Post-dredging cruises were conducted in January and September 1993 and May 1994. The sampling plan involved two sites within each dredge area and a control site outside the influence of each dredging operation. In general, the dredged areas underwent rapid recolonization. The only adverse effects noticed in the collected data are dredge holes left behind during operation of a clamshell dredge. Five cores at three closely spaced areas, both within and outside the dredge site, were to be collected for analysis.
Reports are available that describe the sampling methodology and the data collected.
The initial analyses indicated that the sampling scheme needed to be modified and that additional samples needed to be collected to represent the resident benthic population adequately. The post-dredging sampling completed in February 1996 incorporated the changes in the sampling methodology. Analysis of the data indicates that seasonal variations were more important than the effects of dredging on the bottom populations. Four additional samplings are scheduled at 6-month intervals. Valuable, non-energy OCS resources, including sand and gravel, have become increasingly important especially to coastal States for beach renourishment efforts.