As part of a programme to evaluate the physical characteristics and stability of sediments within the Inner Bay of the Miramichi Estuary, settling rate measurements were carried out on four bulk seabed samples collected with a medium Van Veen grab sampler. Samples were taken from the Control Site (Station 1), a 1990 spoils mound at Dump Site B (Station 7), in the area of Reach 22 of the dredged channel (Station 13), and in the area of Reach 20 of the dredged channel (Station 18). The exact location of each sample is documented Brylinsky et al. (1992). Sub-samples from each of the four sites were prepared for a series of settling rate tests at starting suspended sediment concentrations ranging between 2-40 g/L, and at salinities ranging between 13-30 ‰. These are considered to cover the range of probable conditions prevalent within the Miramichi Inner Bay.

The objectives of this study were: (1) to determine the conditions under which hindered settling and fluid mud generation takes place; and (2) to determine the relationship between mass settling rate and initial sediment concentration and salinity.