Marine Mineral Studies
The BOEM Marine Minerals Program has focused its funding in three different areas of research. These three areas include biological studies, numerical wave modeling studies, and programmatic studies with a focus on impacts on the environment due to dredging.
- Biological Studies (B)
The primary purpose of BOEM-funded biological studies has been to address biological concerns raised by the potential for adverse environmental impacts on marine life as a consequence of dredging sand on the OCS. In order to develop an understanding of the baseline benthic ecological conditions at offshore borrow sites prior to any dredging activity, BOEM has funded numerous site-specific, field-oriented studies. These studies have entailed the compilation and synthesis of existing oceanographic literature and available data sets which exist within identified offshore borrow areas, as well as biological field sampling surveys.
- Physical/Modeling Studies (P)
BOEM has also funded numerical wave modeling studies to examine the potential for alteration in the local wave field following dredging and the excavation of sand within identified borrow sites. The modeling also explores the potential for increased wave action after dredging and any resultant adverse localized changes in erosional patterns and longshore coastal transport which might result in significant losses of beach sand after renourishment. These efforts have enabled BOEM-funded researchers to further explore the potential for changes in local sediment transport rates, as well as the cumulative physical effects of multiple dredging events.
- Environmental Impact Investigations (E)
Environmental Effects of Dredging Operations
Recognizing that the environmental effects of dredging operations in many instances are similar for all areas, programmatic-type studies have also been initiated to examine the effects of particular types of dredging operations on various aspects of the physical, chemical, and biological environments, and to develop or recommend appropriate mitigation, laboratory modeling, or monitoring techniques to alleviate or prevent adverse environmental impacts.
Programmatic Studies:
- Synthesis and analysis of existing information regarding environmental effects of marine mining: Executive Summary. Hammer R., B. Balcom, M. Cruickshank, and C. Morgan, 1993. BOEM 93-005. (E)
- Synthesis and analysis of existing information regarding environmental effects of marine mining. Hammer, R., B. Balcom, M. Cruickshank, and C. Morgan, 1993. BOEM 93-006. (E)
- Marine mining technologies and mitigation techniques: A detailed analysis with respect to the mining of specific offshore mineral commodities. C-CORE, 1996. BOEM 95-003. (E)
- Marine aggregate mining benthic and surface plume study. Hitchcock, D., R. Newell, and L. Seiderer, 1999. BOEM 99-029. (P)
- A methodology and criteria to assess the impact of sand volume removed in Federal waters on the nearshore wave climate. Basco, D.R., 1999. BOEM 99-046. (PE)
- Strategic cumulative effects of marine aggregates dredging. Oakwood Environmental Ltd, 1999. (E)
- Development and design of biological and physical monitoring protocols to evaluate the long-term impacts of offshore dredging operations on the marine environment. Michel, J., R. Nairn, and J. Johnson., 2001. BOEM 2001-089. (E)
- Examination of regional management strategies for Federal offshore borrow areas along the United States east and Gulf of Mexico coasts. Michel, J., R. Nairn, and J. Johnson., 2001. BOEM 2001-090. (E)
- A numerical modeling evaluation of the cumulative physical effects of offshore sand dredging for beach renourishment. Kelley, S.W., J. S. Ramsey, and M.R. Byrnes, 2001. BOEM 2001-098. (P)
- Integrated report on the impact of marine aggregate dredging on physical and biological resources of the seabed. Hitchcock, D., R. Newell, and L. Seiderer, 2002. BOEM 2002-054. (BP)
- Gulf of Mexico fish and fisheries Proceedings: Bringing together new and recent research. McKay, M., J. Nides, and D. Vigil, 2002. BOEM 2002-004. (B)
- Review of existing and emerging environmentally friendly offshore dredging technologies. Nairn, R., T. Kenny, F. Marván, J. Michel, R. Newell, and N. Bray, 2004. BOEM 2004-076. (PE)
- Archaeological damage from offshore dredging: recommendations for pre-operational surveys and mitigation during dredging to avoid adverse impacts. Michel, J., G. Watts, R. Nairn, T. Kenny, F. Maravan, C. Pearson, and M. Faught, 2004. BOEM 2004-005. (E)
- BOEM dredge plume model user manual. Nairn, R., D.Scott, M. Fullarton, J. Spearman, and N. Bray, 2004. (P)
- Baird Plume Animator Manual. Nairn, R., D.Scott, M. Fullarton, J. Spearman, and N. Bray, 2004. (P)
- The benthic community of offshore sand banks: a literature synopsis of the benthic fauna resources in potential BOEM OCS sand mining areas. Brooks, R., S. Bell, C. Purdy, and K. Sulak, 2004. (B)
- Assessment of fish communities associated with offshore sand banks and shoals in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico: Cruise Report. Brooks, R. and A. Quaid, 2003. (B)
- A study to address the issue of seafloor stability and the impact on oil and gas infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico. Nairn, R., Q. Lu, and S. Langendyk, 2005. BOEM 2005-043. (PE)
- Field testing of a physical/biological monitoring methodology for offshore dredging and mining operations. Hobbs, C., 2005. BOEM 2005-056. (BP)
- Comparisons between marine communities residing on sand shoals and uniform-bottom substrates in the Mid-Atlantic Bight. Slacum, H., W. Burton, J. Vølstad, E. Weber, R. Llansó, and D. Wong, 2006. BOEM 2005-042. (B)
- Taxonomic composition and relative frequency of the benthic fish community found on natural sand banks and shoals in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico: A synthesis of the southeast area monitoring and assessment program's groundfish survey database, 1982-2000. Brooks, R., S. Keitzer, and K. Sulak, 2005. (B)
- Investigation of dredging impacts on commercial and recreational fisheries and analysis of available mitigation measures to protect and preserve resources. Tomlinson, B., J. Petterson, e. Glazier, J. Lewis, I. Selby, R. Nairn, T. Kenny, P. Godde, C. Espinasse, L. Stanley, and R. Cooke, 2007. BOEM 2006-065. (BE)
- Examination of the physical and biological implications of using buried channel deposits and other non-topographic offshore features as beach nourishment materials. Nairn, R., Q. Lu, S. Langendyk, M. Hayes, P. Montagna, T. Palmer, and S. Powers, 2007. BOEM 2007-048. (BP)
- Critical technical review and evaluation of site-specific studies techniques for the BOEM Marine Minerals Program. Michel, J., R. Nairn, C. Peterson, S. Ross, R. Weisberg, and R. Randall, 2007. BOEM 2007-047. (E)
- Analysis of potential biological and physical dredging impacts on offshore ridge and shoal features. CSA International, Inc, Applied Coastal Research and Engineering, Inc., Barry A. Vittor & Associates, Inc., C.F. Bean, L.L.C., and Florida Institute of Technology. BOEM 2010-010 (BPE)
- Investigation of dredging guidelines to maintain and protect the integrity of offshore ridge and shoal regimes/detailed morphologic evaluation of offshore shoals. Mohammad, D., Nairn, R. 2010. BOEM 2011-025. (E).
- Review of Biological and Biophysical Impacts from Dredging and Handling of Offshore Sand. J. Michel, A.C. Bejarano, C.H. Peterson, and C. Voss, 2013. BOEM 2013-0119. (B)
- Improving Emission Estimates and Understanding of Pollutant Dispersal for Impact Analysis of Beach Nourishment and Coastal Restoration Projects. ENVIRON International Corporation, 2013. BOEM 2013-123. (E)
- Characterization of Underwater Sound Produced by a Hopper Dredge during Dredging, Pump-out and Placement Operations. K. J. Reine, D. Clarke, C. Dickerson, and G. Wikel, 2013. BOEM 2014-055. (E)
- Best Practices for Physical Process and Impact Assessment in Support of Dredging
Operations on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. J.S. Ramsey, G. Simmons, F. Shi, G. Vittori, J. Zyserman, and J. Kirby, 2014. Ongoing Study, Report Pending (P)
- Response of Late Quaternary Stream and Estuarine Systems to Holocene Sea Level Rise on the Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Louisiana and Mississippi: Preservation Potential of Paleolandscapes and Identification of Sand Resources for Coastal Restoration. BOEM - Louisiana Geological Survey Cooperative Agreement. Ongoing Study (E)
- Analyzing the Potential Impacts to Cultural Resources at Significant Sand Extraction Areas. Tidewater Atlantic Research, Inc. and CBI, Inc. Ongoing Study (P, E)
- Understanding the Habitat Value and Function of Shoals and Shoal Complexes to Fish and Fisheries on the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf, a Literature Synthesis and Gap Analysis. Rutecki, D., Dellapenna, T., Nestler, E., Scharf, F., Rooker, J., Glass, C., Pembroke, A. 2014. OCS Study – BOEM 2015-012 (B, E)
- Ecological Function and Recovery of Biological Communities within Dredged Ridge-Swale Habitats in the South-Atlantic Bight. BOEM - University of Florida Cooperative Agreement. Ongoing Study (B, P, E).
- Natural Habitat Associations and the Effects of Dredging on Fish at the Canaveral Shoals, East-central Florida. BOEM - Navy Interagency Agreement. Ongoing Study. (B)
Alabama Studies
- Environmental survey of identified sand resource areas offshore Alabama: Executive Summary. Byrnes, M., R. Hammer, B. Vittor, J. Ramsey, D. Snyder, K. Bosma, J. Wood, T. Thibaut, and N. Phillips, 1999. BOEM 99-051. (E)
- Environmental survey of identified sand resource areas offshore Alabama. Byrnes, M., R. Hammer, B. Vittor, J. Ramsey, D. Snyder, K. Bosma, J. Wood, T. Thibaut, and N. Phillips, 1999. BOEM 99-052. (E)
Delaware Studies
- Use of Federal offshore sand resources for beach and coastal restoration in New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. Reidenauer, J., B. Hay, M. Zeff, M. Alterman, G. Perng, D. Poppel, A. Modjeski, C. Seba, A. Rosenzweig, G. Zarillo, B. McGuinness, D. Yozzo, and J. Rhoads, 1999. BOEM 99-036. (PE)
- Environmental survey of potential sand resource sites offshore Delaware and Maryland. Cutter, G., R. Diaz, J. Musick, J. Olney, D. Bilkovic, J. Maa, S. Kim, C. Hardaway, D. Milligan, R. Brindley, and C. Hobbs, 2000. BOEM 2000-055. (E)
Florida Studies
- Impacts and direct effects of sand dredging for beach renourishment on the benthic organisms and geology of the West Florida Shelf. Blake, N.J., L.J. Doyle, and J.J. Cutter, 1996. BOEM 95-005. (BE)
- Environmental surveys of potential borrow areas on the Central East Florida Shelf and the environmental implications of sand removal for coastal and beach restoration. Hammer, R., M. Byrnes, D. Snyder, T. Thibaut, J. Baker, S. Kelley, J. Côté, L. Lagera, S. Viada, B. Vittor, J. Ramsey, and J. Wood, 2004. BOEM 2004-037
- Biological characterization/numerical wave model analysis within borrow sites offshore West Florida Coast. Zarillo, G., J. Reidenauer, K. Zarillo, T. Shinskey, E. Reyier, M. Barkaszi, J. Shenker, M. Verdugo, and N. Hodges, 2008. BOEM 2008-005. (BP)
- Biological characterization/numerical wave model analysis within borrow sites offshore West Florida Coast: Volume II Appendices A-C. Zarillo, G., J. Reidenauer, K. Zarillo, T. Shinskey, E. Reyier, M. Barkaszi, J. Shenker, M. Verdugo, and N. Hodges, 2008. BOEM 2008-005. (BP)
- Final biological characterization and numerical wave model analysis within borrow sites offshore Florida's northeast coast - Volume 1 . Zarillo, G.A., Zarillo, K.A., Reidenauer, J.A., Reyier, E. A., Shinskey, T., Barkaszi, M.J., Shenker, J.M., Verdugo, M. and Hodges, N. 2009.
- Final biological characterization and numerical wave model analysis within borrow sites offshore Florida's northeast coast - Volume 2 Zarillo, G.A., Zarillo, K.A., Reidenauer, J.A., Reyier, E. A., Shinskey, T., Barkaszi, M.J., Shenker, J.M., Verdugo, M. and Hodges, N. 2009.
Louisiana Studies
- Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus) Use of the Ship/Trinity/Tiger Shoal Complex as a Nationally Important Spawning/Hatching/Foraging Ground. Condrey, R.E. and Gelpi, C.G., 2010. BOEM 2009-043 (B)
- Wave climate modeling and evaluation relative to sand mining on Ship Shoal, offshore Louisiana, for coastal and barrier island restoration. Stone, G., and J. Xu, 1996. BOEM 96-059. (P)
- Wave climate and bottom boundary layer dynamics with implications for offshore sand mining and barrier island replenishment in south-central Louisiana. Stone, G., 2000. BOEM 2000-053. (P)
- Preliminary infrastructure stability study, offshore Louisiana. Nairn, R., S. Langendyk, and J. Michel, 2004. BOEM 2004- 019. (E)
- Environmental investigation of the long-term use of Ship Shoal sand resources for large-scale beach and coastal restoration in Louisiana. (Ongoing Study - Co-funded with Louisiana Department of Natural Resources) (E) Stone, G.W., Condrey, R.E., Fleeger, J.W. and Khalil, S.M. 2009
- Environmental investigation of the long-term use of Trinity and Tiger Shoals for large-scale beach and coastal restoration in Louisiana. (Ongoing Study, Report Pending - Cooperative Agreement with Louisiana State University) (E)
- Wave-bottom interaction and bottom boundary layer dynamics in evaluating sand mining at Sabine Bank for coastal restoration, southwest Louisiana. (Completed, report pending - BOEM/LSU Coastal Marine Institute Research) (P)
- New WAVCIS Ocean Observing System on Ship Shoal, Louisiana. (Complete, no report - BOEM/LSU Coastal Marine Institute Research with match money being provided by LDNR). (PE)
- Investigation of finfish assemblages and benthic habitats within potential borrow areas in Federal waters offshore Southeastern Texas and Southwestern Louisiana. (Ongoing Study - BOEM/USGS Biological Resource Division Research) (B)
- Utilization of finfish assemblages and benthic habitats within potential borrow areas in Federal waters offshore Southeastern Texas and Southwestern Louisiana. (Ongoing Study - BOEM/USGS Biological Resource Division Research) (B)
Maryland Studies
- Use of Federal offshore sand resources for beach and coastal restoration in New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. Reidenauer, J., B. Hay, M. Zeff, M. Alterman, G. Perng, D. Poppel, A. Modjeski, C. Seba, A. Rosenzweig, G. Zarillo, B. McGuinness, D. Yozzo, and J. Rhoads, 1999. BOEM 99-036. (PE)
- Environmental survey of potential sand resource sites offshore Delaware and Maryland. Cutter, G., R. Diaz, J. Musick, J. Olney, D. Bilkovic, J. Maa, S. Kim, C. Hardaway, D. Milligan, R. Brindley, and C. Hobbs, 2000. BOEM 2000-055. (E)
New Jersey Studies
- Use of Federal offshore sand resources for beach and coastal restoration in New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. Reidenauer, J., B. Hay, M. Zeff, M. Alterman, G. Perng, D. Poppel, A. Modjeski, C. Seba, A. Rosenzweig, G. Zarillo, B. McGuinness, D. Yozzo, and J. Rhoads, 1999. BOEM 99-036. (PE)
- Environmental survey of potential sand resource sites: Offshore New Jersey. Byrnes, M., R. Hammer, B. Vittor, J. Ramsey, D. Snyder, J. Wood, K. Bosma, T. Thibaut, and N. Phillips, 2000. BOEM 2000-052. (E)
- Environmental surveys of potential borrow areas offshore northern New Jersey and southern New York and the environmental implications of sand removal for coastal and beach restoration: Volume I Main Text. Byrnes, M., R. Hammer, S. Kelley, J. Baker, D. Snyder, T. Thibaut, S. Zichichi, L. Lagera, S. Viada, B. Vittor, J. Ramsey, and J. Germano, 2004. BOEM 2004-044. (E)
New York
- Environmental surveys of potential borrow areas offshore northern New Jersey and southern New York and the environmental implications of sand removal for coastal and beach restoration: Volume I Main Text. Byrnes, M., R. Hammer, S. Kelley, J. Baker, D. Snyder, T. Thibaut, S. Zichichi, L. Lagera, S. Viada, B. Vittor, J. Ramsey, and J. Germano, 2004. BOEM 2004-044. (E)
- Environmental surveys of potential borrow areas offshore northern New Jersey and southern New York and the environmental implications of sand removal for coastal and beach restoration: Volume II Appendices
North Carolina Studies
- Collection of environmental data within sand resource areas offshore North Carolina and the environmental implications of sand removal for coastal and beach restoration: Volume I: Main Text. Byrnes, M., R. Hammer, B. Vittor, S. Kelley, D. Snyder, J. Côté, J. Ramsey, T. Thibaut, N. Phillips, J. Wood, and J. Germano, 2003. BOEM 2000-056. (E)
Texas Studies
- Investigation of finfish assemblages and benthic habitats within potential borrow areas in Federal waters offshore Southeastern Texas and Southwestern Louisiana. (Ongoing Study - BOEM/USGS Biological Resource Division Research) (B)
- Utilization of finfish assemblages and benthic habitats within potential borrow areas in Federal Waters Offshore Southeastern Texas and Southwestern Louisiana. (Ongoing Study - BOEM/USGS Biological Resource Division Research) (B)
Virginia Studies
- Environmental studies relative to potential sand mining in the vicinity of the City of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Hobbs, C., 1998. BOEM 97-025. (E)
- Use of Federal offshore sand resources for beach and coastal restoration in New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. Reidenauer, J.A., B. Hay, M. Zeff, M. Alterman, G. Perng, D. Poppel, A. Modjeski, C. Seba, A. Rosenzweig, G. Zarillo, B. McGuinness, D. Yozzo, and J. Rhoads, 1999. BOEM 99-036. (PE)