Habitat restoration has been a large part of Brennan’s dredging expertise along the Upper Mississippi River and other inland waterways. This includes performing habitat restoration projects for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and state Departments of Natural Resources (DNR).
Over the years we have performed several projects that focus on reclamation of islands washed away over time by river currents and floods. These projects, also known as the Environmental Management Program (EMP), serve to restore wetlands by building strategically located islands and backwater habitats. These islands are designed to provide protection from navigable waterways and large pool areas so that organic plant life will grow, creating new habitat for wildlife.
Most EMP restoration projects involved mechanically or hydraulically dredging underwater habitat, transporting both sand and silt to create island habitat for migratory waterfowl and small animals, as well as protecting the structures from high-flow erosion and degradation from currents.
Likewise on remediation projects, Brennan is tasked with restoring the area to its original condition by installing clean soils and re-seeding disturbed areas. This process ultimately restores the waterways and wetland back to the condition it was in before any contamination took place.
Additionally, we have also built levee systems on the inland waterway system to protect sensitive marshlands from scour, thereby preserving existing wildlife habitat. These levee systems prevent wind and current degradation to wetland areas that are highly susceptible to erosion.
Brennan learned to use natural river dynamics and innovative dredging, dewatering, and transport systems when possible to provide more sustainable projects. These innovative construction techniques reduced cost and/or increased effectiveness. As we consider ourselves stewards of the American inland river system, we are proud to be part of reclamation projects taking place around the country.
