Is there a risk to adults and children playing on nearby beaches, such as Priest Point Park?
We do not believe sediment dredging will release any new contaminants to nearby beaches. To be sure, we will be taking water samples 150 feet from the outer edge of the dredging boundary at different depths. Samples will be taken continuously during the first week of dredging and will be checked weekly after that. Samples will be checked for standard water quality parameters — dissolved oxygen, turbidity, pH and conductivity. We are most interested in turbidity and dissolved oxygen levels. Turbidity is a measure of suspended solids, such as sediments. Increased turbidity might indicate sediments are escaping from the site. If high turbidity is found, we will stop work and find out what is causing it. Previous pilot dredging studies indicate that stirring and movement of sediments will be minimal due to various marine dredging containment controls. Dissolved oxygen is a measure of the oxygen-carrying capacity of water. Low levels can harm aquatic life. If low dissolved oxygen levels ar
