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Home / Special Construction Plan for Mangrove Protection Using Silt Curtains
Project Background And Objectives
In marine dredging projects, suspended sediments can easily spread to mangrove areas, causing turbidity and damaging the respiration and root growth of mangroves. By deploying silt curtains, sediment dispersion can be effectively controlled, maintaining a stable mangrove habitat and ensuring ecosystem integrity.
Construction Conditions
Natural Conditions:
Near mangrove forests, tides significant, water depth 1–3m.
Construction Restrictions:
Vessels prohibited from shallow mangrove areas.
Material Requirements:
The silt curtain fabric is made of high-strength round wire filter cloth, which is UV-resistant and corrosion-resistant.
Deployment And Preparations
Construction divided into “dredging zone layout” and “mangrove boundary layout.”
Materials: silt curtain, sinking sandbags, anchor rope, positioning anchor, anchor body float, warning light.
Monitoring stations established for turbidity and dissolved oxygen
Construction Procedure
STEP 01
Surveying:
Define layout positions.STEP 02
Pre-assembly:
On the flat barge, connect the silt curtain body to the sinking sandbags.STEP 03
Deployment:
Use a flat barge to travel to the designated location, launch the anti-fouling curtain into the water and deploy it in sequence, and finally anchor it in place.STEP 04
Inspection:
Daily patrol, repair damage promptly.Quality Control
- The anti-fouling curtain units must be tightly connected to ensure there are no gaps.
- Water quality is tested weekly to ensure suspended matter in the mangrove area is within normal range.
Safety And Environmental Protection
- Construction vessels are prohibited from discharging oil and wastewater into mangrove areas.
- Avoid construction during bird nesting and fish spawning periods.
Construction Plan for Using Geotextile Tubes in Mangrove Restoration Projects
Project Background And Objectives
Mangrove ecosystems are vital coastal protection systems with functions such as wave attenuation, shoreline stabilization and biodiversity conservation. However, in areas affected by erosion or human activities, mangrove habitats have degraded, with exposed roots and sediment loss. By deploying geotextile tubes (Geo-tubes), stable sediment barriers and revetments can be formed, promoting sediment deposition and facilitating mangrove regeneration, thus achieving both protection and ecological restoration.
Construction Conditions
Natural Conditions:
Water depth 0.5–3m, significant tidal influence, seabed composed mainly of silt and fine sand.
Construction Restrictions:
Close to mangrove reserves, requiring low noise and controlled sediment leakage.
Material Requirements:
Geotube bags are made of high-strength woven geotextiles and are resistant to UV rays, wear and tear and highly permeable.
Deployment And Preparations
Overall Deployment:A multi-layer geotube bag is laid at the forefront of the mangrove restoration plan to form a sediment barrier.
Equipment: Slurry pumps, sand pumps, pipelines, cranes, surveying tools, small vessels.
Personnel: Project manager, engineers, environmental monitors, vessel crew.
Monitoring: Water quality and sediment monitoring stations near mangrove zones。
Construction Procedure
STEP 01
Surveying And Layout：
Define tube alignment and placement positions; set positioning buoys.STEP 02
Foundation Preparation：
Remove debris and prepare seabed; sand cushion if needed.STEP 03
Tube Placement：
Lay out the tube bag on the mudflat at low tide, unfold it and position it.STEP 04
Filling Operation：
Pump dredged sand into tubes, control flow rate and pressure, fill in layers uniformly.STEP 05
Stabilization And Sedimentation：
After tube formation, allow sediment accumulation behind, creating mudflats suitable for mangrove growth.
STEP 06
Inspection And Maintenance：
Regularly check tube joints and integrity; repair promptly if damaged.
Quality Control
- Filling Quality: Maintain filling rate at 80%–90% with settlement allowance.
- Placement Accuracy: Position deviation ≤0.5m, alignment straight.
- Monitoring: Weekly water turbidity monitoring, ≤50mg/L.
Safety And Environmental Protection
- Construction Safety: Install safety markers; workers must wear life jackets. Environmental
- Protection: No discharge of oil or waste into mangrove areas; avoid construction during bird nesting season.
- Ecological Restoration: After mudflat formation, plant mangrove seedlings to accelerate recovery.
Geotextile Tubes: Structural Safety & Durability Challenges
Pain Point 01
Rapid Material Aging Shortens Project Lifespan
Customer Concern:
Traditional geotextile tubes degrade quickly under UV exposure and seawater erosion, leading to strength loss, cracks and breakage within a year. This results in sand leakage, embankment failure and high repair costs.
Solution:
Use UV-resistant high-strength geotextile tubes (tensile strength 35–250 KN/m, elongation >23%). With special treatment, the tubes can withstand natural exposure for 3 years in any marine environment, reducing embankment repair costs from the source.
Pain Point 02
Weak Seam Strength Causes Tube Rupture
Customer Concern:
Conventional tubes are stitched with portable sewing machines, with seam strength ≤30% of base fabric. When filled with sand, seawater pressure often tears the seams, especially in ports with large tidal differences.
Solution:
Adopt industrial four-line parallel stitching, ensuring seam strength ≥70% of base fabric. With trapezoidal staggered stacking, overall shear resistance improves by 40%, preventing chain reactions from local damage.Silt Curtains: Environmental Compliance & Efficiency Challenges
Pain Point 01
Poor Design Leads To Low Pollution Control, Risk Of Penalties
Customer Concern:
Conventional silt curtains use mixed fabrics sewn together, with overall strength <50% of base material. They fail under wave impact, leading to breakage, excessive turbidity, fishery disputes, fines and suspension risks. Sediment interception is often <60%.
Solution:
Useing high-strength permeable fabric in an integrated structure. Curtain strength = 100% of base fabric. With sandbag ballast (non-corrosive), sediment interception reaches >90%, while dissipating wave energy and ensuring compliance (permeability coefficient 1.5×10⁻³ m/s).Pain Point 02
Poor Durability, Frequent Replacements
Customer Concern:
Standard silt curtains lack UV resistance and seawater durability, lasting less than 1 year. This requires annual replacement, raising offshore operation costs and delaying schedules.
Solution:
Use anti-aging integrated silt curtains, durable for 3 years in seawater, cutting life-cycle cost by 50%.Constructing new marine settlements
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