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Sediment Management

Sediment Management
Herrera scientists evaluated the effectiveness of a nearshore confined disposal facility by monitoring mercury in intertidal groundwater at the West Eagle Harbor Superfund Site for WSDOT.
“I doubt you’ll ever know how much I appreciate your work at the Eagle Harbor Superfund Site. I have worked with many consultants and nobody has equaled you in terms of the level of trust I’ve been able to place in you — you’ve been wonderfully reliable in the level and quality of service you’ve given us. THANK YOU so very much.”
~Washington State Department of Transportation
Herrera performs physical, chemical, and biological monitoring and assessment of marine and freshwater sediments for various public agencies and private clients throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Herrera scientists and engineers apply a multidisciplinary approach to a variety of sediment management projects. Our senior geomorphologists are renowned experts in the analysis of erosion and sediment transport in coastal waters, lakes, rivers, and streams. The Herrera sediment management group also includes water quality scientists, hazardous materials specialists, biologists, and engineers who monitor, characterize, and design controls for contaminated sediments that are affecting the surrounding environment.

Our technical experts interpret the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Clean Water Act, and various state and local programs to address site-specific regulatory requirements. We also typically use the Washington state sediment management standards (SMS) and the Puget Sound dredged disposal analysis (PSDDA) criteria for marine sediment evaluation and rely on additional guidelines for freshwater sediment evaluation. Our senior scientists have over 25 years of applied sediment monitoring experience in the Pacific Northwest that includes the following:

  • Preparation of detailed sampling and analysis plans using the Puget Sound Estuary Protocols
  • Collection of sediment samples using various grab sampling and coring techniques for evaluating conditions before cleanup and after construction
  • Validation and interpretation of sediment chemistry and bioassay data
  • Monitoring water quality impacts during dredging operations
  • Sampling and evaluation of toxic contaminants in fish and other aquatic organisms at sediment remediation sites
  • Sampling and interpretation of benthic community data for site characterizations and impact analyses
  • Evaluating the recolonizaton of cap materials by benthic invertebrates at various remediation sites in Puget Sound

Key Projects

  • Operations, Maintenance, and Monitoring Plan Implementation for Contaminated Sediment Management at West Eagle Harbor Superfund Site, Bainbridge Island – Washington State Department of Transportation
  • Beach Sediment Survey of the Puget Sound Shoreline – Thurston County Regional Planning Council
  • Structural Inspection, Sediment Monitoring, and Site Remediation for Georgetown Flume – Seattle Public Utilities
  • Boeing Plant No. 2 Sediment Site Characterization – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District
  • Lake Ozette Sediment Study – U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
  • Geomorphic Analysis of the Grays River – Bonneville Power Administration, Oregon
  • Big Spring Creek Sediment Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study – Private Client
  • Monitoring and Assessment for Dredged Material Management Disposal Site – Washington Department of Natural Resources
  • King County Sediment Management Plan – King County, Washington