Disposal
1. In-water Disposal

b. Flow-lane

i. The flow lane disposal area is limited to areas between 20 and 65 feet below MLLW. When utilizing flow lane disposal the following shall also be taken into consideration: potential impacts, proximity to sensitive habitats, and current patterns.
ii. Flow lane disposal shall be in identified areas and use of these sites shall not have adverse hydraulic effects. Use of disposal sites in the estuary shall be allowed only when no feasible alternative upland sites can be identified and the biological and physical impacts of flow lane disposal are demonstrated to be minimized. The feasibility and desirability of alternative sites shall take into account, at a minimum:

a) Operational constraints such as distance to alternative sites;
b) Sediment characteristics at the dredging site;
c) Timing of operation;
d) Environmental Protection Agency constraints on the use of designated ocean disposal sites;
e) The desirability of reserving some upland sites for potentially contaminated material.

iii. Long-term use of a flow lane disposal site may only be allowed if monitoring confirms that the impacts are insignificant. Flow lane disposal is contingent upon demonstration that:

a) Adverse effects due to changes in biological and physical estuarine properties will not result;
b) Flow lane disposal sites shall be shown able to transport sediment without excessive shoaling, interference with recreational and commercial fishing operations, including the removal of snags from gillnet drifts, undesirable hydraulic effects, or adverse effects on estuarine resources (fish runs, spawning activity, benthic productivity, wildlife habitat, etc.).

iv. Flow-lane disposal shall be conducted so that:

a) Disposal should not occur under fresh-water flow and tidal conditions where the predominant sediment transport at a site is upriver.
b) Use of the disposal site does not interfere with fishing activities by causing major changes in the circulation patterns or bottom configuration of the disposal site.