Professional Dredging Services in Oxford, East Alabama

Almost always, yes. Work on the Tallapoosa River or reservoirs like Lake Martin requires approval from Alabama Power, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and ADEM. Dredging community lakes or feeder creeks requires due diligence regarding state stormwater regulations. We handle all the paperwork for this complex regulatory environment in the East Alabama – Auburn-Opelika & the Chattahoochee–Tallapoosa River Region.

Good news is, we handle all that paperwork. We know who to call at ADEM and the Corps, what they're looking for, and how to get approvals without months of back-and-forth. You shouldn't have to become an expert in state environmental law just to fix your waterway. That's worth something when you're trying to get your water system ready for the next rainy season.

The dominant challenge in East Alabama is heavy red clay sediment runoff. This clay is carried by watershed flow from the surrounding terrain into the Tallapoosa River system, settling in Lake Martin coves and neighborhood retention ponds. We use methods specifically developed to cut through and manage this dense clay, preventing it from further disrupting the river-and-lake ecosystem.

The clay itself isn't harmful, but too much of it ruins water clarity and fills in swimming areas. We remove it carefully—the goal is getting your waterway back to proper depth and flow, not stirring up more problems. And once it's out and dewatered, that red clay actually makes excellent, stable fill material.

We dispose of dredged material at approved Alabama sites, or it can be beneficially reused right on your property—often for stabilizing highly eroded riverbanks or building up low areas near feeder creeks. This works well in the Auburn-Opelika area where red clay sediment, once dewatered, provides excellent stable fill material. We ensure all disposal methods meet ADEM and local regulations.

The disposal method depends on sediment quality, your property layout (especially access along a creek or river), and local regulations. We'll explain all your options during the site visit and include disposal costs in our estimate so there are no surprises. Some property owners like keeping the material on-site; others prefer us to haul it away completely.

The best method depends on the location. For open coves on Lake Martin with soft silt, hydraulic dredging is often preferred. For compacted red clay or tight dock access on a Tallapoosa tributary, mechanical methods are better. We assess the specific watershed flow and sediment composition to recommend the right solution for your East Alabama property.

We're not trying to upsell you on equipment you don't need.

Alabama dredging typically runs between $25-$90 per cubic yard of material removed, but the difficulty of lake access or the density of the red clay can affect the price. We account for unique regional factors, such as working during seasonal water level drops and specialized permitting from Alabama Power for the Tallapoosa system. We provide a comprehensive estimate after a site visit.

We'll give you a detailed estimate after seeing your property. No hidden fees or surprise charges.

Fall through early spring—October through April—is ideal. This timing aligns with lower water levels on impoundments like Lake Martin (if applicable) and avoids peak summer usage. Working during this time also helps us minimize the risk of high-flow events on the Chattahoochee River watershed after spring rains.

Can we work in summer? Sure, but it's hot as blazes, afternoon thunderstorms can shut us down for days, and nobody wants to hear heavy equipment when they're trying to enjoy their riverfront home or neighborhood lake. We try to schedule around you, but fall/winter just makes more sense for everyone involved—less disruption to your water access.

Small projects—clearing a stormwater retention pond or a tributary branch—might take 1-2 weeks once we start. Larger lake community or river-fed restoration can run 4-8 weeks or longer, depending on how much sediment we're moving and what Mother Nature throws at us. Permitting for Alabama Power or the Corps (for the Tallapoosa system) can also add lead time. We keep you updated and aim to complete work during the low-water season in East Alabama.

We stay in touch throughout the process and build realistic schedules. If your goal is having the area fully restored by next summer, call us in late summer or fall so we can get permits sorted and schedule work during the cooler months. We keep you updated every step of the way.

Short term, there might be some disruption—sediment in the water, noise from equipment—but we do everything possible to minimize impact. Long term? Dredging usually helps the river habitat. Deeper water means healthier spots for Alabama's native fish. Better water circulation. More oxygen. Clearing sediment improves the entire ecosystem, particularly in the deeper parts of river-fed coves and neighborhood lakes, improving the fishing experience for bass and other species in this part of The River State.

Most property owners tell us fishing gets better after dredging, not worse. Your family should have the same great river and lake experiences you remember.