Multiple Projects Involving Beneficial Use of Dredged Material from Calcasieu Pass

A confidential owner is planning to dredge along Calcasieu Pass for the construction of a marine docking berth with the dredged spoils to be beneficially used for marsh creation.

Over the course of several years, and multiple projects and clients, S&ME has completed 28 soil borings in Calcasieu Pass and within two nearby marsh creation/restoration areas. Soil borings were performed by SER under the supervision of an S&ME engineer. Multiple drilling platforms were utilized for field exploration including an amphibious tracked platform, a pontoon platform, and an ATV platform. Soil samples were transported back to Baton Rouge where samples were tested.

Laboratory testing for the project included moisture content determination, unit weight determination, Atterberg limits, triaxial testing, gradation, and consolidation tests.

Geotechnical analyses for this project included a geological desktop study, slope stability analysis for the earthen containment dikes (ECDs), bearing capacity analyses for the ECDs, settlement analyses for the ECDs and the marsh subgrade, and marsh fill analyses. Additional analyses were completed to characterize borrow area properties to identify potential mitigation end uses.