Martin Ecosystems

Baton Rouge, LA

225.292.6750

coastal restoration and protection

What is EcoShield™?

EcoShield

Vegetated EcoShield™ is a green infrastructure product that protects earthen shorelines and stabilizes banks while promoting vegetative growth to create a “living shoreline.” It is a cost-effective, sustainable solution for shoreline erosion.

EcoShield™ was designed as a protective medium for vegetation to establish, grow, and spread. We like to think of it as a pre-vegetated “armoring”; this layered vegetated system provides protection for earthen berms, dikes, terraces and levees while promoting growth for additional protection from waves. Scientific research found that one layer of the base matrix layer WITHOUT vegetation is effective at reducing wave run up heights by 40%! With multiple layers and vegetation, an even more significant reduction can be expected.

EcoShield™ serves two purposes: it compliments flood protection by reducing wave energies and extending the life of shorelines, levee systems, berms, and terraces. It also enhances the natural processes of the ecosystem by creating shoreline habitats for waterfowl, wildlife, and aquatic life.

Benefits of EcoShield™

  • Reduces Erosive Waves
  • Stabilizes Loose Soils
  • Promotes Vegetative Growth
  • Significant Cost Savings
  • Provides Installation Flexibility
  • Lightweight & Easy to Install
  • Minimal Environmental Impact 

Successful EcoShield™ Projects

Buras Boat Harbor: Decades of marsh erosion and subsidence along the levees near Joshua’s Marina in Buras, Louisiana, have compromised the integrity of these levees, which protect the coastal community of Buras against storm surge. This project was designed to protect this important infrastructure. Funding for the project was provided by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) and Plaquemines Parish Government.

Martin Ecosystems was subcontracted to install 660 feet of Vegetated EcoShield ®  on the south berm in July 2014. Within a week of project completion, a storm came through the area causing damage to the remaining unprotected 4000 feet of earthen berm. High winds caused waves to erode the berm five feet in some places. Martin Ecosystems was again subcontracted to install EcoShield™ on the remaining 4000 feet of unprotected berm. Construction of this phase was completed on September 11, 2014.

Daniel Duhon, of Manchac Consulting, said:

Due to the nature of the borrow material, I think the EcoShield™ served an important role in stabilizing the unstable material. If nothing was done to stabilize the new berm there was the potential to lose a significant portion of the seaward face of the berm due to wind and wave action.

EcoShield
Photo taken April 2016.
EcoShield
Photo taken August 2017.

Delta Farms: The America’s WETLAND Foundation (AWF) brought together public and private partners to create the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) Shoreline Stabilization and Restoration Project in Lafourche Parish, LA. America’s WETLAND Foundation contracted Martin Ecosystems to install 1 mile of EcoShield to protect the levee where the embankment has been eroded.

Since the installation of EcoShield in November of 2015, the landowner has not had to perform annual lifting or rebuilding of the levee as he has had to do previously. The levee remains in tact where EcoShield was installed.

Ethan Miller, Project Landowner and Owner of Delta Farms, said:

I have to admit, I was skeptical at first. Over the years we spent hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to stabilize that berm. But looking at the results today, I am impressed. Two years later, the berm is holding and the ecosystems is flourishing.

EcoShield

EcoShield

Bayou Monnaie: A large portion of the marsh in the area near Bayou Monnaie had eroded away, resulting in areas of turbid, open, saline water that provide little value to migatory birds and other wildlife. Earthen terraces were constructed to lessen the erosion, create marsh habitat, and restore water quality. However, the terraces were also susceptible to erosion. Ducks Unlimited contracted Martin Ecosystems to install EcoShield™ along the sacrificial terraces to protect them from erosion. Vegetated EcoShield™ remained in place even following Tropical Storm Cindy and most importantly protected the shoreline from erosion, while the areas unprotected by Vegetated EcoShield™ eroded significantly.

EcoShield

EcoShield

Pre-Grown Vegetation

Vegetated EcoShield™ is pre-grown with native vegetation such as wetland sedges, rushes, and grasses before it even arrives on site. These plants are preferred because they are able to develop superior root structure and the ability to spread. Vegetated EcoShield™ is an important tool for shoreline protection of earthen structures, especially where soils are organic and soft and vegetation has nothing to hold onto. Because the vegetation is grown beforehand, the plants are pre-established and have a chance to grow into the material, take root, and spread.

Installation

The earthen structure must be smooth in order for EcoShield™ to lay flat onto the earthen surface. A 1:4 slope or greater is preferred for optimal performance. Vegetated Ecoshield™ can be installed in 2, 3, or 4 layers determined by the slope and amount of protected coverage required.

Vegetated EcoShield™ requires minimal maintenance with quick and easy installation. To secure the earthen berm in place we use rebar anchor staples and semi-flexible wire mesh. Staple pins may need to be adjusted for initial earthen structure settling and compaction.

Endorsement by The Water Institute of the Gulf

In June of 2015, The Water Institute of the Gulf endorsed Vegetated EcoShield™ as being consistent with the goals and objective of the Coastal Master Plan for Bank Stablization and Shoreline Protection.

For more information about Vegetated EcoShield™, contact our office at 225-292-6750.

What is EcoBale?

EcoBale was created to provide a cost-effective solution for protecting shorelines. It is a lightweight breakwater that reduces waves and collects sediments and is durable enough to withstand high energy environments.

Because it’s not a wall, it’s a great product for this application because waves can penetrate it. The cylinder shape of EcoBale gives it the advantage of having an open structure while retaining strength. It is strong enough to reduce erosion by performing as a breakwater.

The 96% void space also provides shoreline stabilization through the collection of sediments. This facilitates the growth of natural marsh, vegetation, and ecological habitats. It is also effective at creating a visible protective boundary for pipelines.

Beyond Shoreline Protection

While this was the original application, EcoBale can be used to serve a variety of purposes because of the flexibility of installation. We are working on projects now in which it is being used to solve unique challenges in a cost-effective way. Using EcoBale rather than other solutions such as rocks can be 25-30% less expensive!  With the proper design, it can also meet the challenges of sea level rise.

It’s all in the installation: Vertically, EcoBale can be installed in a zig-zag pattern to dampen waves without blocking them. But it can also be installed in a tight format for the opposite effect, to create a wall. It can be used to block boat traffic for private waterways and create boundaries depending on how closely they are installed. Horizontally, it can be installed to contain sediments and/or dredge material for marsh creation projects.

Benefits of EcoBale

  • Wave Dissipation
  • Lightweight
  • Cost-Effective
  • Installation requires minimal equipment and no subgrade improvements

Installation

EcoBale is manufactured off site, delivered to the landing area, and loaded onto barge for delivery to the project site with minimal labor and equipment. The lightweight design of EcoBale allows for maximizing the barge load, which minimizes the number of trips. The need for dredging to allow access in shallow project areas is all but eliminated. These characteristics allow for decrease in both equipment and personnel for mobilization of the material.

EcoBale’s modular design provides a standard approach to installation. Vertically deployed to meet design depths, it is also lightweight with minimal loading of the sub grade. This mitigates the need for sub grade improvements such as geo-textiles.

Contact us directly at 225-292-6750 for more information about this cost-effective, sustainable coastal solution!

Public Private Partnerships for Conservation

Public Private Partnerships

The America’s Wetland Foundation is working to create a registry in an effort to increase private investment to help restore the coastline of Louisiana.

Why is there a need for such an effort? Less than half of the expected funds in federal offshore oil money will go to the state this year for coastal restoration. Therefore, America’s Wetland is seeking ways to pay for smaller projects to help the coast until larger public works can get started.

In a news release, a Houma native and the foundation’s managing director Val Marmillion said, “Coastal land loss isn’t waiting for adequate funding for projects… Private-sector-sponsored projects can be realized now to sustain wetlands in areas where freshwater marshes are subject to saltwater intrusion and eventual land loss.” (Source: dailycomet.com)

We have worked with America’s Wetland Foundation for years as landowners have invested in coastal restoration and water treatment. For example, earlier this year we completed a project to stabilize a mile of the bank along the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway near Larose, LA. We provided the materials for this project years ago, and the funds for the work were provided by a variety of public and private organizations.

After the state’s announcement that the revenue from offshore oil and gas through GOMESA with be half of what was expected, there is a sense of urgency to get the help of organizations to sponsor wetland restoration initiatives.

Marmillion continues, “Wetland restoration makes good business sense for companies with assets like pipelines in the wetlands or move commerce through navigable waterways that are feeling the negative effects or erosion…National conservation organizations also raise large sums of money for environmental or habitat sustainability and we encourage them to spend it here and include their ongoing projects in the registry.” (Source: dailycomet.com)

Environmental Stewardship

Some organizations and institutions have included environmental stewardship as a part of their business models, and this proves to be a perfect opportunity to play a part in coastal restoration, habitat restoration, and water quality improvement. We do however understand that despite their charitable donations, companies are not charities so we must work with them to further their goals with their bottom line in mind. Coastal restoration does make good business sense, and now the private sector can play a key role in saving our coast.

Public Private Partnership Projects

Martin Ecosystems has participated in several projects in which private funds were designated to further efforts to help the public. With these corporations, we have been able to work together to further corporate goals while improving the environment.

We have worked with NGOs such as America’s Wetland Foundation, Coastal Conservation of Louisiana, and Ducks Unlimited on restoration projects. For these projects, private companies such as Shell, Entergy and Citgo have provided the private dollar to fund public projects.

We have more projects in the planning stages for 2018 and we’re very hopeful for the future of public private partnerships! If you would like to continue this conversation and learn more about our partnerships for coastal restoration, habitat restoration, and water quality improvement, give us a call at 225.292.6750. 

Opportunity of a Lifetime

Last week I attended the Gulf of Mexico Alliance 8th Annual All Hands Meeting held in Tampa, Florida. The Gulf of Mexico Alliance is a partnership of the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, with a goal of significantly increasing regional collaboration to enhance the ecological and economic health of the Gulf of Mexico. The Alliance encourages collaboration among government agencies, businesses, education providers and non-governmental organizations. Priority issues addressed by the Alliance include water quality, habitat conservation, ecosystem assessment, nutrient impacts, community resilience and environmental education.

Martin Ecosystems was recognized with an EPA/Gulf Guardian Award for the Elayn Hunt Correctional Waste Water Project. Our Isle de Jean Charles project partner, Shell Oil was also recognized for that project as well.

The overwhelming theme heard in session after session is that the Gulf Coast states have been given an opportunity of a lifetime.

With the passing of The RESTORE Act, Congress has dedicated 80 percent of Clean Water Act fines from the BP oil spill to the five Gulf States to restore coastal environments and economies. Billions of dollars will now be sent to the 5 states.

For most of my lifetime, coastal land loss in Louisiana has been at crisis levels. Plans have been written and projects proposed, but neither had the funding nor the money for implementation. The RESTORE Act fines will provide the opportunity of a lifetime Louisiana has been waiting for. I hope that my state and the additional 4 Gulf Coast states work together, stick to the plan, and use this money wisely. The rest of the country will be eagerly watching us in order to see how we spend it.

Opportunities like this one are too good to waste. I just hope we make the most of it.