News Stories

Engineers Transform Dredge Material into Bird Sanctuary: A Corps-Led Effort to Restore Waterbird Habitat

USACE Wilmington
Published Sept. 6, 2024
John Policarpo, Dean, Hill and Carmen Johnson set off an excavator being used to restore Sandbag Island. Photo Credit: Andrea Currylow (US Army Corps of Engineers)

John Policarpo, Dean, Hill and Carmen Johnson set off an excavator being used to restore Sandbag Island. Photo Credit: Andrea Currylow (US Army Corps of Engineers)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has long been a crucial player in preserving both human infrastructure and natural habitats. Their latest endeavor, a collaborative project with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, highlights how their engineering prowess can create positive environmental impacts. The Corps led the restoration of Sandbag Island by making beneficial use of dredging materials from a nearby navigation channel to rebuild the island, which had been severely eroded over time.

“This Backsound case is a great example of taking the initiative to identify and troubleshoot a solution to what was shaping up to be a great ecological loss,” said Andrea Currylow, Biologist with the Environmental Resources Section. We leaned in to figure out how we could best use our maintenance dredging as an opportunity to rescue and enhance seabird habitat.”

Through careful planning and implementation, the Corps used a network of pipelines to transport the dredged material, rebuilding the island without damaging the surrounding ecosystem. To further safeguard the environment, they employed turbidity curtains to prevent sediment from spreading into nearby waters, protecting critical aquatic vegetation and water quality.

The newly restored island now serves as an essential nesting ground for various waterbird species, including American oystercatchers, black skimmers, and brown pelicans. By taking an innovative approach to repurpose dredged material, the Corps not only mitigated the impact of channel maintenance but also created an invaluable habitat for wildlife.

The success of this project underscores the Corps' expertise in environmental stewardship. Their ability to balance human activity with nature’s needs showcases a forward-thinking approach to conservation, turning routine dredging efforts into opportunities for ecological restoration. In the case of Sandbag Island, the Corps transformed what could have been discarded material into a thriving ecosystem for endangered birds, exemplifying the agency’s commitment to both infrastructure and wildlife preservation.