Beach Maintenance System

Abstract

A system and method for maintaining and/or reclaiming sand or stone levels of a beach or shoreline for the purpose of mitigating erosion. The beach maintenance system preferably includes a series of support members, flexible webbing stretched between each support member, an anchoring system, and a discharge system. Primary support members preferably form a line generally orthogonal to the shoreline. Preferably, this array of support members spans from a point inland from the high tide line to a point further into the water than, the low tide boundary. In addition to support members running perpendicular to the shoreline, smaller arrays of support, members are preferably aligned generally parallel or tangent to the first array. Preferably, each of this group of arrays span the shoreline such that there is a series of webbing groups running parallel to the shoreline.

Having described our invention, we claim: 
     
         1 . A beach maintenance system for mitigating erosion on a beach which includes an oceanic ridge, a shoreline, a low tide boundary, and a high tide boundary, comprising:
 a. at least one primary accretion array, including,
 i. at least a first support member and a second support member, each having a first end and a second end, 
 ii. a support line attached to said first end of said support members, 
 iii. an anchoring line proximate said second end of said support members, 
 iv. wherein said support line spans from said first support member to said second support member and from said second support, member to any additional support members, 
 v. webbing connecting said support line to said anchoring line, 
 vi. wherein said anchoring line and said support line maintain said, webbing in a generally planar alignment, 
 vii. wherein said second ends of said support members are driven into said beach; 
   b. wherein said at least one primary accretion array is generally perpendicular to said shoreline;   c. at least one secondary accretion array attached to said at least one primary accretion array, including,
 i. at least one secondary support member having a first end and a second end, 
 ii. a secondary support line attached to said first end of said at least one secondary support member, 
 iii. a secondary anchoring line proximate said second end of said secondary support member, and 
 iv. webbing connecting said secondary support line to said secondary anchoring line. 
   
     
     
         2 . The beach maintenance system of  claim 1 , wherein said secondary array forms an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 180 degrees with said primary accretion array. 
     
     
         3 . The beach maintenance system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one extended accretion array, including:
 a. an extended support member having a first end and a second end,   b. wherein said first end of said extended support member is attached to said first end of said support member of said primary array and extending upwards therefrom,   c. an extended support line,   d. wherein said extended support line is attached to said second end of said extended support member, and   e. webbing attached to said extended support line.   
     
     
         4 . The beach maintenance system of  claim 1 , wherein said support line is attached to said support members by inserting said support line through a series of eyebolts mounted to said top end of said support members. 
     
     
         5 . The beach maintenance system of  claim 1 , wherein said anchoring line is steel. 
     
     
         6 . The beach maintenance system of  claim 1 , wherein said anchoring line is comprised of tubing. 
     
     
         7 . The beach maintenance system of  claim 6 , wherein said anchoring line is fluidly attached to a reservoir. 
     
     
         8 . The beach maintenance system of  claim 7 , wherein said reservoir is capable of releasing an amount of water to fill said anchoring line. 
     
     
         9 . The beach maintenance system of  claim 6 , wherein said anchoring line is fluidly attached to a pump. 
     
     
         10 . The beach maintenance system of  claim 9 , wherein said pump is capable of pumping an amount of water into said anchoring line. 
     
     
         11 . A beach maintenance system for mitigating erosion on a beach which includes an oceanic ridge, a shoreline, a low tide boundary, and a high tide boundary, comprising:
 a. at least one primary accretion array, including,
 i. at least a first support member and a second support member, each having a first end and a second end, 
 ii. a support line attached to said first end of said support members, 
 iii. an anchoring line proximate said second end of said support members, 
 iv. wherein said support line spans from said first support member to said second support member and from said second support member to any additional support members, 
 v. webbing connecting said support line to said anchoring line, 
 vi. wherein said anchoring line and said support line maintain said webbing in a generally planar alignment, 
 vii. wherein said second ends of said support members are secured to said beach. 
   b. wherein said at least one primary accretion array is generally perpendicular to said shoreline;   c. at least one secondary accretion array attached to said at least one primary accretion array, including,
 i. at least one secondary support member having a first end and a second end, 
 ii. a secondary support line attached to said first end of said at least one secondary support member, 
 iii. a secondary anchoring line proximate said second end of said secondary support member, 
 iv. webbing connecting said secondary support line to said secondary anchoring line, 
   d. wherein said secondary array forms an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 180 degrees with said primary accretion array;   e. at least one extended accretion array, including,
 i. an extended support member having a first end and a second end, 
 ii. wherein said first end of said extended support member is attached to said first end of said support member of said primary array and extending upwards therefrom. 
 iii. an extended support line, 
 iv. wherein said extended support line is attached to said second end of said extended support member, and 
 v. webbing attached to said extended support line. 
   
     
     
         12 . The beach maintenance system of  claim 11 , wherein said support line is attached to said support members by inserting said support line through a series of eyebolts mounted to said top end of said support members. 
     
     
         13 . The beach maintenance system of  claim 11 , wherein said anchoring line is steel. 
     
     
         14 . The beach maintenance system of  claim 11 , wherein said anchoring line is comprised of tubing. 
     
     
         15 . The beach maintenance system of  claim 14 , wherein said anchoring line is fluidly attached to a reservoir. 
     
     
         16 . The beach maintenance system of  claim 15 , wherein said reservoir includes a valve capable of releasing an amount of water to fill said anchoring line. 
     
     
         17 . The beach maintenance system of  claim 14 , wherein said anchoring line is fluidly attached to a pump. 
     
     
         18 . The beach maintenance system of  claim 17 , wherein said pump is capable of pumping an amount of water into said anchoring line.