Erosion control apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to an erosion control apparatus and methods of using and installing the apparatus. The apparatus is constructed to prevent erosion of soil during typical weather or tidal conditions and adverse weather events. The apparatus can include an anchored marsh installation operative to stabilize a tidal marsh and shoreline.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An erosion control apparatus comprising:
 a marsh installation placed relative to the shoreline, wherein the marsh installation comprises a plurality of stones wrapped in a layer of coir fiber with sediment and a plant matrix over the plurality of stones;   a plurality of anchors, each anchor connected to the marsh installation such that the anchors extend to a depth into a slope; and   a fill material positioned between the marsh installation and the anchors, at least a portion of the marsh installation and the fill material being positioned over the anchors.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of stones comprise cobblestones have a size range between 6-12 inches.  3 , The apparatus of claim  2  wherein a majority of the cobblestones are in a size range between 8-10 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a biodegradable mesh covering the layer of coir fiber. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the biodegradable mesh comprises polylactic acid. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of anchors includes at least one helical anchor. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a container including shellfish. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the shellfish includes a plurality of mussels to restore a shellfish population in the marsh. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of anchored fiber rolls positioned adjacent the marsh installation. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein at least one fiber roll is coupled to the marsh installation. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising live plant material within the plant matrix that is configured to grow through a coir fabric layer. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the marsh installation has a depth and a length and a width greater than the depth.