Bird Strike Committee Proceedings
Date of this Version
9-11-2007
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Many airports throughout the world have been built on or adjacent to bodies of water. Due to their location, they are often negatively impacted by wildlife attracted to surrounding areas such as harbors, arenas, beaches, and parks. These same lakes and rivers often serve as shipping channels that support the city to which the airport services. Such is the case at Burke Lakefront Airport (BKL) in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1998, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) constructed Dike 10B, a 64-acre confined disposal facility (CDF) adjacent to BKL to manage contaminated dredge materials removed from the shipping channels of the Cuyahoga River. The facility has become a protected body of water with nutrient-rich sediment and sometimes lush vegetation. Numerous waterfowl and shorebirds are drawn to the facility to loaf and feed. In April 2006, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services entered into a one year Interagency Agreement with the USACE to manage the wildlife in Dike 10B. Through interagency communication, altered project methodology, and an integrated wildlife damage management approach, bird populations using the CDF were reduced, thus promoting safer airspace for aviation operations at BKL.