Wheatley Dam Dredging Services

The County Commissioners of Charles County are hereby requesting sealed bids from qualified dredging firms to provide wet dredging, hauling, and sediment disposal/beneficial reuse services within defined areas at Wheatley Dam reservoir. Bathymetric and sub-bottom profiling surveys conducted in late 2024 identified significant sediment accumulation in the northern and eastern areas of the reservoir. These two areas will be the focus of an initial dredging event.

The amount of sediment dredged will be dependent upon the cost per cubic yard and all other associated project tasks. After a dredging event, Charles County may request the contractor to provide a post-dredging bathymetric survey data indicating the change in elevation. Due to the reservoir being located in a public park, dredging activities will need to coincide with park accessibility and activities.

Contractors are encouraged to review documents, drawings, and visit the site during normal business hours prior to submitting a bid. The site is located at Gilbert Run Park - 13140 Charles Street Charlotte Hall, MD 20622.

Wheatley Dam (NID MD 00060), constructed in 1968, is located within Gilbert Run county park in the Charlotte Hall, MD area and primarily used for flood control and recreational purposes. Charles County will be preparing for retrofitting construction on Wheatley Dam. The design plans are to perform embankment and spillway repairs and enhancements over the next two years.

Dredging will be performed before reservoir drainage and construction commences. Dredging events may resume after construction and refilling of the reservoir. At this time, the County does not have a pre-determined number of dredging events requested. The reservoir has not been previously dredged to the best of the County's knowledge. To preserve and maintain the reservoir's potential, the County wants to establish a dredging maintenance schedule. The initial dredging will occur in designated areas based on sedimentation levels from a bathymetric survey. The contractor will need to make reasonable efforts to avoid disturbing the delineated riparian wetlands.