Does the lake on or near your property seem to be getting closer to your house each year? If so, you’re not going crazy, but you may have a bit of an erosion problem. Fluctuating lake levels are the most common cause of shoreline erosion. Ice, wind, waves and rain break and erode your lake’s shoreline every year. As the erosion gets worse, you’ll begin to notice the eroding shoreline of a lake can really take a toll on your property’s aesthetic appearance.
Before you jump to action, you may want to ask yourself, which factors are contributing to the erosion around my lake, and what are the correct methods of erosion control? Is the erosion due to wind? If so, perhaps only the windward side of your lake is affected, and there may not be anything you and your lake organization can do to prevent it. Next, ask yourself if the erosion problem is serious enough to address, or if it will be in the future? If the body of water is on a golf course or a property belonging to a Homeowner’s Association, you most likely need it kept-up and looking aesthetically pleasing year-round. Next ask, “What is the lake primarily used for,” fishing, boating, landscaping? How would the lake owners want the lake to look, natural, walled, or reinforced?
Now that you have answered these questions, you can take a look at your erosion control options. There are 3 main types, vegetative, structural and combination.
Vegetative Erosion Control is used when the owner would like his lake to be kept natural with a vegetated border. Using native plants and trees, the soil is stabilized around the shoreline. Often weather-tough plants such as cattails or reeds are used to offset the effects of waves. This natural approach is advantageous for fish and other wildlife using the lake as their habitat. This method however, will not provide that “neat” and “clean” shoreline look often sought after by golf courses and home associations.
Another erosion control option is “Structural Erosion Control.” This design option can feature a concrete map, riprap, bulkhead or a filter tube. At Erosion Restoration we use the eco-filter tube to fix current eroded shoreline areas and protect these areas from future erosion. The eco-filter tube has next to no impact on the environment, and is a smart economical investment. The Eco-Filter tube is filled with sand and organic material from the adjacent body of water, removing the need to bring costly material and the potential of damage caused by heavy equipment. The eco-filter tube stabilizes the underlying shoreline and creates a permanent barrier against further erosion. Once the shoreline has been restored, any type of foliage can be planted and it can be safely walked on or driven on by machinery. The Eco-Filter Tube is widely used in various environmental renovations and on civil engineering projects including golf course construction, tunneling, bridge construction, wetland reclamation, shoreline protection, groynes, breakwaters and containment of solid particles from biological waste. The installation of the Eco-Filter Tube system not only stabilizes the integrity of the shoreline and restores eroded land, but creates a barrier against further erosion as well.
If you think your shoreline has been affected by erosion or you would like to reinforce the shoreline of your lake using Erosion Restoration’s eco-friendly eco-filter tube, contact us today for a free estimate!
954-327-3300
www.erosionrestoration.com