Method Comparison

Cosmetics

The new beach produced by the Walking Sand Snare looks beautifully like the original beach and matches the adjoining beaches on both sides. We use only clean, washed sand to restore your new beach which is the same source from which the original beach was formed. This gives the best possible match. Since the mesh panels are checked for floating debris and cleaned constantly, the beach is cleared of any floating materials that would normally be left to clutter the beautiful new beach.

Dredging produces a form of beach that is dangerous and usually does not match the area. Discolored bottom sand, rocks, shells, bottles, etc. are sucked or scraped from the off shore areas or another site. Dangerous and unsightly objects get buried under the sand and over time float upward to the beach surface where they mar the look of the beach.

Environment

Our product protects the eco-system.

The Walking Sand Snare leaves sea animals and coral reefs undisturbed. Studies by the University of West Florida on mesh panels using sand sediment technology during the period of November, 2000 to April, 2001, indicate:

no marine vertebrates were entangled in the mesh during the study period.

The study was conducted during turtle nesting season.

Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratories, Inc. , a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization founded in 1963, researched what marine life is brought up with dredging off the west Florida shore. On their web site they said:

"The dredge brings up sea urchins, whelks, conchs, starfish, red footed sea cucumbers, crabs, and sea anemones. Often there are magnificently colored sponges, along with several species of grass shrimp, crabs, tunicates, and orange bryozoans." and a "tremendous diversity of conspicuous marine invertebrates and slow moving bottom fish found in sea grass beds, mud flats, rock bottoms, and sand flats."

Most of these dredged up animals do not survive when dumped on the beach with the new sand. As these animals die and rot they contribute to the microbial pollution in the water near the beach, increasing the health risk to swimmers.

We use light equipment, little fuel and produce minute amounts of exhaust only during setup and take down process. Our safe beach craft has extra wide tires which leave minimal imprints to the beach.

Visitors can swim, play, walk, and enjoy beach area while our prudent process is in progress. The beach is safe after the restoration is complete.

While the dredge and fill process is in operation, the area must be cordoned off keeping visitors from using the beach during the weeks the process is in operation. Sharp pointed objects from the ocean floor are left on the beach and pose safety hazards. Heavy equipment impact the beach area piling up mounds of bottom material onto the beach. There is a foul smell in the air from the dead sea life spewed as part of sediment procurement. Large amounts of exhaust and noise are produced by the heavy equipment and off shore rigs.

Off shore the large pipes are sucking. Reefs are damaged. Vertebrates and invertebrates are yanked up into the killing pipes of the dredgers. If this is done during the spawning period of certain organisms, the eggs become a part of the beach until they rot. The powerful suction brings up shells, rocks, broken glass, just about everything under 4-6 inches or even larger. Many are former homes to many small creatures. Reefs are damaged if they are in the way.

It is not uncommon to have a sand bar that lies just off shore. Many times that bar is cut leaving a channel for water to focus through. Dangerous currents are created. Drownings increase.

From the June 11, 2003 Tallahassee Democrat

From the Panama City News Herald

In The Panama City News Herald in Panama City, Florida 07-20-03, the news paper tells that there was a strong correlation between dredge and fill projects and drowning.

Setup

Our system is quick and simple to setup. Materials and equipment are relatively light and can be handled by hand rather than heavy equipment. The beach craft and small light weight trailer travel directly onto the beach carrying necessary equipment. The poles are installed with the aid of a water jet pump.

Netting is put on a pole as installation begins.

Resistance to High Wind Situations

Our patented method is rated to withstand a category 5 hurricane whereas dredging would be delayed by such a high wind situation.

Our system can be installed before or immediately after hurricanes to take advantage of the extreme wave energy.

Estimate of time for each job

Although the time it takes to restore a beach is entirely dependant on the wave action and the length of beach that is desired, this method is generally faster than dredging. The high water mark (edge of the sand at the ocean) for a given day can advance as much as 2 feet seaward.

Results (comparison):