High-density bales for erosion control or for forming a flood barrier are made by the compaction of tree leave material. The bales are made substantially from tree leave material that retains at least a portion of the vein structure. The vein structure improves the structurally integrity of the bale. A baler may be used to form the bale and it may compact the leave material up to an 8:1 compaction ratio, forming bales with a density of 0.3 to 0.8g/cc or more. The bales may have a retainer wire or mesh configured around a portion of the bale to retain the bale shape. The bales may contain seeds for growing plants directly from the bales as the leave material degrades to provide the nutrients for plant growth. This plant growth from the bale provides an aesthetically appealing bale that blends into the natural environment.

Disclosed are a cement coating for inducing the settlement of marine sessile organisms and an application technology therefor, and, in particular, a construction method for an ecological riprap breakwater, an induced cement-based coating, and a preparation method thereof. The cement coating for inducing the settlement of marine sessile organisms is coated on surfaces of rocks, and a reasonable spatial layout is applied, such that each rock pile (block) can effectively break waves and ensure smooth exchange between water bodies on two sides. After oysters attached to each rock pile (block) breed a large amount, the water bodies can be purified, and the ecological environment in the surrounding sea area can be improved.

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.

According to the present invention there is provided a liquid retention device comprising: a braced frame mountable on foundations in a plurality of locations, in which said device comprises a base section and at least one upstanding support, and in which said brace further comprises height-adjusting means for adjusting the height of said frame, and in which said device further comprises a face supported by said frame, in which said face is inclined at an angle to the at least one upstanding support, wherein said face is covered by a least one detachable mat.

A system and method for manufacturing erosion control filter socks consists of a mass of filtering material, a material supply assembly, an assembly section, and a packaging section. Switchgrass is used as the filtering material. Upon receiving the mass of filtering material, the material supply assembly appropriately transfers the filtering material to the assembly section. The filtering material is loaded into a receiving sock with the use of a sizing funnel in the assembly section to create a filter sock. The density of the filtering material within the filter sock varies. When loading is complete, the packaging section sizes the filter sock accordingly. When sizing the filter sock is complete, the filter sock is wrapped in a plastic cover so that the filter sock can be conveniently transported and installed.

The disclosed systems, methods, and apparatuses may combat coastal erosion using a shell module shaped to enable retention of sand on a beach and shore face. The shell module may be shaped to minimizing interference with recreational use of the beach and providing a beneficial environment for desirable sea life. The modular shell can be conveniently transported and emplaced in shell reefs. These shell reefs may comprise multiple, optionally interlocking shell modules. These shell reefs can prevent fill, such as sand, de-watered sand, or sand slurry from being scoured and sluiced out to sea. The disclosed systems and methods harness the energy of incoming and returning waves, including tidal and surf action, to assist in spreading the fill, recreating a natural beach, complete with layers of sand capable of resisting the scouring force of ocean waves and currents.

The invention relates to improved water control gates and related inflatable actuators, and associated sealing, manufacture and operation apparatus and methods. Advancements in technologies related to air fitting design, inflated bladder stress relief, inflatable bladder strength enhancement, water gate related slide friction mitigation, abutment and other impounded water seals, gate panel fabrication, traffic accommodating water impoundment structures, and water gate panel system operation efficiency, as well as nappe aeration, hinges, and bladder manufacture technology are disclosed herein.

A device is provided for damping hydrosound in liquid emitted from a sound-emitting body in the liquid. The device includes a plurality of gas-filled bodies distributed in the liquid in an area of the hydrosound-emitting body and at a distance from each other. Each of the gas-filled bodies has a natural frequency that corresponds to an emitted frequency range of the hydrosound so as to dampen the hydrosound through resonant oscillations.

An energy dissipater comprising a plurality of periodic hyperbolic surfaces, forming a continuous surface-structure, and enveloping contiguous tunnels there through.

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.