How does dredging help maintain navigation on the upper Dnieper River?

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On the upper Dnieper River, dredging is used alongside river straightening to maintain the necessary depths required for regular navigation.1

Dredging is a critical component of waterway maintenance that involves the removal of shoals—accumulations of sediment—that can obstruct a navigable channel. By excavating these materials, dredging helps ensure that the river remains deep enough for vessels to pass safely. This process is particularly important on natural rivers like the Dnieper, where the location of the navigable channel may shift due to environmental factors, necessitating regular surveys and the removal of obstructions to keep the waterway operational.21