COLUMBUS, OH -- For the first time in more than 150 years, sand dredged from the entrance to Fairport Harbor will be returned to Lake Erie in a way that will nourish beaches along the shoreline east of Fairport.
In early August, a contractor for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began dredging the Fairport Harbor entrance. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is funding part of the cost of placing the dredged sand in about 10 feet of water off Painesville. Traditionally, sand was placed farther off shore in 25 to 30 feet of water. But state geologists believe placing sand in shallow water closer to shore will nourish the eroding shoreline, helping to restore beaches.
Based upon calculations from the Corps of Engineers, ODNR estimates that 25,000 cubic yards of sand will be placed in water less than 10 feet deep and an additional 15,000 cubic yards of sand will be placed in water between 10 and 13 feet deep. When sand is placed in shallow areas, there is a much greater chance that it will be returned to the beach by wave action.
Prior to the project, ODNR used specialized equipment to map the disposal area and shoreline. Throughout the fall, the department will repeat these surveys, monitoring movement of the sand and its incorporation into the beach. To assist ODNR with photo-documenting changes in beach width, disposable cameras will be distributed to several local residents.
Nearshore disposal of sand conserves Ohio's coastal sand resources and helps to restore and maintain Ohio's beaches to provide recreation and natural shore protection. Placing the dredged sand in the nearshore also helps to maintain aquatic habitats.
For Further Information Contact:
Don Guy, ODNR Geological Survey
(419) 626-4296
-or-
Jane Beathard, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6860