Frequently Asked Questions

One dump truck load, or 18 tons, usually replenishes a 200’ driveway.  However, the best way is to measure and use our calculator to figure out how many tons you need.  If you want to do the math yourself multiply Length x Width x Depth (divide inches by 12 to get feet) all in feet.  Divide that by 27 and then multiply by 1.35 to get the total tons needed for your project. 

Small hand operated dredges can be purchased for as little as $15,000, but they are only effective for limited types of projects and sediment.  The smaller dredge barges can be purchased for $100,000 to $150,000.  As you increase in size and effectiveness, most portable dredges cost between $500,000 and $2,000,000.  The cost only increases for dredges bigger and with more features extending through the millions and for the largest dredges into the tens of millions.  Auxiliary equipment and pipeline are an additional expense that needs to be considered as well in the cost of purchasing a dredge. 

A small dredge starts about $125,000.  A typical dredge cost between $500,000 and $1,000,000.  Larger portable dredges cost $1,000,000 to $10,000,000. 

Bunker sand ranges in cost significantly.  Trucking costs from the mine also impact the cost per ton.  However, you can expect to pay on average $12 to $30 per ton plus trucking costs which are generally $10 or more per ton depending on the distance.  Some specialty bunker sands cost much more. 

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Dredging a lake may cost more than you expect.  It takes specialized equipment and personnel to remove and dewater thousands or tens of thousands of cubic yards from a lake.  Most people don’t realize how much muck is beneath the lake surface.  Removing, transporting, and disposing of wet mud is much more difficult than traditional dirt grading on land.  The cost to dredge can be as little as a few dollars per cubic yard for large projects that only pump sludge from one place to another without interruption.  However, lake dredging usually involves sediment that changes in type (sandy vs. silty), content (trash, logs, sticks, leaves, rocks, etc.), water depth, and sediment thickness.  These factors inhibit the dredge from pumping non-stop and to its peak performance.  Dewatering the sediment is often the limiting factor.  Limited space, time, and type of sediment slows the process of turning a completely sloppy mud into dirt you can grade or transport efficiently.  Therefore, the cost to dredge a lake ranges from $5,000 to $5,000,000.  However most projects can have a dramatic impact on a lake within the cost range of $50,000 to $250,000. 

Hydraulic dredging can be very efficient to move material from one location to another.  Costs can be as little as $3-5 per cubic yard for certain materials.  However, costs average from $25-75 per cubic yard for most applications.  Dredging, dewatering, and disposal costs may be in the same price range but often can be more than $100 per cubic yard of material. 

Dredging is highly variable in cost.  Cost involved for dredging projects are typically as follows:

• Permitting – local, state, and federal are considered in most projects
• Planning – designing engineered plans usually for the dewatering area and disposal
• Mobilization – both of the equipment, the setup for dewatering, and disposal site
• Depth of Sediment – water and sediment depth determine much of the cost involved (i.e. shallow sediment depth takes much more time to dredge)
• Type of Sediment – texture of the sediment determines the type of dredge and dewatering process; debris can add to cost significantly
• Run-times – 24/7 or 5 days for 8 hours; weather is also a major factor depending on the project
• Export and Transport – the time for the dewatering (immediate vs. months) and distance to the disposal area
• Disposal –  the setup of the disposal area and final reclamation; or the tip-fee for a landfill
• Remediation – clean-up of the project site and installation of best management practices

Costs to operate the dredge include wear parts, labor, fuel, and maintenance.  Dredges are unique in that break-downs and maintenance usually have to occur on the water so adequate support personnel and equipment must be available.  All of these factors is why dredging cost range from a $3 to $300 per cubic yard.  Dredging is often limited by other factors such as dewatering or disposal, so costs can be affected by the entire process as well. 

Dredging around and beneath a dock is possible.  You should check the water depth from the main body to the dock to make sure that adequate depth is present past your boat dock as well.  Dredging costs vary signicantly depending on the type of dredging and amount of volume of silt to remove.  Usually, dredging costs are $20 to $50 per cubic yard.  Most docks require at least 100 cubic yards of sediment to be removed to make a significant impact on depth. 

The cost to dredge a pond is highly variable.  For a small pond, the cost starts around $5,000 to even bring the minimum sized equipment in and work to remove a small portion of sediment.  Cost is factored by the amount of sediment to be removed and what you do with it after it is removed.  So, for projects that require less quantity of sediment and it can be placed near the pond for permanent disposal the cost usually ranges from $5,000 to $50,000.  For ponds that involve partial draining, and 1,000s of cubic yards to be removed and hauled away the cost is typically $50,000 to $100,000.  The best way to get an accurate estimate is to give us a call for a free phone consultation.