Methods of marsh restoration via resuspension of sediment

Abstract

Methods for restoring tidal areas adjacent to a tidal water area are provided. The method can comprise: pumping water from the tidal water area; and directing a high-pressure water stream, using the water pumped from the tidal water area, to the bottom surface of the tidal water area during an incoming tide period. The high-pressure water stream impacts the bottom surface of the tidal water area with sufficient force to dislodge sediment from the bottom surface into the tidal water area.

Claims

1. A method of restoring intertidal areas adjacent to subtidal water areas, wherein the intertidal area is subaerial during low tide stages and the subtidal water area has a volume of water over a bottom surface at all tide levels, the method comprising: pumping water from the subtidal water area; and directing a high-pressure water stream, using the water pumped from the subtidal water area, to the bottom surface of the subtidal water area during an incoming tide period, wherein the high-pressure water stream impacts the bottom surface of the subtidal water area with sufficient force to dislodge sediment from the bottom surface into the subtidal water area, the dislodged sediment thereafter being carried onto the intertidal area by the incoming tide such that an elevation of the intertidal area is increased.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: stopping the high-pressure water stream during an outgoing tide period.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the high-pressure water stream is directed to the bottom surface only during incoming tide periods.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein pumping water from the subtidal water area and directing the high-pressure water stream to the bottom surface of the subtidal water are simultaneously accomplished on a surface vessel positioned in the subtidal water area.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the surface vessel moves within the subtidal water area such that the high-pressure water stream is directed to different areas of the bottom surface.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the surface vessel moves within the subtidal water area during an incoming tide.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein pumping water from the subtidal water area and directing the high-pressure water stream to the bottom surface of the tidal water are ultaneously accomplished using a waterjet pump.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof to one skilled in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, which includes reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows the water level and velocities during different stages of the tide (modified from: Neill, Charles, 1973, Guide to bridge Hydraulics, Roads and Transportation Association of Canada, University of Toronto, Canada).

(3) FIG. 2 shows a general illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. that utilizes a hydraulic water jet to eject sediment from the bottom of the waterway into the water column on the incoming or flood tides.

(4) FIG. 3a shows another general illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention where, on the incoming tide, a hydraulic water jet mixes the sediment from the bottom of the waterway into the water column on the incoming or flood tides.

(5) FIG. 3b shows a general illustration of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3a where, on the outgoing tide, the hydraulic jet is quiet during the ebbing or receding tide when the flow of water is in the downstream direction and the wetlands are subaerial.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) Reference now will be made to the embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are set forth below. Each example is provided by way of an explanation of the invention, not as a limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as one embodiment can be used on another embodiment to yield still a further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present invention, which broader aspects are embodied exemplary constructions.

(7) The present disclosure is generally directed to a method of restoring tidal areas, such as marsh lands, creek beds, etc. FIG. 1 shows the water level and velocities during different stages of the tide (modified from: Neill, Charles, 1973. Guide to bridge Hydraulics, Roads and Transportation Association of Canada, University of Toronto, Canada). Marsh vegetation will survive within the top half of the tidal frame (shaded area labeled Growth Range), but resilience to sea-level rise and effectiveness as protection from storm surge increase when the vegetation grows at a higher elevation.

(8) In order to increase the elevation of these tidal areas, the presently described methods act to resuspend sediment from the bottoms of the subtidal water area (e.g., tidal inlet, tidal creek, tidal sound, etc.) during incoming tides by hydraulic resuspension. For example, the method utilizes a high-pressure water stream (i.e., a hydraulic jet stream) to mine sediment from the bottom of the tidal creeks, channels, or rivers during the flood tide. The operation of the high-pressure water stream greatly increases the concentration of sediment in the flood water such that the sedimentation rate on the marsh surface is significantly raised.

(9) Referring to FIG. 2, a barge platform is shown having a waterjet pump (also known as a water blaster) positioned thereon for pumping water from the subtidal water area through the intake. Then, the waterjet pump creates and directs a high-pressure water stream (i.e., a hydraulic jet) to the bottom surface of the subtidal water area during the incoming tide. The sediment dislodged from the bottom surface through the force of the high-pressure water stream increases the concentration of the sediment in the tidal water area such that more sediment is washed onto the flooded tidal lands (represented in FIG. 2 by the Marsh platform).

(10) In certain embodiments, the high-pressure water stream would operate only during the incoming tide period. FIGS. 3a and 3b show such an embodiment, where the waterjet pump is operating during the incoming tide but not operating during the outgoing tide.

(11) During operation, the barge can move around within the subtidal water area such that the high-pressure water stream is directed to different areas of the bottom surface during its operation.

(12) Although depicted on a barge, the waterjet pumps can be operated on any suitable floating platforms (e.g., boat, barge, or other surface vessel). Consequently, the geographic extent of their operation within an estuary is essentially unlimited. The platform(s) can be operated within a certain tidal water area for a sufficient period to achieve a healthy accumulation of sediment in the marshes. Subsequently, the platforms could be redeployed to other areas.

(13) In an alternative embodiment, the method can be utilized to establish a channel or to dredge an existing channel in a tidal waterway. That is, the high-pressure water stream can be operated to dredge a channel into the bottom surface via use of a high-pressure water stream. The tidal flow of the waterway can then be utilized to carry the sediment in and/or out of the tidal water area to artificially lower the bottom surface making the channel deeper.

(14) These and other modifications and variations to the present invention may be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which is more particularly set forth in the appended claims. In addition, it should be understood the aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged both in whole or in part. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is not intended to limit the invention so further described in the appended claims.