DM2: A Software Tool for Dredged Material Characterization and Management

A new software tool - Decision Making on Dredged Material (DM2) - for dredged material quality assessment and management is developed. Based on Spanish recommendations for dredged material management of 2008, it analyzes different lines of evidence of sediment contamination by metals and organic micro-pollutants. Particularly, chemical load in sediments is compared to the admissible concentration limits of these contaminants as adopted in Spain; sediment toxicity is estimated based on the responses of organisms to contaminant exposure. Integrated assessment of the sediment quality is done by assigning categories from A to C depending on the severity of contamination. The same categories also serve as management options with regard to the fate of the sediment after dredging. The options vary from allowing free disposal in the open sea to prohibiting it until proper remediation actions are applied. A case-study on three different ports of Spain is conducted with the help of the tool showing the state of contamination and management decisions associated with dredging activities in the ports.