Abstract: A neutrally buoyant synthetic aquatic structure may be used to treat a body of water by removing nutrients and other materials from the water. According to another aspect of the invention, the synthetic structure may be used to promote and/or control the growth of aquatic species in a body of water. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a denser-than-water ballast portion is suspended from buoyant material to stabilize and orient the synthetic structure. A high surface area structure for promoting biological growth may be provided. The ballast portion does not sink to the bottom of the body of water. Consequently, the high surface area structure may be maintained in the photic zone.

Abstract: A structure is provided for promoting growth of aquatic species for aquaculture operations and other purposes. The aquatic structure may have a buoyant member, a flexible sheet, and flexible strips (such as fronds, ribbons or filaments). The flexible materials are suspended from the buoyant member. The flexible materials may have high surface area structures for promoting growth of autotrophic (including algae) and heterotrophic organisms (such as bacteria) in photic and heterotrophic sections, respectively. The autotrophs and the bacteria are food, and the dispersed flexible strips provide an attractive habitat for the larger feeding organisms such as fish, crustaceans and mollusks. Ballast devices may be used, if desired, to secure the aquatic structure to the benthos. The ballast devices may be formed of flexible material. The flexible ballast devices may be filled with granular material after the apparatus is transported to the job site.

Abstract: A synthetic structure is used to simultaneously provide food, shelter and reproductive support for many aquatic species. Synthetic seagrass may be produced in the form of flexible mats with a plurality of ribbons. The lower ends of the ribbons are anchored to the benthos. The other ends of the ribbons are buoyantly supported in the photic zone. The ribbons may be economically produced in plural coextensive layers, with one layer providing buoyancy and the other layer being structured to enhance biological growth. The system may be tailored for use in desired applications by selecting the surface area structure, ribbon spacing and density, and other parameters. The system may be used to remove nutrients and/or toxic materials from water. The invention may be used to simultaneously promote aerobic and anaerobic reactions to control water quality. The invention also relates to artificial plants, including seagrass mats, for aquariums. The artificial plants may be flexible and buoyant.

Abstract: A synthetic structure is used to simultaneously provide food, shelter and reproductive support for many aquatic species. Synthetic seagrass may be produced in the form of flexible mats with a plurality of ribbons. The lower ends of the ribbons are anchored to the benthos. The other ends of the ribbons are buoyantly supported in the photic zone. The ribbons may be economically produced in plural coextensive layers, with one layer providing buoyancy and the other layer being structured to enhance biological growth. The system may be tailored for use in desired applications by selecting the surface area structure, ribbon spacing and density, and other parameters. The system may be used to remove nutrients and/or toxic materials from water. The invention may be used to simultaneously promote aerobic and anaerobic reactions to control water quality.

Abstract: A synthetic structure is used to simultaneously provide food, shelter and reproductive support for many aquatic species. Synthetic seagrass may be produced in the form of flexible mats with a plurality of ribbons. The lower ends of the ribbons are anchored to the benthos. The other ends of the ribbons are buoyantly supported in the photic zone. The ribbons may be economically produced in plural coextensive layers, with one layer providing buoyancy and the other layer being structured to enhance biological growth. The system may be tailored for use in desired applications by selecting the surface area structure, ribbon spacing and density, and other parameters. The system may be used to remove nutrients and/or toxic materials from water.

Abstract: An underwater erosion control system that has viscous drag elements for increasing the effect of viscous drag and disrupting laminar flow on the water current has a frame that includes two longitudinal supports that extend along the length of the underwater erosion control system near its bottom portion. The longitudinal supports extend at opposite sides of the viscous drag elements. A plurality of rungs traverse the longitudinal supports and are spaced some distance apart from each other. The viscous drag elements may be panels secured to the rungs along their retaining portion. Apertures are formed within the retaining portion of the panels and are used to retain the panels from lateral movement by passing an inner support through the apertures parallel to the longitudinal supports. The frame may be flexible or rigid. A novel installation frame and a method for installing the rigid frame embodiment also are disclosed.

Abstract: An underwater erosion control system (10, 110) has an array of panels of material (12, 112). Each generally rectangular panel of material has a retaining portion (20, 120) and at least one sheet (16, 116). Each sheet contains a plurality of slits, (22, 122) which are generally perpendicular to the retaining portion (20, 120). The slitted sheets disrupt laminar flow in the vicinity of the erosion control system and promote rapid precipitation of particulates out of suspension. The slits (22, 122) begin at the retaining portion and terminate at the top edge (18, 118) of the sheet. The retaining portion (20, 120) may contain openings (26, 126) sized to receive an anchor component (28) that is anchored to the sea or river bed. The panel of material (12, 112) is durable and buoyant having a polymer backing (40) laminated to a closed cell polymer foam (42).

Abstract: An underwater soil erosion prevention system has a generally rectangular length of material folded at regularly spaced intervals at an angle generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rectangular length of material, thereby forming sheets. Each sheet contains slits which are generally perpendicular to the fold. The slits begin above the bottom edge of the sheet and terminate below the top edge of the sheet. The sheets contain openings sized to snugly receive an anchor line on either side. To aid in deploying the soil erosion prevention system, an inflatable rollable array with a receiving valve is provided. The array can be rolled together with the underwater soil erosion prevention system, and when ready for deployment, a fluid is controllably inserted into the array through the receiving valve, thereby causing the array and system to unroll. Alternatively, the underwater soil erosion prevention system can be releasably attached to a frame mechanism to facilitate deployment underwater.