solves two challenges with one investment.
The Port of Baltimore requires regular maintenance dredging to keep navigation channels open for commercial shipping. That material must be managed somewhere.
Instead of viewing dredged sediment solely as a disposal challenge, this project uses it to restore islands that have experienced decades of erosion while creating habitat and improving coastal resilience.
That’s why beneficial use of dredged material deserves more attention in the marine construction industry.
Every cubic yard removed from a navigation channel represents a material management decision. Whether it’s placed in a confined disposal facility, used for marsh creation, island restoration, beach nourishment, or other beneficial purposes can significantly influence both project value and long-term environmental outcomes.
Projects like this demonstrate how navigation infrastructure and ecosystem restoration can be advanced through the same construction program.
For dredging contractors, coastal engineers, and port owners, that’s a model worth paying attention to.
Where have you seen beneficial use of dredged material deliver real long-term value, and where have you seen projects struggle to move from concept to construction?
Publication of this article does not constitute endorsement by DredgeWire. The views expressed are solely those of the author.
