| Dredging involves excavating an area that is at least | | | | cases of missing people, even bodies. |
| partly submerged. This can involve anything from a | | | | Dredging is very important in containment of chemical |
| river or lake to the open seas. There can be several | | | | spills, too. In these cases, as much of the contaminated |
| reasons for dredging an area, but the most common | | | | soil is dredged up as possible and then disposed of in |
| reason is to gather the sediment from the bottom of | | | | some other, safer location. Doing so right away can |
| the lake or section of ocean and then redeposit or | | | | help protect the local sea life and restore the area to |
| dispose of this sediment elsewhere. In many cases, the | | | | normal quickly. It also prevents chemicals from getting |
| reasoning behind doing a dredge of an area is to keep | | | | into seafood and local water supplies. |
| the sediment from building up. In some waterways, for | | | | Some environmentalists have suggested the dredging |
| example, if too much sediment builds up, larger ships | | | | does impact aquatic ecosystems, and they are |
| may not be able to use the waterway. In this same | | | | correct to some extent. Dredging can dislodge |
| way, dredging can also be used to increase a | | | | chemicals, including heavy metals, in the benthic |
| channel's or river's water capacity to help relieve | | | | substrates of the ocean floor, causing these chemicals |
| flooding in some areas. | | | | to enter the water. The turbulence dredging causes, |
| There are some other uses for dredging. Coastal | | | | although very short term, can also cause some |
| erosion, caused by the waves over times, can leave | | | | disturbances in local species migration and metabolism. |
| some public beaches without a good amount of sand. | | | | There's also a small chance that the sediment taken |
| This makes them less attractive to tourists, which in | | | | from the area will contain something that contaminates |
| turn means a drop in income for the surrounding area. | | | | the site where it is deposited, although samples of the |
| Dredging up sediment and sand from the bottom can | | | | sediment are usually taken and tested before the |
| be deposited on the beach to help rebuild the lost sand. | | | | sediment is deposited. |
| Sand gained from dredging can also be used in land | | | | However, despite the impact dredging can have on the |
| reclamation projects and other construction projects. | | | | environment, without dredging, much of today's modern |
| Another use of Dredging is in fishing. Some edible | | | | commerce would not be as efficient or as effective. |
| crabs, clams, and other seafood can be dredged up | | | | Without dredging to clear harbours, channels, and |
| from the ocean bottom. After the sand is filtered out, | | | | rivers, cargo ships could not access many ports. |
| these edible fish can be sent to restaurants and food | | | | Recreational boating, too, would be impaired, with all but |
| packaging plants for preparation and consumption. | | | | the smallest ships able to sail on some lakes, rivers, |
| Dredging may be used to search through the sediment | | | | and seas. |
| for other things, including gold, rare minerals, and, in | | | | |