AQUATIC WILDLIFE DETERRENT

Abstract

A wildlife deterrent for preventing waterfowl egress from bodies of water, said wildlife deterrent consisting of a sheet material, attachment and securing means, where the sheet material is secured in proximity to the shoreline of the body of water.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present disclosure pertains to methods and apparatus generally relating to the field of deterrents for nuisance wildlife. More specifically, the present methods and apparatus are directed toward preventing waterfowl from egressing water features which, otherwise, leads to nuisance issues as they graze and defecate on the surrounding grounds.

2. Statement of the Problem

Human-animal conflicts and nuisance situations continue to increase around the world and the impact ranges from property damage to bodily injury including fatalities. Conflicts and/or nuisance conditions with federally protected migratory birds have dramatically increased as their population in the United States continues to grow at an alarming rate. By way of example, the Canada goose (Branta canadensis) population in North America was estimated at 1.1 million birds in the 1940s. Today, the population has increased to over 6 million birds in the United States alone, many of which no longer migrate during the spring and fall. With this increase also comes an increase in human-goose conflicts. Throughout the country, large populations of resident Canada geese are often considered a nuisance and potential health risk because they foul land and water with their droppings. Recent studies have found bacteria strains associated with human disease in Canada goose feces. Each year thousands of golf courses, parks, airports, backyards, sports fields and even cemeteries are inundated with goose droppings. Golf courses have reported that as many as 10,000 geese invade their course a day, leaving behind as much as 30,000 pounds of droppings. Although many communities want a reduction in resident goose nuisance problems, the use of lethal control of geese is not an acceptable option. Addressing the conflict or nuisance situations generally requires an integrated approach involving multiple mitigation strategies to effectively reduce the impact of the animals in a humane manner.

A favored habitat for waterfowl and specifically Canada geese, are water features (ponds and lakes) surrounded by grass landscapes. This coincides with the predominate design of parks, golf courses, commercial business developments and common areas of residential subdivisions. Typical water feature designs for these locations have open or unobstructed shorelines to optimize the visibility of water and other reasons to support their intended use, such as to create a suitable golf course hazard. Unfortunately, this makes it impractical to introduce any mitigation or deterrent strategies because the open shoreline permits easy egress for the waterfowl from any point around the shoreline. Many methods have attempted to deter the birds with no success and are either impractical given the amount of shoreline, are unsightly or inhibit the intended use of the area.

Chemical deterrents are expensive, require repeated application to large areas and have proven to have had limited effectiveness. Fake coyotes or other predator effigies have also proven to be ineffective even when moved frequently as recommended by the manufacturers. Vertical fencing has been used around water feature shorelines but is unsightly, causes ground maintenance issues and creates a new hazard for both people and animals. New deterrent devices have proven effective at deterring geese, such as the Goose Guardian, manufactured by TKO Enterprises, Inc., of Boulder County, Colo. (www.gooseguardian.com), but the open shorelines make it impractical to deploy such devices around the entire perimeter of the water feature. Furthermore, in the case of golf courses, the boundaries of the course most often coincide with the water feature shoreline so the device would need to be placed in fair territory, detracting from the game and irritating players. There is a need to provide an acceptable and effective waterfowl deterrent that prevents or limits egress points around a water feature to function on a standalone basis or in cooperation with other wildlife deterrents.

Wildlife barriers generally constitute fences or other land-based barriers to inhibit wildlife passage. Examples of such barriers include U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,076 by Hancock-Bogese, et al, titled “Wildlife Barrier”, where the inventors disclose a plastic sheet for fences so that animals cannot climb and, U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,651 by Koljonen, titled “Wildlife Barrier,” shows a fence for preventing alligators and turtles from crossing a boundary between two (land-based) areas. Floating barriers generally relate to containment of contaminates for such events as oil spins. Most barriers float vertically to rise out of the water, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,262, issued to Russo, III, tilted “Oil Containment boom” or, “Floating fence for the collection of liquid impurities as for example oil on a water surface”, U.S. Pat. No. 4,272,214 issued to Nyfeldt, et al.

Some erosion-control devices are anchored off-shore. U.S. Pat. No. 4,770,561 issued to Holmberg, titled “Shoreline erosion control devices” discloses a device that is anchored near the shoreline. This device floats vertically and is deployed perpendicular to the shore in order to inhibit shore currents. U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,433 to Holmberg, titled “Shoreline erosion control mat and method of use therefor” discloses a mat with pockets that is anchored below the surface of the water, where the pockets collect sediment from wave action to build up the shore. None of these documents contemplate wildlife deterrence, and would not be suitable for the purpose regardless.

One wildlife deterrent for water is a commercial product used for industrial waste ponds where the ponds are covered with floating plastic balls, such as those manufactured by Advanced Water Treatment Technologies, LLC of The Dalles, Oreg. This product is advertised for heat retention and wildlife deterrent and states when the balls cover the pond, birds do not recognize it as water so the birds never land. This deterrent differs in that it prevents birds from landing rather than egress from the water. Covering a pond with these plastic balls requires 10 balls per square foot so a pond that is 100 feet by 100 feet requires 100,000 balls. While this may be a practical solution for industrial applications with a secure perimeter, this is completely impractical for parks, golf courses and other public areas, not to mention its rejection by the patrons for esthetic reasons.

Wildlife deterrence generally requires an integrated approach that combines one or more methods be employed to effectively reduce the human-animal conflict. In the case of waterfowl and geese in particular, there is a need to provide a method and apparatus to restrict egress from water features in a humane and esthetically acceptable manner.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure overcomes the problems with unobstructed shorelines outlined above by providing an unobtrusive, effective and humane water feature shoreline barrier that prevents waterfowl egress from water features. The disclosed system and method consists of a sheet material with attachment points that is secured in proximity to the shoreline of a body of water. The sheet material has sufficient buoyancy to remain about the surface of the water and extends outward from the shoreline and parallel to the water surface to provide a wildlife deterrent that effectively inhibits waterfowl egress from the body of water.

In one embodiment, an aquatic barrier for waterfowl is made of a buoyant sheet material that can be deployed proximate a shoreline. As deployed, the sheet material is secured or anchored to the shoreline by use of stakes, pins, or other anchors buried in the earth.

In one aspect, a rope, such as a wire rope or fiber rope, may be clamped to the sheet material and deployed permitting the sheet material to follow generally the contour of a shoreline.

The sheet material is, alternatively staked in a fashion to present a generally concave or convex configuration that follows the shoreline. In one aspect, the stakes may present a smooth outer surface, such that the sheet material rides up and down on the stakes in consequence of wave action in the water.

In one aspect, the deployed sheet material protects the shoreline from erosion. This function may be facilitated by the action of flaps in the sheet material or porosity that allows water to pass through the sheet material.

In one aspect, the deployed sheet material includes materials in its construction that provide beneficial microbial and supporting nutrients that improve the water quality where the waterfowl barrier is deployed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a sheet material in continuous form that may be adapted for use as a wildlife barrier as described herein;

FIG. 2 shows an alternate embodiment of the sheet material in sectional form;

FIGS. 3a-c show an elevation profile view of the sheet material detailing acceptable buoyancy characteristics of sheet material when deployed on a shoreline, wherein FIG. 3a shows buoyancy at a first level, FIG. 3b shows buoyancy at a second level, and FIG. 3c shows buoyancy at a third level;

FIG. 4 shows the roll form of the sheet material in shipping configuration;

FIG. 5 shows structure for securing the sheet material to the shoreline according to one embodiment;

FIGS. 6a and 6b show the sheet material in the deployed configuration according to respective embodiments;

FIG. 7 is a level drawing of the preferred embodiment in the deployed configuration.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8′ of FIG. 5.

FIGS. 9a-d show alternate embodiments for joining sheet material sections, wherein FIG. 9a shows a first embodiment FIG. 9b shows a second embodiment, FIG. 9c shows a third embodiment, and FIG. 9d shows a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a system level drawing showing the deployed configuration of the sheet material alternate embodiment of FIG. 2.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11′-11′ of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is an elevation profile view of the sheet material subjected to wave action when deployed in a body of water.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a sheet material 102 that may be used according to the instrumentalities described herein. The sheet material 102 may be made of a variety of materials, including a combination of different materials, to achieve the desired performance parameters described herein. The preferred embodiment has the sheet material 102 constructed from barley straw, wheat or rice chaff, coconut fiber, jute or other organic material that may be fashioned into a sheet-like form, in combination with a variety of methods that permit the organic material to retain its sheet-like shape. By way of example, the organic material may be formed into a sheet material using photo biodegradable netting, organic and plastic netting, geo-textile or other fabric material, weaving or sewing with suitable thread or a combination of these techniques. Examples of this type of material may be purchased on commercial order, such as the material found in erosion control mats including products manufactured by Granite Environmental of Sebastian, Fla. Other methods are contemplated by using a liquid binding agent that cures to form an organic sheet material.

The netting along edge 104 provides attachment points through which stakes or anchors (not shown) may be placed for securing the sheet material 102 in place on a shoreline. For additional floatation and stiffness, foam strips 364, 374 may be optionally added at intervals oriented in parallel or perpendicularly to the edge 104. Additional layers may be optionally added, for example, as shown below in FIG. 11. By way of example, an additional layer of organic material followed by a layer of netting may complete a layered construction. This layered configuration is then bound together using a variety of suitable means, such as stitching, weaving, heat staking, bound underlayer or other methods similar to cable ties or baling wire. The layered configuration may also be bound using a liquid binding agent that, once cured, adheres the components together. The binding method is applied such that the foam inserts 364, 374 are captured in place so they remain in their selected positions.

FIG. 2 provides an alternate embodiment where the sheet material or mat 202 is constructed from non-organic materials, such as polyurethane foam, closed cell foam, other foam forms, nylon, polyester, various forms of rubber, or any other fabric like material with suitable sheet-like characteristics. In particular, polyethylene foam has a very low water absorption rate, remains flexible over a wide range of temperatures and has high tensile characteristic to resist tearing. The foam is commercially available in roll form down to thicknesses of ⅛″ that provides sufficient buoyance at a favorable cost. Other foams are possible but closed-cell polyethylene foam offers the preferred solution. A reinforced edge 210 on the long dimension 208 includes attachment points 212, which may further be coupled at adjacent edges 214. Further alternate embodiments for sheet material 202 include construction from plastics, wood products, rubber or any other material that may be fashioned into a sheet-like form to achieve the desired performance parameters described herein. The preferred embodiment of the sheet material however, is made of a recyclable material and has the quality of a “green” product, which minimizes its impact on the environment.

The sheet material 102, 202 is buoyant and preferably flexible enough to mirror the contour of the water surface and remain semi-submerged at the surface level given its buoyancy characteristics or specific gravity, as shown in FIG. 3a-c. In FIG. 3a, sheet material 312, which for example may be sheet material 102 or 202, is bisected by the water surface 310 such that a first portion 314 of the sheet material 312 is above the surface of the water and a second portion 316 is below while the sheet material remains in proximity to shoreline 305. Utilizing partial water saturation of the sheet material assists in maintaining it in its deployed position and minimizes the attachment and installation requirements. This semi-submerged state allows the material to be as unobtrusive as possible and resistant to wind shear that could, otherwise, flip the sheet material over onto the shore to become ineffective as a shoreline barrier.

FIG. 3b shows another embodiment where the top plane 330 of sheet material 312 is coincident with the water surface 310, which is also an acceptable condition. In the embodiment of FIG. 3c, the bottom plane 332 of sheet material 312 is coincident with the water surface, which is less desirable however, it provides an acceptable condition provided the sheet material 312 is constructed with the appropriate materials of sufficient weight that wind shear will not flip it out of the water and onto the shore 305. A weighting material, such as sand or crushed rock, may also be added during manufacture of foam products to vary the density for the various flotation depths as described above in accordance with Archimedes' principle of buoyancy. Other construction options include using nylon bird netting that is stretched tight and selectively coated with spray on foam that adheres to the netting or, closed cell foam in combination with a cotton or polyester batting adhered or stitched together. By way of example, in this configuration the foam provides the buoyancy for the sheet material to remain on or near the surface and the batting becomes saturated with water to provide the ballast to the sheet material to hold it in place when subjected to wind shear or surface disruption. When using the preferred organic material, it may be required to add additional components to maintain the required buoyance over extended periods of time as the organic material becomes fully saturated with water.

To accomplish this according to one embodiment, the present disclosure contemplates a layered construction of the sheet material as given in FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of sheet material 102 taken along line 11′-11′ of FIG. 1. FIG. 11 shows the sheet material construction consisting of a first layer of netting 1100, followed by a layer of organic material 1104, where the spacing between the components in the figure are exaggerated for clarity. Next is a strip of foam 1106 that provides additional buoyance, where the preferred foam material is of the closed cell type, such as polyethylene foam. The layered configuration of the sheet material 102 may be assembled as individual cut sheets forming the respective layers 1104, 1106, 1107 shown in FIG. 11, or else the sheet material 102 is optionally folded 1110 to form layers 1104, 1107 while encasing the foam insert 1106. The same binding methods can be used for either assembly technique.

In the intended environment of use, sheet material 102/202 is designed to lay flat about the surface of a body of water 310, and parallel to and in close proximity to the shoreline 305. Sheet material 102/202 provides attachment points along edge 104 as an integral feature that preferably is an aperture made in the sheet without the need for additional support around the aperture. The attachment points along edge 104 and 212 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) may be limited to a single side of the sheet material 102, 202, along one of the long dimensional 104, 208 edges. It is contemplated however, that in different embodiments the attachment points may be provided along the other edges including both long dimensional 104, 208 edges and/or on either of the short side dimensions 214. The attachment point 212 as shown through edge 104 is identified for illustrative purposes since the preferred embodiment allows for attachment points to be anywhere along sheet material 102, either using existing features created during manufacturing or by piercing the sheet material 102, 202 at the time the sheet material is installed.

In one embodiment, the sheet material 102/202 is fabricated as a continuous roll form that is about twenty-four (24) inches wide in the short dimension 214. The roll may be cut to particular lengths for shoreline coverage, depending on the shoreline configuration. Other widths are contemplated, with the width being a function of composition, manufacturability and performance, as an effective waterfowl barrier as described herein. FIG. 4 shows a rolled configuration 430 of the continuous form of the sheet material that has been cut into a convenient length and rolled up for shipment and delivery. Example lengths of 430 include 25, 50 or 100 foot rolls, where the final roll length is a function of weight, size and customer choice. Alternately, the continuous manufactured roll form of the sheet material may be cut into shorter section lengths for shipment and delivery, such as 4, 8 or 16 foot sections as shown by 202 in FIG. 2 and either rolled or stacked in bundles.

The sheet material 102/202 may be secured to the shoreline 305 by multiple means, as described below. FIG. 5 shows one such embodiment where cable clamps 533, 534 are positioned along edges 104 or 210 (See FIGS. 1 and 2). A rope, wire, elastic cord or other line material 545 is fed through the cable clamps 533/534, for example, as shown in cross-section in FIG. 8. Fastener 836 connects the cable clamp 534 to the sheet material 102. FIG. 7 shows the deployment for this configuration, where the line material 545 is placed under tension when connected to anchors 738/740 along the length of the sheet material 102. As shown in FIG. 7, the anchors 738/740 are approximately tangential to the shoreline 305, thereby accommodating minor or random directional changes corresponding to variations in the shoreline 305. This approach has the advantage of quick installation and removal for an area where the shoreline 305 is used by people during portion of the day for egress to and from the water, such as a beach or other recreational area.

Depending on the selected sheet material 102, 202, a variety of methods are possible for providing attachment points. The preferred embodiment is where the production of the sheet material 102 and the material(s) used to fabricate it results in the formation of attachment points along one of the long-dimensional edges 104, 208. For example, when netting 1100 is used in combination to form an organic sheet material as given in FIG. 11, the netting 1100 may extend beyond the organic material 1104 along one of the long dimensional 208 edges to form a continuous sequence of possible attachment points. A stake-anchor 620 may be used to secure the sheet material using attachment points, such as attachment point 212, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 6a and 6b. Alternately, if the sheet material 202 consists of a solid surface and has sufficient structural integrity, then the anchor 620 may penetrate directly through the sheet material 102/202 without reinforcement. Holes for this may be made either at the time of manufacture or during installation of the sheet material 102/202 in the field by piercing the sheet material as it is being installed.

For use where the selected sheet material 102/202 does not have sufficient structural integrity or rigidity to withstand the combined stress of surface disturbances and other environmental forces relative to its weight, including any water saturated portions, FIG. 6b shows a grommet-reinforced attachment point 212 in the sheet material 202. For example, if the selected sheet material is an open cell foam, given its weight when partially saturated with water, the attachment points are likely to require grommet reinforcement as shown in FIG. 6b by attachment point 212. This reinforcement is alternatively accomplished by bonding or stitching a fabric, vinyl or other similar material to the sheet material 102/202 for additional structural integrity in the area where the attachment point 212 is located. This may either be a localized addition to the sheet material 202 or may be added to the entire long dimension 208 where the attachment points 212 are located. If additional structural integrity is desired, the reinforcement material may be added to the entire perimeter of the sheet material and/or bisect its central region.

Securing the sheet material 102/202 in proximity to the shoreline 305 requires a component of the system and method to be fixed to the earth, which is hereinafter referred to as a securing means, such as stake or pin anchor 620 as shown in FIG. 6. The anchor 620 is provided by any well-known method for anchoring sheet material to the earth such as stakes of wood or metal, ground anchors, submersible weights (i.e. concrete blocks), or other methods for fixing the sheet material 102/202 in position. The preferred method is to use metal stakes such as a length of rebar, landscape stakes, landscape fabric staples or other metal forms intended to be driven into the ground, as shown by the anchor 620 in FIG. 6.

In one embodiment, the anchors 620 are smooth rods that have a smaller diameter than the attachment points, such as grommet 212 so that the attachment points can slide freely along the length of the anchor 620. The configuration allows the sheet material 102/202 to move freely up and down via the attachment point 212 so that the sheet material remains about the surface of the water 310 as the water level changes due to waves or changing volume of the body of water. This system feature prevents elevation changes of the weighted sheet material 102, 202 from stressing the attachment points and causing a premature failure, provided there is sufficient slack between the anchor points to accommodate this vertical motion without binding the sheet material 102/202. In the case of waves impacting the shoreline, the elevation changes otherwise occur very rapidly and may produce a high level of stress on the attachment points, such as grommet 212.

There exist other methods of securing the sheet material 102/202 to a fixed location while permitting the material freedom of movement to accommodate variations in the level of the water feature. This includes, for example, a response to surface disruptions (i.e. waves) without breaking free or damaging the sheet material 102/202. As shown above, one embodiment is for the anchor 620 to feed directly through the attachment points 212 to minimize the complexity and provide the simplest installation. For example, when using netted organic sheet material with the netting extending along one edge 104, a length of rod 620 may be inserted through the netting 1100 and driven into the ground to secure the sheet material 102 in proximity to the shoreline 305 as shown in FIG. 6a. Alternate embodiments for connecting the attachment points 212 of the sheet material 102/202 to the anchor 620 include using baling wire, band clamps, plastic wire ties or similar fastening methods that pass through the attachment points 212 and connect to the anchor 620. In another embodiment, using the preferred form of the sheet material 102, cable clamps 534 may be added to the attachment points 212 for support of a guy wires, ropes or elastic cords 545.

When deploying the preferred form of the sheet material 102 with the preferred continuous sequence of attachment points 212, the sheet material 430 is un-rolled and set along the shoreline 305. The sheet material 102/202 is slid onto the water surface 310 and secured using a stake for anchor 620 through the extended netting material 1100 that creates attachment point 212. Stake anchors 620 may be placed at various points and is preferably placed at any shoreline features necessitating directional changes in the layout of sheet material 102/202 so that it remains in proximity to the shoreline. Proximity includes the sheet material 102/202 attachment edge within a predetermined distance, such as one foot in either direction from the water's edge, such that the anchor 620 is on dry land or, the anchor 620 is approximately within one foot of the water's edge, such that the sheet material 102/202 is floating and the anchor 620 is in the water. In the latter configuration, the length of anchor 620 that extends above the surface of the water is greater than the maximum wave height of the body of water or else the anchor 620 is affixed with a cap that has a diameter larger than the attachment point 212 to prevent the sheet material from coming free of the anchor 620.

As referenced above in FIG. 7, an anchor 738 is used at each end of the roll form of the sheet material 102/430 and preferably also at shoreline discontinuities to re-direct the sheet material 102 to remain in proximity to the shoreline 305. Where the shoreline 305 discontinuities are minor, the sheet material 102 may absorb the change of direction without modifying the sheet material 102. For larger discontinuities, the sheet material 102 may be cut so that the sheet material 102 remains flat on the surface of the water 310. If the discontinuity requires the sheet material 102 to change directions toward the body of water, which is the predominate situation for smaller water features, cutting and re-directing with anchors 740 will cause the sheet material 102/202 to overlap at the discontinuity. If the change of direction is away from the body of water, a gap will result at the discontinuity. It is not required to cut all the way through the sheet material 102 such that at least of portion remains contiguous however, in some instances it may be preferred to cut the sheet material 102 completely and then secure the two sections together using anchor 620.

The diagrams in FIGS. 9a-d are provided using the alternate embodiment where the sheet material 202 is produced in shorter, pre-cut sections rather than roll form. If the sheet material is provided in, for example, manageable eight foot long sections, it is contemplated that multiple sheets will be used for a single installation for effective deterrence of waterfowl. The possible configurations for this approach are shown in FIG. 9a-d where FIG. 9a diagrams a common shore-side attachment point 212 for shore-line curvature toward 924 the surface of water 310 or curvature away 925 from the surface of water 310. Similarly, FIG. 9b shows a common water-side point for curvature toward 926 and away 927 from the surface of water 310. The configuration of FIG. 9b where the curvature of the shoreline is away 927 from the surface of the water 310 requires sheet material 202 to be pierced to support insertion of anchor 620 (not shown). FIG. 9c presents separate attachment points 212 for curvature toward 928 and away 929 from the surface of water 310. Lastly, FIG. 9d shows a butt joint 906 where the sheet material has been trimmed. The sheets may be overlapped to provide a continuous barrier along the shore or may be trimmed so that the two ends of the sheet form a butt joint. The dimensional integrity of the sheets will maintain this butt joint to form a continuous barrier or alternately, the two ends of the sheets may be fastened together using well-known methods.

FIGS. 9a-d also apply to the preferred continuous roll form of the sheet material 102, for example, in 100 foot sections, and the sheet material may be cut to specific lengths as may be required for a particular location. Given the continuous availability of attachment points 212, the roll form of the sheet material 102 may be cut to any desired length. The various embodiments of FIGS. 9a-9d may be used in any combination in a single installation, as shown by way of example in FIG. 10.

A further improvement provided by the present disclosure is where the aquatic waterfowl barrier is used to improve the water quality of the water feature where it's deployed. Many smaller water features that attract waterfowl, where they subsequently create a nuisance in the surrounding terrain, often have water quality issues. The water quality issues are the result of extensive waterfowl presence, changing weather conditions and low rates of fresh water circulation, which results in an accumulation of organic material and a chemistry imbalance generally related to algae population. Poor water quality impacts water clarity, stifles population of other marine animals and often causes the water feature to emit offensive odors. As mentioned above, barley straw was identified as a possible organic material for production of the sheet material 102 and research has shown that as barley straw decomposes, it emits a natural algal growth inhibitor. There are organic and inorganic agents that may be introduced to the water feature to promote the biodegradation process and improve water quality. One such organic additive treatment is the combination of beneficial microbial and supporting nutrients, produced by BioLynceus, LLC in Estes Park, Colo. The proprietary substance is a combination of materials manufactured by BioLynceus repopulates the naturally occurring microbes and digestive enzymes in a body of water to restore the environmental balance necessary for a healthy ecosystem. The substance consists of live cultures which contain a composite of micro-organism, (aerobic, facultative and anaerobic), amino acids, nutrients and polysaccharides. Other combinations are contemplated and commercially available and any substance that is non-pathogenic and non-toxic is preferred however, substances that violate these characteristics are also acceptable. These materials and others like them may be used to treat the sheet material prior to installation so that the sheet material will promote the health of the water feature while deterring waterfowl from egressing it.

Yet a further advantage of the present disclosure is shoreline erosion control through wave dissipation. Using the sheet material 102 of the preferred embodiment, where the sheet material 102 is constructed from organic material 1104 using netting 1100, water is able to flow through the material. FIG. 12 shows an approaching wave 1200, where a portion of the wave volume passes through the sheet material 102, which dissipates some of the wave energy and reduces the amount of deflection experienced by the sheet material 102. FIG. 12 also shows the netting 1100 that forms attachment point 212 on anchor 620 rising upwardly to relieve the stress caused by the wave. The use of foam strips 364, 374 layered between the organic material 1100 and netting 1104 reduces the volume of water that passes through the sheet material and contributes to the level of rise upon anchor 620 but, nonetheless, still dissipates a portion of the incoming wave energy. This action effectively dampens the wave energy and reduces the shoreline impact energy thereby providing an effective shoreline erosion control method.

In the alternate embodiment, where the sheet material 202 is constructed from a solid piece of material, such as sheet foam, semi-circle 225/226 or other shaped vents in the sheet material 202 allows water pass through the sheet to partially dissipate the wave energy. For example, in the illustrated embodiment of a semi-circle shape, the curved portion 227 of the shape is cut to form a flap and the straight side 228 of the semi-circle remains attached to foam sheet material at a location remote from the edge 210 with the attachment points 212. Thus, when added to the sheet material, the straight side 228 of the semi-circle faces toward the surface of water 310 and the curved part faces toward the shoreline 305. As the wave arrives at this configuration of the sheet material 202, a portion of the wave volume passes through the vents and effectively dissipates a portion of the wave energy. This configuration has reduced wave damping action compared to the method described above, but still effectively dampens the wave energy and reduces the shoreline impact energy thereby providing an effective shoreline erosion control method.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the preferred embodiments, as hereinabove described, may be subjected to apparent modifications without departing from the true scope and spirit of the disclosed invention. The inventor, accordingly, hereby state his intention to rely upon the Doctrine of Equivalents, in order to protect his full rights in the disclosed invention.

Claims

1. An aquatic barrier for waterfowl, comprising:

a buoyant sheet material, and

means for securing the buoyant sheet material for deployment of the sheet material in water proximate to a shoreline.

2. The barrier of claim 1, wherein the sheet material has predetermined buoyancy such that the sheet material is capable of floating to present an upper surface at least coincident with the surface level of the body of water.

3. The barrier of claim 1, wherein the sheet material is porous allowing water to pass through it to provide wave damping action.

4. The barrier of claim 1, wherein the sheet material presents a plurality of flaps capable of providing wave damping action.

5. The barrier of claim 1, wherein the means for securing includes an anchor pin presenting a smooth exterior surface such that the sheet material may ride up and down commensurate with wave action when the sheet material is deployed in water.

6. The barrier of claim 5, wherein the means for securing further comprises a reinforced attachment point in the sheet material.

7. The barrier of claim 1, wherein the sheet material is constructed and arranged in a plurality of rectangular blocks as deployed, and the means for securing presents a generally concave structure following a shoreline.

8. The barrier of claim 1, wherein the sheet material is constructed and arranged in a plurality of rectangular blocks as deployed, and the means for securing presents a generally convex structure following a shoreline.

9. The barrier of claim 1, wherein the sheet material consists essentially of a closed cell foam provided with connective structure for coupling the closed cell foam with the securing means.

10. The barrier of claim 1, wherein the sheet material comprises a combination of natural fibers and netting.

11. The barrier of claim 10, wherein the netting is used as part of the securing means.

12. The barrier of claim 10, wherein closed cell foam is added to the combination of natural fiber and netting.

13. The barrier of claim 12, wherein the netting is used as part of the securing means.

14. The barrier of claim 1, wherein the securing means comprises a rope coupled to the sheet material and anchors securing the rope to a shoreline.

15. The barrier of claim 1 deployed floating proximate a shoreline area that, unless the barrier is deployed, is commonly used as a pathway for waterfowl egressing from water to land.

16. A method of discouraging waterfowl from ambulating across a shoreline, comprising:

identifying a shoreline proximate waterfowl habitat; and

deploying the barrier of claim 1 with the sheet material floating in the water and anchored proximate the shoreline.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of identifying includes ascertaining a presence of goose feces along the shoreline, and the quality of water is improved by a reduction of waterborne fecal material as a result of the step of deploying the barrier.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising a step of identifying the shoreline as one in need of erosion control and wherein erosion of the shoreline is reduced in consequence of the step of deploying the barrier.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the sheet material is constructed from materials that decomposes and releases a natural algal growth inhibitor that serves to improve the water quality of a body of water.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the sheet material is treated with a substance prior to deployment and the substance provides beneficial biological reaction that results in improved water quality.