A device comprising a corkscrew; a substantially flexible shaft operably attached to the corkscrew at a first end of the shaft; and one or more protrusions extending from the shaft between the first end of the shaft and a second end of the shaft. Methods of using the device are also disclosed.

A composite silt fence configured for capturing pollutants in one embodiment comprises a silt fence fabric including i) a polymeric geotextile fabric particulate filtering layer defining the hydraulic flow capacity for the silt fence, ii) a pollutant capturing layer coupled to the polymeric geotextile fabric particulate filtering layer and configured to capture some select pollutants in water from flow that has passed through the polymeric geotextile fabric particulate filtering layer, and iii) a backing layer coupled to the pollutant capturing layer; and a plurality of stakes secured to the silt fence fabric at spaced locations. The silt fence fabric yields higher hydraulic flow than existing fence constructions with greater sediment retention and pollutant containment features.

Provided is a technique for preventing repeated river, storm surge, and tsunami disasters. “Sea hollow (UTSURO)” is constructed at an estuary, violent tide is generated in an estuary basin water area of a river, ebb and flow energy is caused to exceed flow energy due to gravity in a downstream part of the estuary flow are conventionally dominated by the flow energy due to gravity, the flow energy in the river is thus redistributed to deeply dig the riverbed, enhance flood discharge ability, and prevent repeated river disasters, a levee body of the “sea hollow (UTSURO)” is shared, tsunami or storm surge is reflected in a coastal sea area and is prevented in the sea area, tsunami or storm surge invading the estuary, or estuary flood is caused to overflow into an upstream migration water path constituting the “sea hollow (UTSURO)”, and peak cut thereof is performed.

A sediment retaining structure in water courses including a net which is arranged transversely so as to occupy all the bed of the water course. At least one opening having a width less than the width of the bed is formed on the bottom of the net which delimits at least one side thereof.

A method for transferring sediment in a body of water, a discharge element being situated in the body of water, which is connected to a hydroelectric power station by a connecting line in such a way that water may flow through the connecting line, and a device for providing a sediment/water mixture into the connecting line, and the device including a monitor for monitoring the sediment concentration in the provided sediment/water mixture, and a controller connected to the device to control the quantity of the sediment contained in the sediment/water mixture, and the method including: taking sediment; transferring sediment to the device for providing a sediment/water mixture; introducing the sediment/water mixture into the connecting line, the controller activating the device in such a way that the sediment quantity introduced per time interval does not exceed a predefined maximally permissible quantity, the maximally permissible sediment quantity depending on the instantaneous operating mode of the hydroelectric power station.

A composite silt fence configured for capturing pollutants in one embodiment comprises a silt fence fabric including i) a polymeric geotextile fabric particulate filtering layer defining the hydraulic flow capacity for the silt fence, ii) a pollutant capturing layer coupled to the polymeric geotextile fabric particulate filtering layer and configured to capture some select pollutants in water from flow that has passed through the polymeric geotextile fabric particulate filtering layer, and iii) a backing layer coupled to the pollutant capturing layer; and a plurality of stakes secured to the silt fence fabric at spaced locations. The silt fence fabric yields higher hydraulic flow than existing fence constructions with greater sediment retention and pollutant containment features.

A method is provided for the artificial erosion of dammed bodies of water, wherein an average grain size distribution of sediments in the dammed body of water is determined across the ground surface of the dammed body of water. A sediment requirement for downstream water is determined, and as a result, at least one displacement of the sediments in the dammed body of water into the downstream water takes place in accordance with the sediment requirements for the downstream water. Advantageously, requirements regarding at least the quantity and grain size of the sediment for the downstream water are determined.

An apparatus, system and method for removing and treating contaminated materials on a bottom of a body of water and introducing growth packets to revitalize the treated bottom of the body of water. The structure may comprise a vessel with an open face. The vessel may be lowered down to the bottom of the body of water with the face facing down. As a result, the vessel and the bottom form an isolated space. The structure may comprise at least one agitating device(s) for stirring up the materials inside the vessel so as to form a mixture containing the sediment materials which in turn contain the contaminants. Multiple at least one pipe(s) may be coupled to the vessel for transporting the mixture out of the vessel for processing (filtering, treating with chemicals, etc.) so as to neutralize or eliminate the contaminants in the mixture. Then, the treated mixture can be returned to the inside of the vessel via the at least one pipe(s).

Submersible isolation enclosure apparatus constructed of flexible, water resistant to water proof fabric or sheeting for enclosing and isolating selected areas of water bottom and water volume from surrounding water with access to the isolated bottom area exposed within a Base Member through one or more closed wall, tubular Access Member(s) connected to the Base Member and accessible from the water surface. Center-radial and perimeter portions of the Base Member fitted with attachment points and one or more tubular, closed wall Sleeve Members to allow for use of floatation, internal supporting rods or piping, and weights, to assist in the movement, positioning, shaping and securing of the apparatus to the selected water bottom area. Flexible fabric and weighting system allows the lower perimeter of the Base Member to conform to bottom structure.

The present invention relates to apparatuses, methods, and systems for removing sediment from waterway bottoms and pumping the sediment through pipelines. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatuses, methods, and systems for sediment control and altering the average effective depth in a section of rivers, streams and channels for maintaining the navigability of waterways and coastal restoration. The apparatus preferably comprises a sediment harvesting platform preferably positioned above a water surface; a sediment suction inlet or sediment sink preferably positioned below the top level of source sediment or within a sand bar including a grating, a sediment pump, a venturi including an auger/propeller, and a water jet; a flow control valve; and a pipeline for pumping sediment. The apparatus may further comprise a sediment conveyor including sediment inlets and a remote controlled pulsing valve. The apparatus may further comprise sensor(s) and a programmable logic controller (PLC). The method of the present invention preferably comprises removing sediment from waterway bottoms with at least one apparatus of the present invention. The system of the present invention preferably comprises a plurality of apparatuses in either series or parallel design for sediment control and altering the average effective depth in a section of a waterway.