4 . Placement of Soil for Coastal Structures . 



Earthfills for coastal developments can be placed from the land by 

 dumping or shoving into place, from water by deck and bottom-dump barges, or 

 hydraulically from dredging operations. The method and equipment used 

 depends on the type and source of material, the area of placement (above or 

 below the water level), the depth of water (for operating bottom-dump 

 barges), the purpose and design of the structure or fill, the availability 

 of equipment, the impact on the environment, and the economics of the 

 operation. The material may also be placed with or without compaction to 

 alter the soil density. 



a. Dumped Loose Fills . Soils obtained from land sources are typically 

 transported by and dumped from trucks, scrapers, conveyor belts, or possibly 

 shovels. The materials are then shoved into place and leveled. Soils 

 obtained from marine sources are typically excavated by shovels, draglines 

 or bucket-dredge, and either dumped directly in place or placed in trucks 

 or barges and transported to the site. The soils placed in trucks would be 

 dumped the same as a landfill. Soils placed in barges would be transferred 

 to shore equipment or dumped through the water (Fig. 10). Soils placed in 

 this latter manner will typically have low to medium relative densities. 



The placement of fill landward of a bulkhead driven into a mud bottom 

 may result in the formation of mud waves. Such mud waves can progress 





Figure 10. Fill being placed by tilt barge at Redondo Beach, 

 California (photo courtesy of Woodward-Clyde 

 Consultants) . 



