Connecticut’s access to Long Island Sound creates tremendous opportunities for maritime commerce and recreation. The waters of the Sound allow for the shipment of goods and materials, fuel deliveries, ferry transportation, national security activities of a submarine base, a submarine manufacturer and the Coast Guard — as well as providing thousands of recreational boaters with a chance to enjoy the outdoors in a special way.

All of this has a tremendous impact on our economy and quality of life. An economic analysis concluded that maritime-related commerce provides nearly $7 billion in economic output and sustains 40,000 jobs in Connecticut.

Our varied uses of Long Island Sound and the health of this sector of our economy depend, however, on periodic removal of silt and sand that builds up and can interfere with the safe and efficient use of our water resources. Crews remove this material through dredging projects that keep rivers, ports, harbors, and marinas, open to maritime traffic.

A recently completed dredging project in New Haven harbor, for instance, ensured the continuation of waterborne commerce at one of Connecticut’s key ports. In addition, other recent projects provided continued access to marinas off the Mystic River near the Seaport and around Little Narragansett Bay at Sandy Point in Stonington. Maintenance dredging projects are also envisioned over the next few years up-and-down Long Island Sound and the lower Connecticut River — including projects to allow for the continued operations of the submarine base and businesses like Americas Styrenics on the Thames River in Ledyard.

A key to future dredging projects is having a plan in place that spells out alternatives and procedures for the handling of dredged materials. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – which is charged with overseeing dredging projects in federal navigable waters – has offered such a document with its recently released Draft Dredged Materials Management Plan (DMMP).

In Connecticut, there is widespread support for the recommendations of the draft DMMP – including Governor Malloy, our entire Congressional delegation, and leaders of our maritime industries. The plan is winning praise because its science-based conclusions ensure that a full-range of alternatives will remain available for the disposal of dredged materials

What does this mean and why is it important?

The draft plan guides dredged sediment management for 31 federal navigation projects anticipated in Connecticut’s waters over the next 30 years that would produce almost 40 million cubic yards of dredged materials.

The draft DMMP thoughtfully addresses the challenge of handling dredged sediments as its recommendations identify traditional and new alternatives for beneficial reuse of them.

The DEEP agrees with this priority. In the past several years, Army Corps projects have used suitable dredged materials for beach nourishment projects along our coast – such as pumping 45,000 cubic yards of beach-grade sand from Clinton Harbor onto Hammonasset Beach State Park in 2012.

In the face of more frequent and severe storms resulting from climate change, we also envision greater use of suitable sediments for projects to protect coastal areas.

However, given the volume of dredged materials that workers will excavate in our waters, and the characteristics of it, beneficial reuse alone is not the answer for Connecticut. In fact, the draft DMMP tells us that more than 29 million cubic yards of material from Connecticut projects will be fine-grained and unsuitable for beach nourishment.

Given logistical constraints on our ability to find other suitable uses for such a large volume of material, continued operation of the four existing open-water dumping sites in Long Island Sound — including those off the coast of New London and Cornfield Point in Old Saybrook — is required. This is a major recommendation of the draft DMMP. When it comes to open-water placement of dredged materials, all evidence from the past 35 years shows it to be an environmentally acceptable practice. It has not diminished water quality natural resources, aquatic life, or public health in Connecticut or neighboring states.

As has been — and will continue to be the practice — all dredged material slated for disposal at open-water sites must meet strict standards. When materials can’t meet these standards it must go elsewhere.

If you think about it logically, open-water placement is only moving sediments already in the marine environment to a location where they are more properly managed.

Long Island Sound is Connecticut’s most important natural resource and Connecticut is investing heavily in its future. Support for the full range of options recommended in the draft DMMP is consistent with Connecticut’s stewardship of this vital water body.

Robert Klee is the Commissioner of Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.