The estuary of the Neva River has been studied as a model object, experiencing great anthropogenic load due to the dredging work. The muddy water tail has spread along the northern shore of the Gulf of Finland on 150 km since extensive dredging work and land reclamation projects in the Neva River estuary the were undertaken. A drastic decline of water transparency was detected in the aquatory, which affected the bottom fauna. Structure and composition of macrozoobenthos littoral communities at the northern shore of the Neva River estuary were studied at 6 sites each summerbetween 2009-2011. 57 species were found, chironomids is the most numerous group (28 species). Bivalves, gastropods, trichopterans, dipterans (Ceratopogonidae) were present in solitary samples.Alien species significantly affect local benthic communities, their introduction aligned with disappearance of water hogfish (Asellusaquaticus) and indigenous amphipods species, which previously were common for the Neva River estuary.