Posted on January 11, 2026
The Nature Conservancy is thrilled to share this report with DredgeWire, and we look forward to working with members of the dredging industry on projects that protect our nation’s waterways and wetlands.
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has announced the release of a new report—Sediment Strategies—providing a roadmap to restore marshes by recycling dredged material. The report provides actionable information and case studies highlighting the immense conservation opportunity provided by the beneficial use of dredged material in Maryland and the greater Mid-Atlantic region. Sediment Strategies was created by TNC’s Maryland & DC Chapter, with support from the landscape architecture and environmental consulting firm Proof Projects and marine engineering firm Anchor QEA. The report was made possible through generous funding from The Dillon Fund, the Fleming Canusa Foundation and the Northrop Grumman Corporation. A link to the full report can be found here.
In the northeast, 15-20 million cubic yards of sediment are dredged annually to keep shipping channels and recreational waterways navigable. This material is often placed in landfills or open water but could instead be used to enhance and elevate tidal ecosystems such as marshes at risk of being lost to sea-level rise. Marshes are highly important to the health of our coasts, as they protect against shoreline erosion and flooding, improve water quality, trap carbon and provide habitat for many key species.
Sediment Strategies draws on applied research from across the U.S., presenting proven best practices to align dredging and restoration. TNC’s goal is to increase saltmarsh resilience in the Chesapeake Bay and the northeast—which contains more than 200,000 acres of vulnerable wetlands—by mainstreaming sediment recycling as a core practice within coastal management.
Sediment Strategies is a resource for seasoned practitioners and early adopters. The document is organized in five user-friendly sections:
- Context—National and regional drivers for sediment recycling.
- Implementation—Technical considerations and implementation tactics.
- Case Studies—In-depth examinations of exemplary projects.
- Project Controls—Permitting and procurement pathways.
- Project Development—Funding and strategic partnership opportunities.
“Recycling sediment for marsh restoration is a win for commerce, recreation and conservation,” said Isaac Hametz, Baltimore Program director for The Nature Conservancy. “Sediment Strategies is intended to give stakeholders a common language and tools to accelerate collaboration. The State of Maryland has been a leader in this space for a long time, and TNC is focused on working with partners at all scales of government and across sectors to preserve the ecological, economic and cultural value of tidal ecosystems now and into the future.”
“The beneficial use of dredged material is a critical tool in our natural resource management and restoration toolbox,” said Jackie Specht, resilient systems officer with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. “It’s a practice that benefits our environment, the economy and our coastal communities—and we’re thrilled to collaborate with TNC, our sister agencies in the State and stakeholders across Maryland to increase the alignment of dredging restoration.”
In July of this year, TNC and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources cohosted the IsBU4U Workshop to educate local planners and partners about best practices in the beneficial use of dredged material. More than 60 participants attended the event, which gave local leaders actionable information and a dedicated networking opportunity focused on dredging and restoration.
With the help of an external advisory group, TNC plans to continue its work aligning dredging and restoration in Maryland, the Chesapeake Bay and the Northeast.
Anyone interested in learning more about the Sediment Strategies report and/or TNC’s strategy to restore saltmarshes via beneficial use of dredge material should reach out to TNC’s Baltimore Program Director Isaac Hametz at Isaac.Hametz@tnc.org.
