Abstract Due to the need to both dredge sediments to maintain coastal waterways and manage the impacts of extensive human activities, the management of coastal and estuarine sediments is an important issue. There is a need to assess contaminated sediments in order to optimize that management. However, it is complex; assessment design and interpretation should be driven by the management goals and the ecological, political, and economic goals of interested parties. This chapter reviews various aspects of contaminated sediment assessment, from simple site characterization to the selection of management strategies, in light of how assessment measures can inform various management objectives. The focus of this chapter is on the assessment and management of anthropogenic chemicals and their impacts; biological restoration per se is not addressed.