Over time, waterways fill up with solid material, pollutants, and dead plants. Sand and gravel, in particular, make it challenging to navigate these lakes and rivers because they prevent commercial boats from passing through. Dredging is necessary to clear this out. Below is a quick guide to dredging and its many benefits.

An Introduction to Dredging

What Is It?

Dredging is the process of removing debris from the bottom of bodies of water, including rivers, lakes, and harbors. The piece of equipment that does this is a dredge. It’s a vacuum that sucks up this debris, filters it from the water, and brings it to the surface.

How It Works

A dredge has a submersible pump or vacuum that reaches underwater, down to the sand and gravel at the bottom. It uses a rotating cutter bar with teeth to loosen the excess sediment, so it’s easier to remove. Then, the sediment travels in a long tube, transporting it away. You can then use the extra sand and gravel for several purposes, including making glass. Sediment may also contain precious materials like gold.

Benefits of Dredging

The main advantage of dredging is to open up waterways and allow ships through. As sand and gravel accumulate at the bottom of a body of water, the water becomes shallow. This means that large ships cannot travel them. Dredging the sand and gravel allows these ships to continue their routes.

Dredging benefits the environment, too. It removes trash and sludge, making the water healthier for fish and other wildlife. It also helps with eutrophication, which is the presence of excess nutrients in the water due to runoff. Eutrophication results in excess plant life, which can cause oxygen deprivation and hurt aquatic organisms. Removing the excess plants and nutrients allows animals to survive and thrive.

C & W Trucking in Bayfield, WI, can haul the sand and gravel from dredging away from the body of water. This trucking company has been providing excellent customer service since 1968, and they handle their jobs with safety in mind. They also specialize in excavating, bulldozing, and land clearing. Visit the website for a list of their services. Call (715) 779­-5628 to request a free estimate.