Silt restoration device

An apparatus, comprising:

• a. a plurality of vertical support members, each having an upper end and a lower end, wherein said upper end of each said vertical support member is connected to a common upper horizontal support member with the longitudinal lengths of each of said vertical support members being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal length of said upper horizontal support member, and said vertical support members being substantially parallel to one another and spaced sufficiently along the horizontal length of said upper horizontal support member to allow at least one tire to be vertically positioned on each of said vertical support members;
• b. at least one tire positioned on each of said vertical support members below said upper horizontal support member in a substantially vertical position, each said tire having a tread surface and a center space, wherein each said vertical support member impales said tread surface of said tire at two opposed points substantially along a diameter of said tire and substantially at a midpoint of a width of said tread surface;
• c. a means for reducing lateral movement of said tires;
• d. a lower horizontal support member connected to each said vertical support member at a point on said vertical support members located below said tire with the longitudinal lengths of each said vertical support members being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal length of said lower horizontal support member, said upper horizontal support member and said lower horizontal support member being substantially parallel to each other and spaced sufficiently apart to accommodate said tire therebetween;
• e. an inner tire baffle positioned in the center space of each said tire and connected to said respective vertical support member;
• f. a plurality of baffles connected to said upper horizontal support member and said lower horizontal support member, wherein said baffles are positioned within the open spaces between said tread surface of said tire and said upper horizontal support member and said lower horizontal support member;
• and
• g. a stabilizer plate attached to said lower end of said vertical support member.

A method of using a silt restoration device for reducing the erosive forces of moving water and for stimulating accretion wherein the silt restoration device comprises a fence-like structure flanked on both sides by a piling and having a row of tires positioned between an upper horizontal support member and a lower horizontal support wherein said tires are impaled upon multiple vertical support members, said tires being characterized by opposing sidewalls, each said vertical support members also having a stabilizer plate positioned at its lower end, and a scouring buffer positioned below and parallel to said lower horizontal support member, comprising the steps of:

• a. finding a location for placement of said silt restoration device between moving water and a protected area;
• b. driving said pilings into the ground at said location using any conventional means for accomplishing the same, wherein said pilings are sufficiently spaced to accommodate the width of said silt restoration device;
• c. positioning said silt restoration device between said pilings and driving said lower end of said vertical support members to a point where said scouring buffer is substantially positioned in the mud;
• and
• d. affixing said silt restoration device to said pilings.