The Lower Wicomico Vegetation Project was developed to allow dredged material to be used for a beneficial purpose while also maintaining navigational access to the Port of Salisbury - the second largest port in Maryland. Higher water levels in the Bay caused by naturally occurring subsidence and global sea level rise have resulted in significant loss of Maryland’s tidal wetlands. This project was funded by the US Army Corps of Engineers and Wicomico County and was designed by Sustainable Science with the goal of raising the overall elevation of the wetland cell. Cottrell Contracting, Inc. was awarded the contract for maintenance dredging of the Wicomico River and included placement of the dredged material over 65 acres of existing tidal wetlands at the Deal Island State Wildlife Management Area in Dames Quarter, Maryland. Shoreline Design, LLC was contracted by Cottrell to install sand plugs in the micro channels within the wetland areas to allow installation of a straw bale containment dike to contain the dredged material. This work provided unique challenges with extremely soft soils, shallow water, and sensitive wetlands and was completed in time to allow dredging to occur on schedule.

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