“What is going on down there?” That’s what you might ask when crossing the Don N. Holt Bridge. Today, we are exploring Clouter Creek Disposal Area. It’s a 1,400-acre federal property. Clouter Creek serves as the primary storage site for sediment and mud. This material is dredged from Charleston Harbor.
Dredging keeps the harbor deep enough for ships. It removes accumulated sediments. The U.S. Navy originally owned Clouter Creek Disposal Area. It was constructed in the mid-1980s. Now, the SCSPA and the United States Army Corps of Engineers share it.
The site’s proximity to the shipyard reduces dredging costs. Clouter Creek is divided into four cells. These are the North Cell, the Highway Cell, the Middle Cell, and the South Cell. Each cell participates in a four-step process.
First, dredging removes mud and sand from the Cooper River. This material is pumped into the disposal cells. The area cells can look like a flatbed lake during this phase.
Next, the drying phase occurs over eight to twelve months. This creates a cracked surface. It looks like jelly. Then, backhoes dig ditches to drain trapped water. This is the ditching phase. The backhoe is supported by a wooden mat. It skillfully carves out the ditch.
Following ditching, the diking phase begins. The dried mud mixture is used to raise the dikes. Trucks circle the area, spreading the mud. This makes the dikes higher. The dredging life cycle then continues. This prolongs the lifespan of the cell area. It allows each area to recover.
Without routine dredging, sediment builds up. This restricts ships’ ability to navigate the harbor. Keeping Clouter Creek close reduces disposal costs.
The Corps has maintained Charleston Harbor for over 140 years. They have dredged it each year since. In 2022, the Corps completed a $580 million dredging project. This deepened the harbor from 47 to 52 feet. This project allows the largest container ships in the world to call on the Port of Charleston.
In 2023 alone, Clouter Creek received 370,000 cubic yards of dredged material. That equals 37,000 dump trucks. The projection for 2024 is even larger. It is expected to receive 1.1 million cubic yards or more. This land will not see real estate or development. The site plays a critical role in the operation of the Charleston Harbor. It will remain a dredged-material placement area.
The ports authority has proposed a dredging program further down from Clouter Creek Disposal Area. This will deepen a portion of the Cooper River. It leads to its North Charleston Terminal. The initiative would match the rest of the waterway’s depth.
As the ports authority expands its North Charleston Terminal by 2040, Clouter Creek remains a crucial player. It is silent but important in the continuing growth of the Charleston Harbor. So, next time you cross the Don N. Holt Bridge, remember the important work happening below. The Clouter Creek is helping to keep Charleston’s port thriving.