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2024 Environmental Excellence Awards 

APPLICATIONS FOR 2024 WEDA ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS 

Awards will be presented during the 2024 WEDA Dredging Summit and Expo in Tampa, FL. 

IMPORTANT: 2024 Changes 

Applications should be submitted online by March 29, 2024. Click here to submit an application. 

The WEDA Environmental Excellence Award is presented to one project in each of two categories:

  1. Infrastructure-based Project Utilizing Dredging
  2. Environmental-based Project Utilizing Dredging 

Objective: The WEDA Environmental Excellence Awards recognize projects for their outstanding contributions to the goals of WEDA, which include: To promote communication and understanding of environmental issues and stimulate new solutions associated with dredging and placement of dredged materials such that the projects, including navigation, environmental, and adaptation to climate change, are accomplished in an efficient manner that meet internationally recognized environmental goals.

Application Process:

  • Identify the award category (Infrastructure-based for those projects that are primarily driven by the use of dredging to build, repair, or enhance water-focused structures, or Environmental-based for those projects whose dredging needs are primarily driven by remediation, restoration, or habitat enhancement in and around the aquatic environment).
  • Include a project overview document, in English, in accordance with the attached requirements.

The Environmental Awards Committee will review each application and discuss the overall project with emphasis on innovation, outreach/education, environmental benefits, economic benefits, sustainability, and transferability.

Other:

  • Application must be submitted by a WEDA member.
  • A representative of each award application is expected to attend the WEDA Dredging Summit and Expo, with presentation of a technical paper about the project or program strongly encouraged.
  • Submission of an application grants permission to WEDA for posting on the WEDA website, after the Dredging Summit and Expo.
  • The project must have been completed no more than 3 years from the date of the award application.
  • The winner awards will include a plaque, a special highlight during the WEDA Dredging Summit and Expo and on the WEDA website, and the opportunity to present the project/program via a WEDA-hosted webinar. WEDA will also issue a press release highlighting the project.
  • All applicants will have a short presentation summary of their project displayed on a monitor in the Exhibition Hall during the Dredging Summit.

APPLICATION ELEMENTS FOR THE 2024 WEDA ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Note: All applications must be submitted on-line through the link above 

  1. Applicant (WEDA Member applicant’s name, employer, location, email address)
  2. Project Title
  3. Project Type Category (Infrastructure-based or Environmental-based)
  4. Project Description (500 words maximum)- describe your project and the environmental benefits that resulted from it. Benefits should include direct, quantitative measures of environmental, economic, and sustainability achievements. Qualitative measures are also acceptable when directly quantifiable data are not available.
  5. Transferability and Communication (500 words maximum)- describe the ways your project engaged stakeholders, worked with regulatory agencies, and developed approaches that will benefit the entire dredging community.
  6. Why Your Project? (1,000 words maximum)- describe the unique ways your project went “above and beyond” normal operations to achieve the environmental, economic, and sustainability achievements described in items 4 and 5. Explain the innovative aspects of the project and the lessons learned. Why does your project deserve recognition?
  7. You may provide up to 4 illustrative graphics or project photographs to support the narrative information of items 4, 5, and 6.
  8. Presentation guidelines- provide a PowerPoint format presentation of up to 3 individual slides that highlight your project. Slides from all applicants will be played on a rotating show on a monitor in the Exhibition Hall at the Dredging Summit. 

Questions about the 2024 WEDA Environmental Excellence Awards should be directed to

Steve Garbaciak, Environmental Commission Chair, steve.garbaciak@foth.com or 708-793-2354 

 

2023 Environmental Excellence Award Winners

For Partnerships and Outreach/Education
Winner   was presented to the Spirit Lake Sediment Remediation Project, which is in the St. Louis River in Duluth, Minnesota. The project was executed by a team comprising EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc., PBC. (EA), BARR Engineering and AECOM, and J.F.  Brennan, in cooperation with the Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) within the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and their project partner, the United States Steel Corporation {USS).  Read Press Release
 
For Innovation
Winner  

was presented to the Howards Bay Navigation and Cleanup Dredging Project, which is located within the St. Louis River Area of Concern (SLRAOC) in Superior, Wisconsin, and is an important part of the Port of Duluth-Superior and the home of the Fraser Shipyards (Fraser) and drydocks. J.F. Brennan Company, Inc. (Brennan), partnered with Arcadis and the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), to work on the Howards Bay Remediation project using innovative methods to secure a positive outcome. A partnership of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), Fraser, and the City of Superior (City) was organized through the Great Lakes Legacy Act (GLLA) to co-fund and achieve this project. 

Read Press Release

  

2022 Environmental Excellence Award Winners

For Environmental Dredging
Winner   The project teams for the Lightning Point Shoreline Restoration Project View Citation
 
For Navigational Dredging
Winner  

The project team for the U. S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard Project at Ballast Point, San Diego, CA

View Citation
    
For Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change
Winner     The project team for Cedar Bayou and Vinson Slough Reopening Project View Citation  

 

2021 Virtual Dredging Summit Awards 

2021 Safety Excellence Award for a Dredging Project 

WEDA is pleased to present WEDA’s 2021 Annual Safety Excellence Award for a Dredging Project to Ballard Marine Construction’s Ignacio-Mare Island Dutchman Slough Dredging.

   View Citation

2021 Safety Excellence Award for a Dredging Contractor

WEDA is pleased to present WEDA’s 2021 Annual Safety Excellence Award for a Dredging Contractor to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock.

  View Citation

 

Click to read the WODA Statement on Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change

2019 Environmental Excellence Awards

Press Release: Winners Announced for the 2019 Environmental Excellence Awards 

In 2019, two awards were made: one for an environmental dredging project and one for Adaptation or Mitigation to Climate Change. These Awards were presented at the Dredging Summit & Expo '19 in Chicago, IL for projects and their team members that best meet the goals of WEDA's Environmental Commission: 

For Environmental Dredging
Winner   Restoration of the Former Zephyr Refinery: Fire Suppression Ditch project   Project | Photo
 
Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change:
Winner   La Quinta Aquatic Habitat Mitigation Project in the Corpus Christi Ship Channel   Project | Photo
             
Other notable nomination:
    Ashland Phase 2 Wet Dredge Full Scale   Project    
        Project    
   


2018 Environmental Excellence Awards

Press Release: Winners Announced for the 2018 Environmental Excellence Awards 

In 2018, three awards were made: one for a navigation dredging project, one for an environmental dredging project and one for Adaptation or Mitigation to Climate Change. These Awards were presented at the Dredging Summit & Expo '18 in Norfolk, VA for projects and their team members that best meet the goals of WEDA's Environmental Commission: 

For Environmental Dredging
Winner   Wagner Creek and Seybold Canal Restoration Project - City of Miami, Florida   Project | Photo
 
For Navigational Dredging 
Winner   Florida Inland Navigation District Intracoastal Waterway Deepening - Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida    Project | Photo
             
Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change:
Winner   Ninigret Marsh Restoration Project - Rhode Island   Project | Photo
             
Other notable nominations:
    Innovative and Sustainable Dredging Solutions to Help Build a Better World (Cat Marine Advanced Variable DriveTM - Innovative Vessel Design)   Project    
    Beach Stabilization and Dune Restoration in Progreso, Yucatan, Mexico MARCOST de México SA de CV, Mérida, Yucatán, México   Project    
    La Quinta Aquatic Habitat Mitigation Project - Texas   Project    
    Mississippi River Ship Channel Dredging and Wetlands Creation – An Environmental Success Story    Project    
    Former Gloucester Gas Light Company Manufactured Gas Plant Facility Remedy Implementation  Gloucester, Massachusetts    Project    
    Cedar Creek Environmental Remediation Project  Cedarburg, Wisconsin, USA    Project    
    Port of Bellingham Whatcom Waterway Phase 1 Cleanup Project   Project    
   

 

2017 Environmental Excellence Awards

Press Release: Winners Announced for the 2017 Environmental Excellence Awards 

In 2017, three awards were made: one for a navigation dredging project, one for an environmental dredging project and one for Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change. These Awards were presented at the Dredging Summit & Expo '17 in Vancouver for projects and their team members that best meet the goals of WEDA's Environmental Commission: 

For Environmental Dredging
Winner   Onondaga Lake Restoration in Syracuse, New York, USA   Project | Photo
 
For Navigational Dredging 
Winner   Barbours Cut Expansion/San Jacinto Restoration Houston Ship Channel and San Jacinto River, La Porte, Texas, USA   Project | Photo
             
Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change:
Winner   Strategically Placing Dredged Material Enhancing Horseshoe Bend Island, Horseshoe Bend Island Project in the Atchafalaya River, Louisiana, USA   Project | Photo
             
Other notable nominations:
    Lower Duwamish Waterway Enhanced Natural Recovery/Activated Carbon Pilot Study Project   Project    
    West Basin Navigational Dredging Port of Long Beach   Project    
    Bayport Ship Channel (BSC) and Barbours Cut Channel (BCC) Improvement Project   Project    
    Dredging and Beachfill, Delaware River Main Channel Deepening   Project    
    Caminada Headland Beach and Dune Restoration Project   Project    
   


2016 WODA Environmental Excellence Awards 

Press Release: Winners Announced for the 2016 Environmental Excellence Awards 

This year, The World Organization of Dredging Associations (WODA), during the gala dinner of its triennial international conference in Miami, proudly presented four Environmental Excellence Awards in two categories, Environmental Dredging and Dredging for Coastal Reinforcement. 

2016 Environmental Excellence Awards

For Environmental Dredging
Winner   Boeing’s Plant 2 Sediment Remediation and Urban Waterway Restoration at the Duwamish Waterway in Seattle, Washington   Project    
Silver   Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge Marsh Habitat Restoration, Milton, Delaware, USA.   Project    
 
For Dredging for Coastal Reinforcement
Winner   Medmerry Managed Realignment, Medmerry, England, United Kingdom.   Project    
Silver   Hondsbossche and Pettemer Sea Defence, the Netherlands.   Project    
             
Other notable nominations:
    Wisconsin River and Park Pond Remediation   Project    
    Bayou D’Inde (Area B)/Lower Canal Sediment Remediation Project Lake Charles, LA   Project    
    Pershing Park Boat Basin Dredging Racine County, Wisconsin   Project    
             
   

2015 Environmental Excellence Awards

Press Release: Winners Announced for the 2015 Environmental Excellence Awards | View Criteria

In 2015, two awards were made: one for a navigation dredging project and one for an environmental dredging project. These Awards were presented at the Dredging Summit & Expo in Houston for projects and their team members that best meet the goals of WEDA's Environmental Commission: 

2015 Environmental Excellence Awards

For Navigational Dredging
Winner   Strategically Placing Dredged Material Enhancing Horseshoe Bend Island   Project | Photo
Silver   Detroit Harbor Navigation Channel Dredging and Expansion Project   Project | Photo
 
For Environmental Dredging
Winner   East Branch Grand Calumet River Remediation East Chicago/Hammond, Indiana   Project | Photo
Silver   Esquimalt Graving Dock Waterfront Remediation Project, Vancouver Island, BC   Project | Photo
             
Other notable nominations:
    Port of Ridgefield Dredging   Project    
    Riverine Sand Mining / Scofield Island Restoration   Project    
    San Diego Bay   Project    
             
   

2014 Environmental Excellence Awards

For Navigational Dredging
Winner   Port of Kalama TEMCO Berth   Project | Award
Silver   Port of Stockton   Project | Award
 
For Environmental Dredging
Winner   Sheboygan River, WI   Project | Award
Silver   Hudson River PCBs Superfund   Project | Award
             
Other notable nominations:
    Puget Sound Naval Shipyard - Bremerton   Project    
    Mississippi River Dredging - St. Louis District   Project    
    Nanticoke River Maintenance Dredging   Project    
    Susquehanna River - Battery Island   Project    
    Contaminated Sediment Menominee River, WI   Project    
    Innovative Reuse of Dredged Material - Baltimore, MD   Project    
             
   

2013 Environmental Excellence Awards

For Navigational Dredging
Winner   Deer Island Restoration Project near Mobile, Alabama   Project | Award
Silver   Port of Long Beach, California, Middle Harbor Redevelopment Project   Project | Award
Silver   Integration of Traditional Navigation Projects with Shore Protection for Beneficial Uses   Project | Award
 
For Environmental Dredging
Winner   Environmental Dredging and Aquatic Enhancement of Lake Beauclair, FL   Project | Award
Silver   River Raisin Area of Concern Restoration Project in Monroe, MI   Project | Award
             
Other notable nominations:
    West Branch Grand Calumet River Remediation   Project    
    Schnabel Innovative use of Dredged Material Project   Project    
    Embraport Container and Bulk Terminal Santos, Brazil   Project    
    Long Island Sound Region - US Army Corps of Engineers   Project    
    US Army Corps of Engineers Dredge Murden Water Hydraulics System   Project    
             
   

Previous Environmental Excellence Awards