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EEFF, master an I

LAND RECLAMATION

Land reclamation, usually known as reclamation, and also known as land fill
(not to be confused with a landfill), is the process of creating new land from ocean,
riverbeds, or lake beds.
Land reclamation is the idea of getting new land. It is usually done in coastal
areas. Sometimes it is also done with rivers and lakes. Usually, there is a natural
process which fills such areas with sand, dirt and other materials.
The term land reclamation is used to describe two different activities.
in the first sense, it involves modifying wetlands or waterways to
convert them into usable land, usually for the purpose of development.
it can also be a process in which damaged land is restored to its
natural state.
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In both cases, the term is used to refer to some sort of process that is
designed to fundamentally alter the characteristics of a piece of land to achieve a
desired end goal.
CLASSIFICATION OF LANDS TYPES OF RECLAMATION:
Land with unfavorable water conditions
In swamps and excessively wet lands reclamation is aimed at increasing
aeration of the soil, improvinng its temperature and stimultaing the aerobic decay
of organic matter, these goals are achieved by draining the land.
In arid farming regions where there is little precipitation, reserves of soil
moisture are supplemented by water brought to the fileds by artificial means
(irrigation).
Where there is a little water, managament of water resources is improved by
seasonal and long term regulation of river flows, which may be acomplished by
building a reservoir, or by excavating a new channel.
Land with unfavorable chemical and physical characteristics
This is improved by agricultural technology and chemical reclamation
measures.
In steppe and deserts regions saline soils which are harmful to most
agricultural crops are improved by leaching, by applying gypsum, and by deep
tillage.
On sandy soils large quantities of organic fertilizers are applied, legumes
are planted, and clay is spread.
On eroded land, reclamation measures aim at reducing the amount and
thespeed of surface run off, increasing the soil's resistance to movement and to
water and wind erosion, and establishing obstacles to soil movement and the action
of water and wind. Hydraulic engineering methods are applied to achieve these
ends.

The Reclamation Process

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In general, landfill reclamation follows these steps:

EXCAVATION , an excavator removes the contents of the landfill cell
SOIL SEPARATION, a trommel or vibrating screens seprate soil from solid
easte in the excavated material.
Before initiating a landfill reclamation project, facility operators should
carefully assess all aspects of such an effort. The following is a recommended
approach:
Conduct a site characterization study.
Assess potential economic benefits.
Investigate regulatory requirements.
Establish a preliminary worker health and safety plan.
Assess project costs
The practice of filling in wetlands and waterways to make more land is
ancient. Humans tend to settle near water, since they need it to survive, and
because waterways can be used as a method of transportation for people and
goods. As human settlements grow, the pressure on the existing land also grows,
and people may start to expand outwards by filling in the surrounding area.
Land reclamation has historically been accomplished with garbage and other
landfill material, making reclaimed areas highly unstable and prone to developing
sinkholes.
Reclaimed land can also be quite expensive, since it is located close to the
water in areas that are appealing to many settlers. People may be willing to pay a
premium for reclaimed land, especially if they used to live and do business by the
shoreline and the reclamation has pushed their property inland. In some regions of
the world, this process happened so long ago that people are not aware that they
are living and doing business on land that was created by artificial means.

Land reclamation is also used to repair environmental damage. For example,

if a beach becomes severely eroded, beach nourishment may be used to restore the
beach, a method designed to preserve the existing natural environment.
Land reclamation is also used in regions that experience desertification, with
the goal of turning arid land into farmland. Regions like Southern California were
settled after reclamation made the land usable, while in parts of Africa and Asia
where the desert is expanding, the process is used to keep human communities
intact.
Environmentalists use a version to repair land that has been subjected to
some form of environmental damage. For example, heavily polluted land may be
put on a land reclamation plan that is designed to remove the pollutants and
promote the re-establishment of native plant and animal species. Damaged
wetlands, including those that have been filled to make usable land, can also be
reclaimed through a slow environmental remediation process. (www.wisegeek.com)
BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS
Potential Benefits :
Extending landfill capacity at the current site
Generating revenues from the sale of recyclable materials
Lowering operating costs or generating revenues from the sale of
reclaimed soil
Reducing landfill closure costs and reclaiming land for other uses
Retrofitting liners and removing hazardous materials
Potential Drawbacks:
Managing hazardous materials
Controlling releases of landfill gases and odors
Controlling subsidence or collapse (http://www.epa.gov - United States
Environmental Protection Agency)

Environmental impact
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Draining wetlands for ploughing, for example, is a form of habitat

destruction. In some parts of the world, new reclamation projects are restricted or
no longer allowed, due to environmental protection laws.
Dangers
Reclaimed land is highly susceptible to soil liquefaction during earthquakes,
which can amplify the amount of damage that occurs to buildings and
infrastructure.
Subsidence is another issue, both from soil compaction on filled land, and
also when wetlands are enclosed by levees and drained to create Polders. Drained
marshes will eventually sink below the surrounding water level, increasing the
danger from flooding.