Process and related apparatus for repairing aquatic propeller scars

Abstract

A process and apparatus for planting aquatic plants underwater on the bottom of estuaries in propeller scars and for encouraging plant growth in propeller scars. Aquatic plant shoots are transplanted by positioning shoots in a sediment tube which is in turn placed in the propeller scar. When the sediment tube is placed in the propeller scar the sea grass shoots are held in position for an extended period of time to allow the sea grass shoots to take root on the estuary bottom. The sediment tubes may be preformed or they may be formed just prior to their placement in the estuary. A watercraft may be used to position the sediment tubes with and without sea grass shoots over an area of the propeller scar. With the process and apparatus of this invention, sea grass plants can be replanted on the bottom of an estuary and new plant growth encouraged in propeller scars. Further in accordance with another embodiment of this invention a tube or other obstruction without plant shoots is placed in a propeller scar in order to impede water flow through the propeller scar. When water flow through the propeller scar is impeded natural plant growth is encouraged.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation in part application of application Ser. No. 09 / 573,724 filed May 18, 2000.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention is concerned with a process and related apparatus whereby aquatic propeller scars may be repaired underwater for purposes of restoration. The restoration of all aspects of the environment has become extremely important in recent years. The three areas of restoration which are of primary import are reducing air pollution, restoring and cleaning up the land and cleaning up and restoring our waterways, the ocean and related estuaries. It is these related estuaries that are the primary thrust of the subject invention. [0003] As a result of the decrease in water quality, millions of acres of aquatic plant life, which form an important part of the aquatic Eco system, have been destroyed. While the restoration of aquatic plant life is difficult, it is possible, for example see the process and apparatus of ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

As a result of the decrease in water quality, millions of acres of aquatic plant life, which form an important part of the aquatic Eco system, have been destroyed.

While the process of this U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,537 is well suited to the planting of large underwater areas it is not particularly suited to the replanting of propeller scars.

The natural restoration of aquatic life, in propeller scars is an extremely slow process.

While it is possible to manually plant shoots of aquatic plants, in propeller scars this process is extremely slow and expensive.

Further due to the peculiar nature of propeller scars manual planting is often unsuccessful.

Also because propeller scars are widely dispersed the cost of manually planting just one propeller scar in an estuary can be prohibitive.

Likewise manual planting in some instances is of questionable success as the person doing the planting, in walking over the bottom of an estuary, does further damage by crushing other plants which may be growing in the area.

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