Dredging and material placement (also called spoil dumping) have relatively well-known potential impacts such as degradation of water quality, changes to hydrodynamics, smothering of benthic fauna and flora, damage to marine wildlife through the dredge mechanism, translocation of species and removal of habitat. If inappropriately managed, dredging activities may impact areas of conservation value. Dredging and material placement processes need to be carefully managed to ensure any adverse effects are prevented or confined to areas of low conservation value.