Placing fill could not be accomplished until sediment up to 4’ in depth was removed from the floor of the bay. Removal of the sediment using hydraulic dredging was the most cost- and time-efficient method, while handling of the sediment remained a challenge. The engineering and design team chose to use geotextile tubes placed in a lined cell to allow for dewatering of the sediment and return of the effluent to the lake.

Five geosynthetic materials were used to accomplish this. Materials and applications used were:

• linear low density polyethylene membrane to line the cell to manage effluent.
• geocomposite placed below the geotextile tubes to facilitate dewatering.
• geotextile tubes to dewater the sediment
• geogrid to allow for placement of an aggregate layer and sand layer. The geogrid panels were connected with “hog rings” to expedite deployment of the grid underwater.
• nonwoven fabric acted as a separator between the aggregate layer and sand layer sediment remained a challenge. The engineering and design team chose to use geotextile tubes placed in a lined cell to allow for dewatering of the sediment and return of the effluent to the lake.

Approximately 16,500 cubic yards of sediment were dredged and dewatered in a timely fashion to allow for placement of 160,000 tons of fill material in a narrow construction window. If the project had not been completed within the proposed time line, the completion date would be in jeopardy. Good engineering and design combined with a team of motivated contractors and suppliers using numerous geosynthetics assured that the 2011 deadline would be met.