Pilot Project Using Tickler Chains in Lieu of Deflectors at Fire Island Inlet to Moriches Inlet, New York, Borrow Sites
Abstract
Risk for incidental take of sea turtles and sturgeon exists during hopper dredging operations throughout turtle and sturgeon habitats. Since 1992, draghead deflectors have been the main engineering tool used to minimize incidental hopper dredging takes of sea turtles and are also thought to reduce the chance of sturgeon impingement or entrainment. Although reduced, turtle takes still happen annually, and the draghead deflectors reduce dredging productivity, increase fuel usage, and increase costs of operations. As such, there remains a need to research alternative turtle avoidance measures. The non-US dredging industry has used various versions of an engineering control called tickler chains (TC) in lieu of deflectors. If effective, TC could lower dredging costs and increase production in comparison to deflectors. This technical report describes a pilot study where TC were used in lieu of deflectors at Fire Island Inlet, New York. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first time since the early 1990s that hopper-dredging has occurred without draghead deflectors along the east coast. No takes were recorded during the pilot study; however, no research was done to determine if sea turtles or sturgeon interacted with the TC. Recommendations for future TC research are provided in this technical report.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2024
- Accession Number
- AD1224287
Entities
People
- Benjamin E. Emery
- Dena D. Dickerson
- Matthew T. Balazik
- Phillip C. Bates
- Timothy L. Welp
Organizations
- Engineer Research and Development Center
- United States Army Corps of Engineers