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 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 western cove 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. Due to the reservoir being 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 (if unable to attend the scheduled site visit) 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 Charlotte Hall, Maryland. The dam serves primarily for flood control and recreational purposes. Charles County is preparing to undertake a retrofit project that will include repairs and enhancements to the dam's embankment and spillway over the next two years.

Dredging activities will be completed prior to reservoir drawdown and the start of construction. To the best of the County's knowledge, the reservoir has not previously been dredged. To preserve the reservoir's long-term capacity and functionality, the County intends to establish an ongoing dredging maintenance schedule. The initial dredging effort will target designated areas identified through a bathymetric survey as having the greatest sediment accumulation. During dredging operations, the contractor shall make reasonable efforts to avoid disturbing delineated riparian wetlands.