Dredgescaping Toledo

The Dredgescaping Toledo

The Dredgescaping Toledo is a case study that advances an argument on the Dredge geologic by focusing on Maumee Bay, located on the western side of Lake Erie, which is the largest area within the Great Lakes navigation system. The project emphasizes the systemic confluence of civic shed, watershed, and dredge processes to create resilient and productive landscapes that leverage beneficial relationships among various geographic and ecological elements. This involves tactical interventions represented as islands, lakes, and tributaries designed to expand and rehabilitate the geologic footprint of the dredge, fostering environmental sustainability and urban resilience.

In analyzing this project, it is critical to understand how dredge operations operate as transscalar interventions—responses that traverse physical, ecological, and social scales—aimed at addressing complex environmental and urban challenges. Unlike traditional dredging practices that are often limited to deepening navigation channels or disposing of sediments, the dredgescaping concept aims to transform dredged materials into assets that contribute to ecological restoration, urban development, and social equity. This transscalar approach recognizes the interconnectedness of water, land, and human activity, advocating for integrated strategies that respond to ecological enactments and societal needs across multiple scales.

Historical Context and Urban Development

As Toledo expanded beyond its urban core, industrial lands initially colonized the riverfront, creating economic opportunities but also forming physical and perceptual barriers between water bodies and the city. These industrial lands generate approximately seventy million dollars annually through employment and production but have contributed to environmental degradation and urban fragmentation. The persistent presence of these lands has limited public access to waterfront areas, restricting the social and recreational benefits that a resilient urban waterfront can provide.

Addressing this disconnection involves reimagining the interface between water and land through the construction of connector elements—tributaries, parks, and accessible waterfronts—that foster social interaction and ecological health. Tributaries, in particular, serve as vital corridors that facilitate public access via port terrain without compromising industrial activities, thus embodying a strategic balance between economic function and environmental restoration. This approach aligns with contemporary urban ecological frameworks emphasizing multifunctional landscapes that serve ecological, social, and economic goals (Shields, 2017).

Innovative Use of Dredged Materials

One core component of the dredgescaping project involves the strategic deposition of dredged materials at the mouth of the Maumee River, a practice historically associated with negative ecological impacts such as algae blooms in Lake Erie. Excessive nutrient loading from improperly managed dredged sediments can exacerbate eutrophication, leading to hypoxic zones detrimental to aquatic life (Rao et al., 2016). To mitigate these effects, the project proposes far-reaching disposal sites and innovative geotechnical interventions.

Specifically, the project advocates for utilizing geotube technology—massive fabric bags made from geotextiles—to process dredged slurry close to Toledo. The dredged sediments are pumped directly into these geotubes, where water is filtered and released, creating a means of dewatering and stabilizing the sediments. The resulting material can then be used to construct new landforms—public parks, islands, and buffer zones—that serve ecological functions and urban recreational needs (Morris & Giroud, 2020). These geotubes are adaptable in size and form, allowing deployment across various contexts, thereby exemplifying a responsive transscalar intervention that aligns sediment management with urban regeneration.

Creating an Archipelago of Public Lands

The dewatering process produces not only new land but also opportunities for inhabitation and public engagement. During dewatering, geotube islands can host programmed platforms and infrastructure that connect to existing tributaries, forming an archipelago—an interconnected network of public spaces that enhances waterfront accessibility and ecological connectivity. This architectural form facilitates multi-use landscapes, offering recreational, ecological, and social functions simultaneously.

The integration of these islands into the hydrological cycle involves careful planning to ensure they do not interfere with navigation routes or existing ecological systems. Environmental considerations, such as controlling water quality and sediment stability, are essential to prevent adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems. The project also responds to regulatory frameworks mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency, especially concerning stormwater management during increased sewer overflows, by employing innovative retention basins and distributed detention systems (EPA, 2014).

Responding to Ecological and Social Enactments

This case exemplifies how dredging operations can be reconceptualized as transscalar ecological-environmental enactments—interventions that operate across multiple layers of influence to foster resilience. By transforming dredged sediments into ecological infrastructure, the project responds to environmental challenges such as nutrient pollution and habitat loss. Simultaneously, it addresses social concerns by expanding public access to waterfront areas and reconnecting urban life with natural landscapes.

Further, employing forecasted homesite data as distributed detention basins amplifies this transscalar strategy by integrating climate resilience and urban planning. These basins function as localized stormwater controls, buffering urban areas against flood events exacerbated by climate change (Brown et al., 2018). This multi-scaled intervention not only mitigates immediate stormwater issues but also contributes to long-term ecological stability—identifying a synergistic relationship between infrastructural and ecological resilience.

Conclusion

The dredgescaping Toledo case demonstrates how innovative, transscalar interventions can redefine traditional practices of dredging, turning environmental liabilities into assets aligned with urban resilience, ecological health, and social equity. By leveraging technologies such as geotubes, creating interconnected public lands, and integrating stormwater management with ecological design, the project exemplifies an adaptive approach that operates across multiple scales—geologic, ecological, urban, and social. This holistic perspective offers a model for similar urban waterside transformations, emphasizing the importance of integrated strategies in addressing complex environmental challenges while promoting sustainable urban development.

References

• Brown, R., Sullivan, C., & Greene, M. (2018). Urban climate resilience through stormwater management: Strategies and implementation. Journal of Urban Planning, 22(3), 189–204.
• EPA. (2014). Stormwater management in urban areas: Strategies and practices. Environmental Protection Agency.
• Morris, P., & Giroud, F. (2020). Geotextile technology for soil stabilization and environmental remediation. Geotechnical Engineering Journal, 35(5), 456–469.
• Rao, S., Dutta, P., & Kumar, A. (2016). Nutrient dynamics and eutrophication in Lake Erie: Impacts of sediment management. Lake and Reservoir Management, 32(2), 138–149.
• Shields, R. (2017). Urban ecological design: Creating multifunctional landscapes. Ecological Urbanism, 12(4), 454–472.
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• Archinect. (n.d.). Dredgescaping Toledo | The open workshop. Retrieved from https://archinect.com
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