Patent Application
20140314483
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
1. Field
This application relates to processes whereby bound, spiral units of compressed vegetative matter (round hay bales) are deployed along banks and shores of waterways and coastlines. More particularly, this application relates to processes whereby round hay bales are deployed to arrest, impede, and/or prevent coastal erosion. This application also relates to processes whereby hay bales are deployed to capture and prevent the dissemination of contaminants, including but not limited to petroleum-based pollutants as are released/discharged into waterways in an oil spill.
2. Prior Art
Previously, efforts to prevent or slow coastal erosion relied on either hard structural or soft structural options. Hard structural options have included fixed seawalls and breakwaters near the shoreline and artificial reefs farther offshore. Soft structural options have included beach repair and re-vegetation, dune building, and other non-structural alternatives. Both hard and soft structural options generally seek to dissipate wave energy and thereby arrest, impede, and/or prevent shoreline erosion. Additionally, prior soft structural options included a restoration component—seeking to restore land mass previously lost to erosion.
These prior “hard” and “soft” methods have varying degrees of success. While many of the “hard” methods offer acceptable dissipation of wave energy, the construction costs are prohibitively expensive. Further, the use of the large equipment and machinery necessary to construct a “successful” artificial structure causes significant damage to an already-fragile ecological system. Finally, after an artificial structure is created (at significant cost and with irreversible environmental damage), the “hard” methods do not provide any restoration component.
On the other hand, prior “soft” options have shown an acceptable restoration component, but these methods lack the ability to dissipate wave energy. By its nature, beach repair requires deployment of heavy equipment capable of moving significant amounts of sand/sediment. In addition to the prohibitive cost, this equipment may cause damage to adjacent ecological systems during transport to the coastline. Even after full deployment of these “soft,” non-structural alternatives, the restored coastline remains susceptible to future erosion.
None of these prior methods has successfully combined a dissipation of wave energy with simultaneous restoration of eroded coastline. Further, none of these prior methods achieves cost-effective coastline defense/restoration without the use of heavy machinery which may damage the precise area sought to be protected. Finally, none of these prior methods offers any form of protection from petroleum-based pollutants such as are released/discharged into waterways following an oil spill.
In accordance with one embodiment, one (1) or more cylindrical units of bound and compressed vegetative matter (round hay bales) are aligned along shorelines which are subject to erosion and/or to an influx of such petroleum-based pollutants as are released/discharged into waterways following an oil spill. In a particular, non-exclusive deployment, two (2) or more of these round hay bales may be positioned immediately adjacent to each other or at such other intervals as are appropriate relative to their intended use. Further, and in such a particular, non-exclusive deployment, the said bales may be moored to the seabed/shoreline, may be free-floating, may be stacked upon each other, and may utilize independent structural support such as driven piles.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
The processes made subject of this application have multiple embodiments. In a particular embodiment, cylindrical units of bound and compressed vegetative matter (round hay bales) are transported to coastlines, river banks, or other areas of land which are subject to erosion and/or to an influx of such petroleum-based pollutants as are released/discharged into waterways following an oil spill.
In the preferred embodiment, each of these cylindrical units is comprised of vegetative matter such as dried grass, dried grass-like plant material, dried perennial legumes, dried forage residue (other than separated grain), dried hay, dried fodder, and/or other dried, reasonably porous plant material. Further, each of these cylindrical units, in the preferred embodiment, possesses a minimum density of eight pounds (8 lbs.) of dry matter per square foot. Finally, each of these cylindrical units, in the preferred embodiment, is circumnavigated and generally bound by sufficient amounts of sisal twine, mesh netting, steel wire, and/or other durable binding as will permit the said units to remain intact during transportation and deployment.
In a particular embodiment, these cylindrical units are placed into shallow waters immediately adjacent to a shoreline. In such a particular (non-preferred) embodiment, the said cylindrical units are turned over onto one (1) of their two (2) “flat” sides (i.e., the top and bottom of each unit's cylindrical shape), and a flat edge is placed as near as practical unto the “floor” of the body of water. Although the units may initially float when placed into shallow water near a shoreline, the vegetative matter will absorb sufficient water to reach an equilibrium with its surroundings, and, following the passage of time, each unit will come to rest on the body of water's “floor.”
In a particular embodiment, twenty-four (24) of these cylindrical units are placed side-by-side into rows which are two (2) units wide and twelve (12) units long. As assembled, this grouping of twenty-four (24) cylindrical units will be approximately sixty feet (60′) long and ten feet (10′) wide. Once positioned into the stated position, a particular (non-preferred) embodiment of this grouping will be circumnavigated around its entire circumference by adequate amounts of nylon rope, steel rope, steel cable, grass rope, and/or other during binding as shall be necessary to keep the twenty-four (24) unit grouping relatively stable and secured. In an additional (non-preferred) embodiment, the said grouping shall also have such binding as will bind together each two (2) adjacent units unto each other, with a total of twelve (12) such cross-bindings passing over the said unit.
As deployed, in a particular (non-preferred) embodiment, each grouping of twenty-four (24) cylindrical units may be installed as a single, freestanding grouping, wholly independent of any such other groupings. Alternatively, each grouping may be positioned and installed in relationship to one (1) or more such other groupings as may be required by a location's geography/topography as taken together with the particular purpose for which the said grouping is deployed (i.e., erosion control/restoration, contamination filtering, and/or both). In either circumstance, each grouping may, in a particular (non-preferred) embodiment, be secured in place through the use of driven piles or other poles or posts as may be necessary and/or appropriate to the particular location. The material composition of such driven piles, poles, or posts shall be of durable construction and reasonably resistant against rotting or other structural impairment.
In a preferred (though not exclusive) embodiment, the said cylindrical units of bound and compressed vegetative matter which comprise the twenty-four (24) unit grouping discussed supra shall each be of approximately equal size. In a particular embodiment, each said cylindrical unit will have physical dimensions of approximately sixty inches (60″) in diameter and forty-eight inches (48″) in height. Further, and as near as practicable, the said units shall be comprised of approximately similar vegetative matter which has been shaped into units which are approximately equal in overall weight and density. Although each individual grouping may utilize units of varying sizes, all the units within a particular group shall remain generally equal in size, weight, and density.
The manner of using cylindrical units of bound and compressed vegetative matter in preventing and repairing shoreline erosion and shoreline contamination is straightforward. In broad embodiment, the referenced cylindrical units of bound and compressed vegetative matter are stacked together in groupings of twenty-four (24) individual units placed side-by-side. The entire grouping is thereafter circumscribed around its entire periphery with durable binding, and each two (2) unit “pairing” in the group is also cross-tied with durable binding. In a particular embodiment, the grouping may be allowed to rest on its own without external moorings, and in yet another particular (non-preferred) embodiment, the grouping may be secured in place through the use of driven piles or other poles or posts as may be necessary and/or appropriate to the particular location.
By creating these large groupings of cylindrical units, we are able to essentially recreate a large-scale reenactment of an erosion-control process which is regularly used in road construction. There, small, square hay bales are lined up end-to-end in order to prevent soil runoff. Similarly, we create these large, twenty-four (24) unit groupings which themselves act in much the same way as a small, single bale does on the roadway construction project. Here, each unit of our grouping weighs in the range of 800 to 1,000 pounds—and much, much more after absorbing a significant influx of water. The combined weight and size of this grouping is sufficient to dissipate incoming wave energy and thereby protect fragile shorelines in much the same way as artificial reefs and breakers would do.
Our process does not stop with merely dissipating wave energy. Instead, the design and construction of our grouping (in a particular, non-preferred embodiment) causes the vegetative matter of our component units (i.e., round hay bales) to trap sediment and ultimately contribute to the creation of “new” soil. When properly deployed, our process supports the formation of a natural buffer against erosive waves while protecting existing shoreline from incoming wave energy in the interim. In this regard, our process compares favorably with rock, concrete, or metal structures which are traditionally used for erosion control; however, as stated, our process actually contributes to re-forming the original, natural barriers which have been depleted.
The compressed vegetative matter (i.e., round hay bales) which are central to our process have an inherent absorption capacity which helps dry out and stabilize partially-eroded soil. In a particular embodiment, these round hay bales form a biodegradable wave/erosion barrier which is at least forty-eight inches (48″) in height. This barrier not only traps sediment, as the round hay bales break down, their essence ultimately contributes to the creation of “new” soil.
Further, and in a particular (non-preferred) embodiment, the compressed vegetative matter is a cost-effective, non-toxic alternative to traditional costal restoration and preservation techniques. Our constructed grouping of cylindrical units of bound and compressed vegetative matter forms a natural nesting habitat and shelter for birds and other aquatic life along waterways. These constructions protect existing vegetation while creating a fertile environment for growing new vegetation. In this regard, and in a particular (non-preferred) embodiment, the individual cylindrical units (i.e., round hay bales) are injected with native seeds and seedlings. Thus, as these units break down, the seeds become imbedded into newly-created/restored soil, thereby spurring growth and speeding overall coastal restoration.
Finally, in addition to the coastal restoration and preservation benefits of our processes, a particular (non-preferred) embodiment of a materially-identical construction may be deployed to protect marsh areas from an influx of contaminants, including but not limited to petroleum-based pollutants as are released/discharged into waterways in an oil spill. In this embodiment, the individual cylindrical units (i.e., round hay bales) are deployed into areas threatened by incoming contaminants. The compressed vegetative matter acts as a natural, physical barrier to these substances traveling inward from the coastline. In this deployment, the vegetative matter captures and holds these incoming contaminants, and those contaminants can thereby be removed from the environment by simply retrieving the deployed individual cylindrical units. This cleanup process involves no chemical dispersants, and the coastline benefits from our processes' inherent erosion protection and restoration while our construction is deployed.
Additional embodiments of the described constructions and processes are possible. In particular, the twenty-four (24) part construction described can be modified to be smaller or larger, depending on particularized need. The construction may be deployed with a single cylindrical unit of compressed vegetative matter. The construction may also be deployed by joining any other number of units, whether in even multiples or odd multiples. The construction may be deployed with more units than the twenty-four (24) part construction identified in the First Embodiment. The construction may be specifically configured to create additional height by stacking the units on top of one another in any of a virtually limitless number of alternative configurations. In short, the outer limit for the construction's size is only dictated by the availability of the necessary equipment to set up and “build” the particular construction. Although the twenty-four (24) part construction has been specifically described, this is not a preferred embodiment, and our processes are customizable to fit specific circumstances/needs.
The described constructions may be deployed by utilizing individual cylindrical units (i.e., round hay bales) of varying sizes, weights, and/or densities. Although the First Embodiment specifies such units with dimensions in the approximate range of sixty inches (60″) in diameter and forty-eight inches (48″) in height, any suitably compressed and bound vegetative matter (as described supra) may be utilized as the component units for the described construction—regardless of that particular unit's outer shape or dimensions.
Regardless of the precise physical dimensions, any suitably compressed and bound vegetative matter (as described supra) may be deployed for the purposes stated and in the same general manner. Such alternative configurations and/or dimensions will continue to afford superior erosion protection and restoration with the same benefits. These alternative configurations and/or dimensions will also continue to afford protection from the dissemination of contaminants, including but not limited to petroleum-based pollutants as are released/discharged into waterways in an oil spill.
The First Embodiment and/or the described Alternative Embodiment have application in myriad riparian/shoreline areas. The construction (in any of its described, non-preferred embodiments) may be deployed in non-coastal areas such as lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, drainage canals, ditches, marinas, valleys, hills, overpasses, road construction areas, building construction sites, and/or other areas or places in which soil erosion is caused or enhanced by flowing water. The construction may also be deployed in industrial settings for the capture of petroleum-based pollutants flowing from a land-based origin towards a body of water or other natural drain.
From the description above, a number of advantages of some embodiments of our processes become evident:
1. Compressed vegetative matter is an all-natural alternative to artificial barriers and/or reefs which are built to slow coastal erosion;
2. Compressed vegetative matter is completely non-toxic;
3. When deployed along coastlines, compressed vegetative matter provides a natural source of shelter for indigenous birds and aquatic life;
4. Deployment of individual cylindrical units of compressed vegetative matter (i.e., round hay bales) in the manner described is a cost-effective alternative for coastal restoration/preservation;
5. Compressed vegetative matter has natural absorption qualities which are well-suited to capturing the dissemination of contaminants, including but not limited to petroleum-based pollutants as are released/discharged into waterways in an oil spill;
6. Deployment of individual cylindrical units of compressed vegetative matter (i.e., round hay bales) in the manner described can afford an invaluable “first line” of defense against encroaching contaminants;
7. Individual cylindrical units of compressed vegetative matter (i.e., round hay bales) can be deployed either independently or in conjunction with other cleanup and/or restoration techniques;
8. When deployed, the described processes and constructions protect existing vegetation while creating a fertile environment for growing new vegetation;
9. Individual cylindrical units (i.e., round hay bales) may be injected with native seeds and seedlings, thereby causing the seeds to become imbedded into newly-created/restored soil and generally spurring growth and speeding overall coastal restoration;
10. When deployed, the described processes and constructions filters and traps captured sediment;
Hay Bale Restoration in any of the enumerated embodiments can be utilized to provide superior coastal protection and restoration at a significantly lower cost and with lessened environmental impact than other available techniques. When deployed, individual cylindrical units of compressed vegetative matter (i.e., round hay bales) can be used to both protect and reclaim coastal wetlands, and they can also simultaneously or separately be used to capture and arrest the dissemination of contaminants, including but not limited to petroleum-based pollutants as are released/discharged into waterways in an oil spill.
Although the description and embodiments set forth above contain many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments but as merely providing illustration of some of the presently preferred embodiments. For example, the general process of utilizing bound, spiral units of compressed vegetative matter (round hay bales) to impede and reverse erosion and prevent disbursement of pollutants may be accomplished by using multiple configurations of such units. Thus, the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.
This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/687,387, filed 2012 Apr. 24 by the present inventor.
