Silt and visual fence for erosion control

Abstract

A fence for retaining silt and providing a visual marker comprising a plurality of stakes, each stake comprising, a generally flat surface having a plurality of holes defined therein and spaced along at least a portion of the flat surface, a strip of fabric, comprising, a lower portion having a first visual indicia associated therewith, an upper portion having a second visual indicia associated therewith distinct from the color of the first portion, the upper and lower portions being connected; and, a plurality of fasteners for fastening the strip of fabric to the plurality of stakes. The fence preferably also includes a wire grid or mesh backing to provide additional strength and support to the lower portion fabric.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] Silt fences prevent sediment carried by sheet flow from leaving a construction site and entering natural drainage ways or storm drainage systems by slowing storm water runoff and causing the deposition of sediment at the structure. Silt fencing encourages sheet flow and reduces the potential for development of rills and gullies. Silt fencing should be installed where sheet flow runoff can be stored behind the barrier without damaging the barrier or the submerged area behind the barrier. Silt fencing is generally located at the topographically lowest portions of the site where silt migrates during rain events. [0002] Visual fence is placed just inside the clearing boundaries to define the limits of clearing. This is necessary to prevent the overclearing of trees, brush, etc., and to visually identify the clearing limits. Many local ordinances require that the visual fence have certain minimum visibility requirements. [0003] Conventional fence system...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] Generally described, the present invention provides in a first exemplary embodiment a novel combination of a silt and visual fence to prevent sedimentation from leaving the limits of construction and the visual impact of a clearing tree save fence to define the limits of project clearing. The silt / visual fence combination reduces the need for two separate material and installation processes and will allow for one product and one installation. More particularly, the present invention provides, in one exemplary embodiment, a silt / visual fence comprising a plurality of stakes, each stake comprising, a generally flat surface having a plurality of holes defined therein and spaced along at least a portion of the flat surface, a strip of fabric, comprising, a lower portion having a first visual indicia associated therewith, an upper portion having a second visual indicia associated therewith distinct from the color of the first portion, the upper and lower portions being connected; and, a plurality of fasteners for fastening the strip of fabric to the plurality of stakes. The fence preferably also includes, where use so requires, a wire grid or mesh backing to provide additional strength and support to the lower portion fabric. For certain applications a wire grid or mesh backing is not required.

Problems solved by technology

By the time the construction is completed to the point where the fence is no longer needed, the fence material has often degraded or is otherwise unusable in another application.

However, the fence must still be removed by construction crews and either recycled or dumped in the garbage or landfill.

This results in significant time being required to install and later uninstall these fences, increased waste product as the fences are often unreusable after the first use, and increased cost.

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