Four years of planning, engineering and environmental review have led to the next step in preserving one of Roswell’s most valuable natural resources.
The Chattahoochee River is one of Roswell’s greatest natural assets. It’s a place where residents paddle, fish, row, boat and enjoy the outdoors year-round.
After nearly four years of planning, engineering, environmental review and permitting, the City of Roswell is launching the Chattahoochee River Dredging Pilot Maintenance Program, marking the next step in a long-term effort to maintain the Chattahoochee River within Roswell.
Following nearly four years of planning, engineering, environmental review and permitting, contractor mobilization will begin this summer. The program will remove naturally accumulated sediment to help maintain water depth, support recreation, community access and public safety operations, and protect the long-term health of the river.
“This project has been years in the making, and it’s exciting to see that planning become reality,” said Jeff Leatherman, Deputy City Administrator for the City of Roswell. “The Chattahoochee River is one of our community’s defining natural resources, and this program reflects our commitment to protecting it for the future. By taking a proactive approach to managing sediment, we’re helping preserve recreation, support public safety and ensure residents can continue enjoying the river for generations to come.”
A Roswell-Focused Project
The initial dredging area is located within the Chattahoochee River north of the Saint Andrew Rowing Club near Don White Memorial Park. The permitted work area is approximately 600 feet long and 100 feet wide, covering about 1.4 acres.
Project operations will also include a temporary dewatering and staging area at the City’s former Ace Sand property, located at 705 Riverside Road. The 10.4-acre City-owned property includes approximately 0.69 acre approved for land disturbance associated with the temporary processing operation, which occupies less than one acre.
Years of Planning Led to This Milestone
The City began procurement for the program in 2022 and worked closely with federal, state and local agencies to complete the engineering, environmental review and permitting required before mobilization could begin.
River Sand, Inc. was selected through a competitive procurement process to provide design, permitting, mobilization and dredging services.
The Roswell City Council authorized an initial not-to-exceed contract of $324,231 for project design, permitting and mobilization. The agreement also establishes an optional annual maintenance program for up to four additional years, subject to future City authorization and available funding.
The initial phase includes dredging approximately 1.4 acres of the Chattahoochee River within Roswell, with a goal of removing approximately 12,000 cubic yards of naturally accumulated sediment annually once the program is fully operational.
What Residents Can Expect
The first visible activity will be contractor mobilization.
Residents may notice equipment deliveries, contractor crews and assembly activities at the former Ace Sand property before active dredging begins. Active dredging is expected to begin approximately 30 to 60 days after mobilization, following equipment assembly, testing and launch.
Periodic truck traffic will occur as sediment is transported from the site, although traffic impacts are expected to be limited. The City will communicate any temporary changes affecting river access, nearby park activities or project operations as work progresses.
Follow the Project
RoswellConnections.com/ChattahoocheeDredging will serve as the City’s primary source for project updates, construction milestones and educational information throughout the program.
As the project progresses, residents can follow construction updates, learn more about the dredging process and explore a series of educational articles that explain the planning, environmental stewardship, community benefits and long-term goals of the program.