Coastal protection using integration of mangroves with floating barge

Abstract

Systems and methods of coastal erosion protection are disclosed, the system including at least one floating member, an anchor rode, an anchor, and a water-tolerant plant. The methods include placing at least one floating member in offshore waters, coupling an anchor rode to the floating member, coupling an anchor to the anchor rode, mooring the floating member to the sea floor, the mooring step further including placing the anchor on the sea floor and tightening the anchor rode until any slack in the anchor rode is removed, planting a water-tolerant plant in coastal soil, growing the water-tolerant plant to a pre-determined growth stage, and removing the floating member from offshore waters.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for preventing coastal erosion, the system comprising:
 at least one floating member,   an anchor rode,   an anchor, and   a water-tolerant plant.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one floating member is a floating barge. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor rode comprises at least one of a rope, chain, cable, or belt. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor is of a weight capable of preventing the floating member from drifting in water. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of water-tolerant plants. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the water-tolerant plant is capable of growing in coastal soil and reaching a height above water-level. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the coastal soil includes soil on a shoreline or water-logged soil proximate to the shoreline. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the water-tolerant plant is a halophyte. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the water-tolerant plant is a mangrove tree. 
     
     
         10 . A method of preventing coastal erosion using the system of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 placing at least one floating member in offshore waters,   coupling an anchor rode to the floating member,   coupling an anchor to the anchor rode,   mooring the floating member to the sea floor, the mooring step further comprising placing the anchor on the sea floor and tightening the anchor rode until any slack in the anchor rode is removed,   planting a water-tolerant plant in coastal soil,   growing the water-tolerant plant to a pre-determined growth stage, and   removing the floating member from the offshore waters.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the floating member is a floating barge. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising positioning a plurality of floating members in a linear formation. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising positioning a plurality of floating members in a staggered formation. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising positioning a plurality of floating members in a formation comprising multiple rows of the floating members. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the anchor rode may include at least one of a rope, chain, cable, or belt. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the anchor is of a weight capable of preventing the floating member from drifting to a different position once the mooring step is completed. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising planting a plurality of water-tolerant plants. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the water-tolerant plant is a mangrove tree. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the pre-determined growth stage is when the water-tolerant plant reaches a root depth and height capable of withstanding the force of incoming water and curbing the force of the water without experiencing structural damage. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the floating members are removed after a period of time not exceeding two years.