where older fluvial materials have been uncovered either by channel dredging or scour by 

 competent bottom currents. The coarse shelf material off New Jersey is judged to be 

 residual from sea floor outcrops of Tertiary strata. Very fine sand, silt and mud comprise 

 the sea floor at the head of the Hudson Channel and along the body; some material is from 

 ocean disposal and some from natural in situ estuarine sediments and outcropping fine 

 Coastal Plain facies. 



Sand suitable for beach nourishment projects is abundant throughout the shallow shelf 

 parts of the inner bight. Sea floor topography is fairly flat and sand occurs as blanket 

 deposits. It is estimated that over 2 billion cubic yards of clean sand is available for retrieval 

 by present dredging techniques in outlined areas. 



Comparison techniques between bathymetric maps dated 1845 to 1970 has confirmed 

 that significant parts of the Hudson Channel have been filled as a result of ocean disposal of 

 up to 1 billion cubic yards of assorted anthropogenic materials, and excavated natural 

 materials resulting from early construction in New York and channel dredging within the 

 estuaries and bays. 



58 



