The deterioration of dams and levees is an increasing concern for both infrastructure integrity and environmental sustainability. The extensive repercussions, including the displacement of communities, underscore the imperative for sustainable interventions. This study addresses these challenges by investigating the stabilization of dredged material (DM) for diverse applications. Seven mixtures incorporating fly ash, lime, and cement were formulated. The Standard Compaction Test was used to determine optimal density–moisture conditions, which helped with brick fabrication. Bricks were tested for compressive strength over various curing periods, and the durability of the 28-day-cured samples was evaluated by performing water immersion tests following the New Mexico Code specifications. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to assess microstructural bonding. Results confirm that the inclusion of cementitious stabilizers modifies the material’s microstructure, resulting in enhancements of both strength and water resistance. Notably, the stabilized material demonstrates potential for use in non-fired brick manufacturing and as bridge stones for waterway erosion control. This dual-function application offers a sustainable and economically feasible approach to managing dredged materials.

Digital elevation models (DEMs) form the backbone of flood-related studies. Proper selection of the DEM product is critical to obtain reliable estimates. Most studies aimed at understanding DEM resolution impacts focus on geometric comparisons. A comprehensive structural and functional assessment framework for DEM comparisons is developed here. The structural differences in DEMs are used to understand how DEM products produce differing estimates of flooding susceptibility, rainfall-runoff partitioning, sediment flux estimates and impacts of pluvial flooding. While there is no single DEM resolution that is superior, the results indicate that the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER)-based 30 m DEM is generally the least reliable. The widely available 10 m 3DEP (3D Elevation Program) DEM is well suited for rainfall-runoff partitioning and flood risk and susceptibility mapping applications. Resampling this DEM to 15 m resolution yields similar results and can be used in large-domain applications. Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)-based high-resolution DEMs (1 m or less resolution) are best suited for pluvial flood delineations and stormwater management. Even 10 m DEM is noted to yield inconsistent results. The 30 m ASTER-based DEM yields the most conservative estimate of sediment fluxes due to overprediction of slope and altered watershed shape. The high-resolution DEM is therefore recommended for this application as well.

Digital elevation models (DEM) form the backbone of flood related studies. Proper selection of the DEM product is critical to obtain reliable estimates. Most studies aimed at understanding DEM resolution impacts focus on geometric comparisons. A comprehensive structural and functional assessment framework for DEM comparisons is developed here. The structural differences in DEM are used to understand how DEM products produce differing estimates of flooding susceptibility, rainfall-runoff partitioning, sediment flux estimates and impacts of pluvial flooding. While there is no single DEM resolution that is superior, the results indicate that the ASTER-based 30m DEM is generally the least reliable. The widely available 10m 3DEP DEM is well suited for rainfall-runoff partitioning and flood risk and susceptibility mapping applications. Resampling this DEM to 15m resolution yields similar results and can be used in large domain applications. LiDAR based high-resolution DEMs (1m or less resolution) are best suited for pluvial flood delineations and stormwater management. Even 10m DEM is noted to yield inconsistent results. The 30m ASTER-based DEM yields the most conservative estimate of sediment fluxes due to overprediction of slope and altered watershed shape. The high resolution DEM is therefore recommended for this application as well.