A portable, water-filled barrier system includes a plurality of water-fillable modules, each module being internally divided into cells that emulates a section of a sandbag dike or wall. Adjacent modules are interconnected by fastening mechanisms, such as loops attached to fronts or sides of the modules and connected by straps or clamps. Automatic valves can seal openings between the filled cells, so that a punctured cell will not cause cells below and behind to deflate. In embodiments, the barrier can be initially filled with air, positioned, and then filled with water while the air escapes through a pressure valve. A manifold can be used to simultaneously fill a plurality of cells. A flexible sheet can be installed beneath and in front of the assembled barrier so as to inhibit leakage of water under or between the cells.

A soil reinforcement membrane that promotes grass, plant, and vegetation growth in a variety of temperatures and geographic locations and increases water retention. The soil reinforcement membrane is flexible enough to be placed on a variety of landscapes and promotes growth in a variety of soils. The soil reinforcement membrane consists of an upper layer and a lower layer with a cultivating compound dispersed uniformly between the two layers.

The invention describes a system for creating portable, porous structures for restoring coastline. The invention provides for a bag with multiple longitudinal pockets. The bag is made of porous natural or synthetic mesh material and the pockets are filled with lightweight, porous manufactured aggregate. In a preferred embodiment, the lightweight aggregate used in this invention is produced by thermal fusion of silicate clays in a rotary kiln. In another preferred embodiment, multiple bags are encased in a flexible grid material to form a mat. In another embodiment, the mat can be rolled into a log. The bags, mats, and logs can be placed on shorelines and other locations to restore coastline.

The present invention relates to a water barrier, in particular a dike, comprising an inner slope, a crown and an outer slope, wherein the outer slope is located on the waterside. The water barrier is characterized in that the natural vegetation of at least one of the elements of inner slope, crown and outer slope is provided with fibres inserted into said vegetation.

A method and apparatus incorporating erosion preventing mats or blankets having oyster spat are placed to prevent or reduce erosion. The method and apparatus incorporates seeding with oyster spat and/or oyster larvae onto a blanket having rough surfaces and comprising calcium. After seeding and setting natural growth of the oyster larvae can create a barrier that helps prevent erosion by breaking the kinetic energy of waves.

Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of turf reinforcement mats that include spun yarns and/or multifilament yarns in either or both of the warp and weft directions.

A hexagonal wire netting (7), a process for manufacturing such a wire netting and a device for manufacturing a hexagonal wire netting (7), the device comprising an assembly of tubes (5) for leading the wires (I) of which every other is twisted into a spiral shape, a spindle (6) assembly and a drum (8) receiving the wire netting (7), the drum (8) being provided with detent elements (21). Between each tube (5) leading the spirally twisted wire (I) and the cooperating spindle (6) a straightening guide (IO, IO′) is located having an inlet opening (13, 15) cooperating with the tube (5) and an outlet opening (12, 20) cooperating with the spindle (6). The detent elements (21 are arranged on the drum (8) in such a way that the produced wire netting (7) has meshes in which the proportion of the width (A) to the length (B) is less than 0.75.

A benthic barrier in which a polygonal shaped mat having straight sides is mounted on a similarly polygonal frame, but in which the frame sides bow out slightly between corners, causing the mat to stretch slightly and become taut. The frame comprises a plurality of straight leg members and a number of corner members as required by said polygonal shape. The corner members encompass interior angles which are from about 1 to about 5 degrees greater than the interior angle of the polygon defined by the straight sides of the mat. The frame member legs are rigid, but slightly flexible such that when assembled into the mat as an assembled frame, the straight legs are forced to bow out slightly between the corners, pulling the mat taut.

An erosion-preventing laminate mat may include a first layer of slivers of a natural material, a second layer of slivers of a synthetic material, and, in embodiments, a third layer of an open mesh. A system for utilizing the erosion-preventing laminate may include a movable frame having an upper surface shaped to pass beneath a substantially flat sheet of tied block mat, the frame including a spindle below the upper surface for supporting a roll of the first mat, the first mat including the first layer of slivers of a natural material, the second layer of slivers of a synthetic material, and the third layer of an open mesh. In embodiments, a system for forming the mat includes a movable frame shaped to pass beneath a substantially flat sheet of the tied block mat, and including a spindle below the upper surface for supporting a roll of the first mat.

This disclosure provides methods, systems, and kits for building seawalls using mechanically interlocking blocks. The interlocking blocks have interiors that can be filled with sand, gravel, or cementitious material after formation of a wall. The interlocking blocks that can be connected on any side to form a structure, wall, foundation, floor, building, flotation device, gardening structure, or toy. The interlocking blocks typically comprise center openings and connecting openings on each side and can be connected with hardware through the connecting openings. The center openings allow for materials such as pipes, wires, conduit, and rebar to pass through interlocked blocks. Connected blocks can also be filled with fortifying material to strengthen the structure. Sides of connected blocks can be covered with faceplates to direct flow of fortifying material and aid in the creation of desired configurations. Also provided are connectors for connecting sides of the interlocking blocks.