Announcements

DQM has launched a new public website carrying the latest program documentation, current specifications, and future announcements and training resources. New to working with DQM? Start with the Frequently Asked Questions and the Requirements pages.

A single, comprehensive DQM Specification now covers monitoring, reporting, and compliance requirements for every dredge plant type, on both federal and permitted dredging projects. Word and PDF formats are available on the Specifications page. A SpecsIntact (.sec) version is anticipated with the Fall release of the WBDG.

Since joining DQM, Mr. Beltran has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication, skill, and a positive attitude in his roles as hopper plant lead and acting DQM Certification and Quality Assurance Manager. We are confident that Mr. Beltran will bring the same level of excellence and enthusiasm to his new position.

Kari Brignac brings over a decade of experience leading civil, coastal, and environmental engineering programs to her new role as DQM Program Manager. She provides strategic and operational oversight for automated dredge monitoring across coastal, deep-draft, and inland river projects, and holds an M.S. in Civil Engineering and a Florida PE license.

Effective immediately, USACE Headquarters directs mandatory implementation of the National DQM Program for all in-house and contracted dredging — every dredge and scow type, including mechanical, agitation/water-injection, and small dredges, with no exceptions. Signed by Stephen L. Hill, Director, Operations and Regulatory Programs. View the memo for benefits, implementation guidance, and points of contact.

Jesse Hall, DQM’s System Manager, is this year’s winner of the Coastal Navigation Manager of the Year Award. The award recognizes an outstanding Corps individual who has exhibited professionalism and a commitment to excellence in execution of the coastal navigation program, based on demonstrated competence, initiative, and resourcefulness used to accomplish the Navigation mission.

The DQM Management Site includes a tool for reviewing and responding to Data QA issues, which simplifies tracking and managing data and instrumentation concerns for each dredge. A quick-start guide is available on the DQM Industry Customer Site on BOX.

DQM is migrating away from the dedicated PC running the DQM Onboard Software (OBS). Dredges now transmit direct to DQM servers over the web, and OBS will remain a supported transmission option through the end of 2024. Direct transmission removes points of failure and reduces data gaps, takes DQM-developed hardware and software off the dredges, and improves cyber-security — the data strings themselves are unchanged, only the method of transmission. System providers offer options to replace the OBS, and over half of monitored dredges have already migrated. External users manage backups, pipeline state data, data-gap comments, and company access at the DQM Management Site. Contact dqm-support@usace.army.mil for direct-transmission details.

The current DQM mechanical specification has been posted to the Specifications page. It has been used on select projects nationwide, and its use is at the district's discretion when additional data is needed to document the dredging process.

Regulatory Guidance Letter 23-01 (10 May 2023) establishes DQM as the automated monitoring technology for dredging under Department of the Army permits, rescinding and replacing RGL 08-01. If a permitted project is constructed with a dredge, DQM is generally required unless the District Engineer documents a justified exemption.