dredge that would be created. Anna Cawrse, a landscape architect and principal at Sasaki, says that, after determining the depth and amount of material created, the team began exploring placements for the planned programming and amenities, which was influenced by areas where large outfalls exist. Understanding where the excess dredge will be placed meant that the team could accurately develop flood risk reduction solutions. Cawrse notes that this is an ongoing “back and forth” process between the teams on the project. As new areas are dredged there is a constant evolution of the engineering understanding as different methods are deployed to dredge the lake. The end result is that the plan allows the system to get ahead of flood events by creating additional storage in the lakes and using the additional material to “improve water quality and the lakes.” The University Lakes project represents a creative and sustainable approach to the problems the lake system has faced in the past. This is a departure from similar, traditional dredging projects in that the excess material is being used as a part of an innovative strategy to improve water quality and reduce flood risk. The project is also innovative from a landscape architecture perspective. Cawrse notes that because dredge material takes at least 90 days to settle, their strategy for creating the new landscape is “successional.” This means that, even though the team is unable to place any amenities or walkways until the land is settled, they are working to establish the landscape as quickly as possible. In this plan, by the time the land is settled and ready for paths and amenities, the area will already have a “beautiful southern Louisiana landscape,” says Cawrse. The University Lakes project is unique in its scale, and this scale is only intensified by its location in an urban, heavily developed area. While other dredging projects have utilized dredge material for reuse, it doesn’t often happen at this scale. Cawrse notes that the University Lakes project—because of its ability to balance the project with community and recreational space—is a good model for similar projects moving forward. Indeed, the ability to move thousands of cubic yards of dredge material sustainably within an area that includes numerous neighborhoods and the state university is indicative of the innovative approaches taken by Sasaki and all the teams that are involved in the University Lakes project.
LUKE CAROTHERS is the Editor for Civil + Structural Engineer Media. If you want us to cover your project or want to feature your own article, he can be reached at lcarothers@zweiggroup.com.
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June 2023 csengineermag.com
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