The present invention relates to an erosion control apparatus and methods of using and installing the apparatus. The apparatus is constructed to prevent erosion of soil during typical weather or tidal conditions and adverse weather events. The apparatus can include a plurality of anchored rolls and soil lifts operative to stabilize the shoreline.

An article for use in damming or channeling surface water flow is comprised of a non-woven polymer fabric sleeve which is encased in a sheath made of polymeric mesh. The sleeve contains a water absorbent material. When water passes through the sheath and sleeve, the absorbent swells up, to change the barrier from a flattened article to a bulky shape article. Preferably, the sleeve is black or brown and the sheath is a mesh comprised of highly visible bright orange fibers; the sheath has a regular pattern of openings nominally equivalent in area to 4 to 5 mm diameter holes; and the sheath has about 25 to about 60 percent open area.

An articulated concrete block system that includes a gabion mattress drainage layer. The two major components of the system reduce the effects of erosion and increase the hydraulic stability in areas that experience high velocity water flows, hydraulic jumps, and will dissipate wave energy action for shoreline and coastal erosion. Geosynthetics are first placed on the ground surface, followed by a gabion mattress drainage layer, a smaller aggregate layer for fine grading, another optional geosynthetic layer, and then the articulated concrete blocks overlie the system.

A cellular structure includes a plurality of interconnected cells of fabric material. The cells are at least partially filled with a composite fill material that includes a particulate material and a bonding agent. A cellular unit made up of a plurality of the interconnected cells may have an associated load-bearing frame to enable lifting and/or transportation of the structure. The fill material is preferably resilient.

Man-made boulders anchored to a grade beam to prevent erosion of a bulkhead. The boulders are fabricated using woven bags filled with concrete and located on the water side of the bulkhead. An anchor bolt is embedded in the top surface of the boulder concrete. A concrete grade beam equipped with anchor bolts is located on the land side of the bulkhead. Cables are threaded between the anchor bolts of the concrete boulders and the anchor bolts of the grade beam. The weight of the concrete boulders plus the tensioned cables provide a structure that resists movement and protects the bulkhead from deterioration due to wave action. If upgrade soil protection is needed, rock-filled gabion cages can be installed over the grade beam.

A pier mat of erosion control blocks for abating erosion around piers of a wharf. A mat of blocks is arranged so as to have a linear end edge and a vacant space formed in an opposite end edge thereof, where the vacant space is for surrounding at least a part of a pier. A linear end edge of another similar pier mat is installed so as to abut the end edge of the first mat having the vacant space, thereby fully surrounding the pier. A method of installing a pier mat of erosion control blocks is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to an erosion control apparatus and methods of using and installing the apparatus. The apparatus is constructed to prevent erosion of soil during typical weather or tidal conditions and adverse weather events. The apparatus can include a plurality of anchored rolls and soil lifts operative to stabilize the shoreline.

The present invention relates to an erosion control apparatus and methods of using and installing the apparatus. The apparatus is constructed to prevent erosion of soil during typical weather or tidal conditions and adverse weather events. The apparatus can include a plurality of anchored rolls and soil lifts operative to stabilize the shoreline.

An erosion control system comprising a plurality of interconnected blocks that each include an upper face, a lower face, multiple sides, and connector recesses disposed on at least some of the sides, with each the connector recesses extending inwardly from an outer surface of the respective side at which it is disposed. Each block is configured to be connected with an adjacent block with one side of each block being disposed adjacent one side of an adjacent block and at least one connector recess of each block being aligned with one of the connector recesses of the adjacent block. The adjacent blocks are connected together at aligned connector recesses by a linkage assembly, with the adjacent blocks being able to pivot relative to each other via the linkage assembly.

A cellular structure includes a plurality of interconnected cells of fabric material. The cells are at least partially filled with a composite fill material that includes a particulate material and a bonding agent. A cellular unit made up of a plurality of the interconnected cells may have an associated load-bearing frame to enable lifting and/or transportation of the structure. The fill material is preferably resilient.