Process and related apparatus for repairing aquatic propeller scars and blowouts
OwnerJames F. Andersoninventor
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Abstract
Aquatic plant shoots are transplanted by positioning shoots, plants or seeds in a sediment tube or sediment bag which is in turn placed in a propeller scar or blowout. The sediment tubes and sediment bags may be preformed or they may be formed just prior to their placement in the estuary. With the process and apparatus of this invention, sea grass shoots, plants and seeds can be replanted on the bottom of an estuary and new plant growth encouraged in propeller scars and blowouts. The material from which the sediment tube or bag is formed from degrades. The degradation of the sediment tube or bag can be correlated to the growing cycle of seagrass plants, shoots or seeds as may be contained in the sediment tube or bag.
Claims20
A process for encouraging the growth of aquatic plants underwater in a propeller scar which comprises the steps of:
- a. forming a plurality of sediment tubes, the diameter of which is less than the width of said propeller scar, and filling said sediment tubes with a growing medium,
- b. stacking a plurality of said sediment tubes in said propeller scar wherein the stacked sediment tubes are adapted to impede the flow of water in the propeller scar and are adapted to disintegrate in a predetermined period of time.
A process for restoring an underwater blowout as contained underwater on an estuary bottom which comprises filling said blowout with a plurality of sediment bags, wherein said sediment bags are formed from a biodegradable material and said sediment bags are filled with a growing medium.
A process for encouraging the growth of aquatic plants underwater in a propeller scar which comprises the steps of:
- a. forming a sediment tube, which is formed from a biodegradable material and filling said sediment tube with a growing medium,
- b. positioning said sediment tube in a propeller scar, wherein said sediment tube is adapted to impede the flow of water in the propeller scar and is adapted to disintegrate in a predetermined period of time, wherein the upper most side of the sediment tube is higher than the surrounding estuary bottom.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.