Process and apparatus for the restoration of seagrass
OwnerJames Andersoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosed device and process includes a biodegradable bag or sack, referred to as a sediment tube, that is filled with sand and placed in a prop scar or blow hole. The sediment tube corrects many issues created a prop scar or blowhole: (1) the trench or hole is filled, restoring the elevation of the scar to the surround grade of the seagrass; (2) the sediment tubes stabilize the scar, preventing further erosion of the sand by the flow of water; (3) the sediment tube optionally includes fine-grained sediments that promote seagrass growth and recovery; and (4) the sediment tube includes fertilizer and/or other chemical or minerals that encourage growth.
Claims20
A process for restoring underwater aquatic plants to a damaged location within an estuary, the process comprising:
- a. filling a sediment tube, the sediment tube including:
- i. a biodegradable outer layer;
- ii. a growing medium within the biodegradable outer layer, the growing medium including sand and one or more appropriate fertilizers;
- b. sealing the sediment tube to prevent leakage of the growing medium;
- c. placing the sediment tube within the damaged location;
- d. allowing the sediment tube to season for a period of time, whereby local organisms introduce themselves to the growing medium;
- and
- e. creating an opening within the biodegradable outer layer of the sediment tube.
A process for restoring underwater aquatic plants to a damaged location within an estuary, the process comprising:
- a. performing a composition test of the damaged location;
- b. determining what additional components are required for optimal seagrass growth, such additional components are fertilizers, chemicals, or minerals that aid in plant growth;
- c. filling a sediment tube, the sediment tube including:
- i. a biodegradable outer layer;
- ii. sand;
- and
- iii. the additional components chosen in the previous step;
- d. sealing the sediment tube to prevent leakage of the growing medium;
- e. placing the sediment tube within the damaged location;
- f. creating an opening within the biodegradable outer layer of the sediment tube;
- and
- g. inserting one or more seagrass plants.
A device for repairing underwater trenches and blowholes created by boaters comprising:
- a. a tube for placement in an underwater trench, the tube acting to stabilize and maintain the location of sand and seagrass for a period of time sufficient to allow the seagrass to develop roots and fix the sand in place;
- b. the tube comprising:
- i. a biodegradable outer layer;
- ii. a growing medium within the biodegradable outer layer, the growing medium including sand and fertilizer;
- iii. the fertilizer being organic and derived from bird guano.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.