US20050269557A1

US20050269557A1 - Sediment Fence with Skirt

Info

Publication number: US20050269557A1
Application number: US10/908,876
Authority: US
Inventors: Craig Perrin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-06-03
Filing date: 2005-05-31
Publication date: 2005-12-08

Abstract

Sediment Fence with Skirt is designed to help meet the requirements of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System for sediment control as well as provide a physical base for site and soil remediation. The primary function of the Sediment Fence with Skirt is sediment control and it can be installed on project boundaries as well as across drainage flow lines. Surface water and drainage water flows through the sediment fence tube and sediment is removed from suspension by filter material in the sediment fence tube, and by the interruption of flow velocity, which will cause sediment to drop out of suspension. Erosion control is enhanced by the use of the attached Sediment Fence skirt, which is plowed into the ground or affixed to the surface at the time of Sediment Fence installation, and which provides a barrier to reduce leakage of surface and drainage water underneath the Sediment Fence.

Description

INSTALLATION SPECIFICATIONS

Sediment Fence with Skirt is fabricated as a one piece cylindrical tube with an integral skirt (see FIG. 1). The skirt can be installed completely into the ground, leaving the empty tube lying on the ground. Filter material is then installed in the Sediment Fence tube through use of a shredder and/or forced air blower. An optional draw string can be installed during filter material placement to allow the Sediment Fence to be secured to stakes driven into the ground on the downstream side of the runoff flow (see FIG. 2). The draw string attached to the buried stakes provides additional support for the Sediment Fence if flow velocity and or water volume require this approach. Sediment Fence with Skirt can also be installed by laying the skirt flat on the ground and secured with biodegradable or non-degradable staples. The tube is then filled as described above.
Sediment Fence with Skirt can be deployed in any length required. However, testing shows that installations of up to one hundred linear yards can be managed easily by a single individual. The ends of the Sediment Fence with Skirt are then secured by weaving ties through the material and drawn tight (see FIG. 4).
Using an optional plow attachment devised for the specific purpose of installing the Sediment Fence with Skirt and a mechanical chipper/shredder with blower, much of the intensive labor associated with sediment and erosion control fence construction is reduced. Further, if the installer uses biodegradable materials, removal of the fence is not required. If the installer uses biodegradable materials, all components can be disked into the area or left to provide a matrix for growing a ground cover crop for site remediation purposes (see FIG. 1—Optional Seeding Skirt). Seed can be installed with the filter material, converting the Sediment Fence with Skirt into a planting matrix for cover crops that grow out of the filled Sediment Fence. Cover crops such as alfalfa, oats, grass or other soil-stabilizing plants that are planted in the fence can be easily harvested if needed, or the entire fence and cover crop can be disked into the ground.
Material Specification
The filtering capabilities of the Sediment Fence with Skirt require that the material used for the sediment fence tube be of a porous or semi-porous nature. Burlap is typically used as the material for the tube and skirt itself, though any porous fabric sewn into a tube with skirt may be used. Bio-photo degradable timeframe and long-term use requirements will dictate the material used for the Sediment Fence tube and skirt, as well as the weight of the material and whether the material is chemically treated for additional longevity or not. If a permanent installation is desired, construction and installation of the Sediment Fence with Skirt remains as described above, with only a change in the type of material used for the Sediment Fence tube and skirt from a degradable material to a non-degradable material. Examples of uses of the permanent installation option would be for a ditch check, flow interrupter, field terrace or similar sediment control device that is required to remain in place for any length of time.
Filter Material
Any free-flowing, well-graded material may be used for filter material. Filter material can even be created on site by mowing and shredding grass hay, straw hay, wood chips, nut shells, composts, etc. Seed can also be injected into the Sediment Fence with Skirt, which will then grow into a ground cover crop and increase the filtering and soil retention capabilities of the Sediment Fence with Skirt over time.

Claims

1. A sediment control system that reduces or eliminates leakage of runoff or other discharge flow underneath the bottom edge of the sediment fence (see FIG. 1).

2. A sediment control system that can be left in place to provide long-term sediment control and a planting matrix for groundcover crops (see FIG. 1—Optional Seeding Skirt).

3. A sediment control system that allows flexibility in choice of filter material depending on the needs of the project and the requirements of the site (FIG. 1—General Notes).

4. A sediment control system that allows materials harvested on a project site to be used for sediment control filter material (also see General Notes and FIG. 1).

5. A sediment control system that is installed into the ground mechanically and that does not require staking to the ground, but offers a means to optionally stake the fence into the ground for situations that require additional support (see FIG. 2).