Sedimentation within the Mississippi River 9-foot navigation channel is caused by the normal cycle of silt and sand movement, erosion and changes in river currents. Material must be routinely removed from the bottom of the river to safely maintain the channel. Mechanical or hydraulic dredging are two methods for removing the material.

once removed, the  material is placed in designated areas along the river. Some of these areas are beneficial use placement areas. Beneficial use of dredged material, or river sand, is the productive use of the material by the public or private sectors. Examples of common beneficial uses include upland habitat development, wetland creation, aquatic habitat enhancement, creation of areas for bird nesting, beach nourishment, winter road maintenance, levee repair and improvement, aggregate for concrete, lining fly ash pits, bank protection and general purpose fill.

The district is responsible for maintaining 243.6 miles of navigation channel to a depth of at least 9 feet on the Mississippi River from Minneapolis at river mile 857.6 to Guttenberg, Iowa, at river mile 614.0. The district also maintains and 40.6 miles on the Minnesota, St. Croix and Black rivers.