Marine construction terms, in plain English.

A bathymetric survey is the underwater equivalent of a topographic survey. It measures and maps the depth of a body of water, producing a contour plot of the bottom.

The CCCL is a state-designated line along Florida's Atlantic and Gulf coasts beyond which any construction, including dredging, requires special FDEP approval.

The design depth is the depth at which a canal, basin, or channel was originally permitted and dredged — and the maximum depth to which it can typically be re-dredged without a new permit application.

Florida's emergency rule provisions allow expedited permitting for shoreline and dredging work following major storm events, dramatically shortening normal review timelines.

An ERP is FDEP's primary permit framework for any construction that affects Florida's wetlands, surface waters, or stormwater systems.

FDEP is the Florida state agency that regulates environmental permitting for marine and coastal work, including dredging, seawall construction, and shoreline restoration.

Hydraulic dredging removes sediment by suction — pumping a slurry of water and material through a pipeline to a disposal site or dewatering facility.

Mechanical dredging removes sediment using physical excavation equipment — typically a clamshell bucket, excavator, or dragline mounted on a barge.

NAVD88 is the official elevation reference standard used for all permitted coastal and waterfront construction in Florida.

A silt curtain is a floating fabric barrier deployed around a dredging worksite to contain suspended sediment and minimize turbidity beyond the immediate work area.

Turbidity is the cloudiness of water caused by suspended sediment particles. It is a regulated parameter during any dredging operation in Florida waters.

Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 gives the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers federal authority over any work in navigable waters of the United States, including dredging.