Roswell is launching a pilot program to pull sediment out of the Chattahoochee River, after four years of planning and permitting cleared the way for dredging near Don White Memorial Park.

The City Council authorized a not-to-exceed contract of $324,231 with River Sand, Inc., a North Georgia dredging firm founded in 1994, to handle design, permitting and mobilization for the project. Contractor mobilization begins this summer, with active dredging expected 30 to 60 days later, according to a city announcement published Aug. 6.

The initial work area sits in the river north of the Saint Andrew Rowing Club, stretching roughly 600 feet long and 100 feet wide, about 1.4 acres. Once fully operational, the program aims to remove about 12,000 cubic yards of accumulated sediment each year to restore water depth for paddlers, rowers and emergency responders.

"This project has been years in the making, and it's exciting to see that planning become reality," said Deputy City Administrator Jeff Leatherman.

Leatherman called the Chattahoochee one of Roswell's defining natural resources and said the dredging reflects the city's long-term investment in the river's health.

How it got here

The city began procurement in 2022 and spent the following years coordinating with federal, state and local agencies on engineering and environmental review. River Sand, Inc., led by president Charles Parker, was chosen through a competitive bid process. The contract includes an option for up to four additional years of annual maintenance dredging, subject to future council authorization and funding.

What residents near the site will see

Equipment deliveries and contractor crews will appear first at the city's former Ace Sand property at 705 Riverside Road, a 10.4-acre city-owned parcel serving as the temporary dewatering and staging area. About 0.69 acre of the site is approved for land disturbance tied to the processing operation.

Periodic truck traffic will follow once sediment removal begins, though the city says impacts should be limited. Any temporary changes to river access or nearby park activities will be communicated as work progresses.

Bigger picture

The dredging program fits within Roswell's River Parks Master Plan, adopted in 2016 and updated in 2022, which envisions six interconnected riverfront parks spanning more than three miles. Ace Sand Park, where the staging area sits, completed its Phase I renovation in 2024.

The city will post construction milestones and updates at RoswellConnections.com/ChattahoocheeDredging.