Environmental monitoring underway in Savannah

Several pre-construction monitoring efforts began in 2013, and others earlier this year. Of the 14 environmental studies, eight of the start before construction begins, while some will continue throughout construction.

“Environmental monitoring ranks high in the hierarchy of actions that must take place before construction begins. Some of the pre-construction environmental monitoring takes a year or longer to accomplish before we can begin any work,” explained Jason O’Kane, senior project manager, SHEP.

The studies include determining distribution of the endangered shortnose sturgeon in the lower Savannah River, as well as the concentrations of salinity and dissolved oxygen in the harbour’s water. The US Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District will also continue its ongoing monitoring of the Floridian aquifer, which supplies Savannah much of its drinking water.

The Corps of Engineers and the State of Georgia must deepen the Savannah harbour and shipping channel to accommodate much larger ships, many of which will soon be able to pass through the Panama Canal.

The SHEP will deepen the harbour and shipping channel from its current 42ft below mean low water to 47ft. This will allow the new, larger ships with deeper drafts to enter and leave the harbour with heavier loads than is currently possible. It will also allow the ships greater time to ‘ride the tide’ into and out of the harbour.