224
R.H. Charlier and Chr. P. De Meyer
MINING
ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY OF CONSTRUCTION AGGREGATES CORPORATION, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
Fig. 26 : Hopper dredge for marine mining use
Beach nourishment is the least-cost environmentally acceptable disposal
alternative. Despite its current prevalence, beach nourishment cannot be
considered a panacea for dredged material disposal ills. For three out of every
four navigation projects, the dredged material is not a practical, cost-effective,
and permissible source for beach nourishment supply. Most frequently, the
material is too fine-grained to be effective for shore protection. Other constraints
are excessive cost, impermissible environmental effects, and technical
limitations.
Dredgings have also been dumped at shallow depths off the beaches of Agadir
(Morocco) and Anglet (France). They have contributed to the '~rebuilding" of the
starved beaches.