Waterway, canal and hydraulic resevoir recovery and
protection is essential to avoid margin undermining, erosion and silting, all of which
affect the environment, the community and enterprises. Choosing the most efficient and
safest measure among existing products and technology depends on expert knowledge.PROBLEM
A completely silted waterway with undermined and eroded margins. The upstream area and the
sluice flow capacity were reduced, resulting in floods, further silting and erosion.
Following various attempts to correct the problem locally such as retaining walls and
other methods, the need to correct the whole waterway - rather than specific points -
became clear.
SOLUTION
The solution used bioengineering techniques to recover, protect and reach a visually
pleasing result without using stone or concrete.
The techniques included silt removal with a Bucyrus mechanical bulldozer. Wood,
anti-erosion biodegradable blankets and sediment retainers were used to recover and
protect margins. Erosion gullies were filled with sediment retainers and anchorage.
Margins were protected against waves, flow velocity and undermining with continuous
2-meter-deep wood palisades placed directly along the margins. Bermalonga® - in place of
geotextiles - was applied to avoid soil loss between wood planks.
RESULTS
Results met customer expectations, as there was no further silting, undermining or
erosion. The result was an excellent visual aspect and the growth of grass and legumes.
