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.

A system for rolling up a flexible sheet may include a frame; a friction element mounted on the frame, the friction element having an endless friction outer surface with a sheet-engaging portion positioned to engage an end of the flexible sheet lying in a substantially horizontal position relative to the frame; and a drive connected to the friction element to move the endless friction outer surface such that the sheet-engaging portions thereof move upwardly to engage the end of the flexible sheet and lift up and roll the end of the flexible sheet over on itself to form a roll.

A sub-surface membrane deposition device including a movable frame, at least one chisel attached to the frame, hydraulics to raise and lower the at least one chisel from the frame, and a membrane deployable to a sub-surface level by the at least one chisel as the movable frame is moved. Also provided is a method of deposing a membrane to a sub-surface level that includes providing a movable frame, at least one chisel attached to the frame, hydraulics to raise and lower the at least one chisel from the frame, and a membrane. The method including lowering the at least one chisel with the hydraulics to the sub-surface level, moving the frame and at least one chisel forward, and deploying the membrane to the sub-surface level with the at least one chisel.

A flexible mat forming system may include an elongate, rotatable drum having a plurality of transverse rows of mold cavities about an outer periphery thereof, an elongate hopper positioned adjacent the drum, the hopper shaped to receive a hardenable paste and deposit the hardenable paste along a facing row of the plurality of transverse rows of mold cavities, a spool assembly for feeding a sheet of mesh material between the hopper and the facing row, and a retaining plate extending partially about the outer periphery of the drum and positioned on a downstream side of the elongate hopper, the retaining plate spaced sufficiently close to the outer periphery to retain the mesh material against the outer periphery of the drum and the hardenable paste within the mold cavities adjacent the retaining plate.

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.

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.

In an exemplary embodiment, a system for forming a flexible mat having an open mesh embedded in and interconnecting a plurality of blocks of a hardened paste includes a rotating drum having a plurality of mold cavities about an outer periphery thereof that receive a hardenable paste; a sheet of the open mesh that is fed over the mold cavities so that the mesh is embedded in the hardenable paste deposited in the mold cavities; and a flexible sheet that is placed against the outer periphery of the drum over the mold cavities containing the hardenable paste and the sheet of open mesh of the rotating drum to retain the hardenable paste within the mold cavities and retain the open mesh embedded in the hardenable paste as the hardenable paste solidifies to form the flexible mat.

A sediment capping system is adapted to create, and distribute, a homogenized mixture of capping material. Where distributing the capping material, the system is configured to militate against the capping material forming clumps of a size and weight that would disturb the sediment on a bottom of a body of water. This in turn militates against the sediment being disturbed, and a disturbing of pollutants and toxins into the water surrounding the sediment. The sediment capping system militates against the clumping of capping material through a vibrating spreader and baffle system, producing a sediment cap with a more consistent depth that will minimally disturb the sediment on the floor of the body of water where the sediment cap is being deposited.

A sediment capping system is adapted to create, and distribute, a homogenized mixture of capping material. Where distributing the capping material, the system is configured to militate against the capping material forming clumps of a size and weight that would disturb the sediment on a bottom of a body of water. This in turn militates against the sediment being disturbed, and a disturbing of pollutants and toxins into the water surrounding the sediment. The sediment capping system militates against the clumping of capping material through a vibrating spreader and baffle system, producing a sediment cap with a more consistent depth that will minimally disturb the sediment on the floor of the body of water where the sediment cap is being deposited.

A revetment construction apparatus includes a reusable plunger device and a pair of panels coupled with a movable joint. The plunger includes a box portion having an open bottom and a plurality of sides, including an open front side, a rear side opposite the front side, and a pair of spaced apart lateral sides extending between the front and rear sides. The plunger further includes a mast portion extending vertically upward from the box portion and providing at a top end thereof a picking cap for engagement by a construction machine. The panels include front and bottom panels extending, respectively, along the front and open bottom of the box portion. Each of the panels is a reinforced anti-erosion fabric panel coupled to the box portion with breakaway fasteners configured to passively detach from the box portion upon lifting of the plunger after the box portion has been loaded with revetment foundation rock.