Turbidity Curtain: SEDIMENT CONTROL Only as Strong as its Weakest Anchor portant part of any waterside job site’ SWPPP, While many believe thar the challenge lies in choosing the right cureain for the ste conditions, what is often more important is not only the curtain type T= control curcains are an im- New turbidity curtain installed on site. Image courtesy of GE! Works. but also that it is comeccly installed and anchored in the water. Mooring ean play a critical role not only where water is fast ‘moving, but in any area thar is dealing with current, wind, tides, waves or fluctuating ‘water. A recent project showeases some of Land and Water the ongoing challenges contractors face when dealing with eurbidity control in moving waters. ‘The Project ‘The project, still ongoing, involves sercom 31SEDIMENT CONTROL the construction ofa retirement village on 1 small riverfront propery surrounded by water on three sides. Due tothe proximity of the structure to the shoreline and nar rowness ofthe land, eurtains were required around three discharge/outall areas and a subsequent piece of shoreline adjacent to the building of a seawall. The work area was close to both a narural manatee habitat and sensitive water resourees, making the control of any ste discharge and turbilty essential (Our GEI Works team was alled to the Florida jobsite following a ste inspection. Inspectors determined that on-site turbide ity curtain anchoring had filed, causing potential risk to the surrounding environ ‘ment, While the amount of eurain used in cach area was relatively small, the efeetive- ‘ness was critical to ensuring that the proj- cctstays within compliance. After multiple artempts to secure the curtain, contractors reached out to our team to offer consulta- tion and assisance in anchoring the cur- tain, Although the curtain being utilized was not our manufactured product, our goal was to offer support and expertise by surveying the existing curtain om site, as- sessing the damage and quickly re-leploy- ing the barrier ro ensure compliance. BMP On Site ‘When controlling turbidity in the water the most commonly specified BMP is a Floating Turbidity Curtain. Turbidity Curtains, aso known as Silt Barriers, are designed to act as a temporary protection barrier that controls turbidity or displaced sile and allows particles enough time settle. They ate often required in areas per- forming marine maintenance, dredging, oF in locations where traditional erosion con- trol, silt fence or perimeter controls are not sufficient. For most sites, the amount and type of particles leaving the ste is not particu- larly harmful ro the area. However, the amount is usualy larger than normal and signifcane enough ro change the quality of the water. Most particles, when given enough time, will naturally setle towards the bottom of the water. However, when large amounts of unfamiliar particles enter Jnco dhe water, currents, waves or tides may pick up these particles before they are given ‘enough time to settle, The goal of a urbid- ity curain is to stop the spread of surface particles and temporarily confine them to.a 32 Bo ‘Above: Turbidity curtain out of position due to ineffective anchoring. Below: In- stalled T-posts failing to hold the curtain in place. Images courtesy of GE! Works. specified area. By preventing fre flow, pac ticles are given the time requited 10 allow them to sete, “The existing Floating Turbidity Cure tain BMP on site was a Type 3 DOT Curtain featuring a top loa, top tension cable, cop connection plate and a perme- able bottom skirt. Type 3 DOT Curains are usualy specified for moving water areas with currents up to one and hal knots and Land and Water waves up to so fet. Site Conditions Any time a floating barser is being used on site, our fist step is to assess the conditions of the site. Having an accu- rate understanding of potential influences is critical in determining the sight layout and curtain type. When assessing a ste, we cvaluate the curtent velocity and direction,wind speed and direction, wave height and frequeney, tides, duration of the project and any other relevant site conditions. Our inital assessment provided us withthe fol- lowing conditions: + Site Conditions: The project was lo- cated along a river featuring mild eurrent, northerly winds and low waves. Water depeh in the area ranged anywhere from three o five fet. + Sandy Bottom: The location featured 2 sandy bottom that was subject to Frequent movement and resctling, causing 2 mild level of instability along the bottom. + Surrounding. Area: “The job site was com a piece of land protruding out into the river and surrounded on thee sides by wae ter The shoreline was lined with large rocks present both on the beach and in the water. + Duration of the Project: Curtains were implemented for the first portion of the project that involved preparing the site through ground levelling, ground. water discharge, and the building of a seawall ‘When we arrived on sites the project had curtain scheduled for approximately one additional month. ‘© Additional Factors: While a majority of ‘the curtain was placed in standard portions of the riven the south side of the project ‘was additionally located in close proximiry ‘toa marina. With boats moving frequently in and out of the area, consideration was given to ensure proper navigation could Initial Assessment ‘When arriving on site, we were met with several sections of curtains thar had bbeen completely removed from the water and were washed up and sitting along the shore. Du to the anchoring procedure that hhad been implemented, the curtain had ‘come in contact with several rocks causing, tears in various locations along the barrier. “The curtains skire was additionally weighed down with sand, creating tears heween the bottom skirt and top float. The fist goal vwas 10 understand what anchoring had oc- cuted, asess why it had failed and imple- ment a new anchoring pater to try (0 secure the curtain, ‘Anchoring Existing anchoring and position con- uol of the curtain was being achieved through two methods. The first anchoring being utilized was a series of T-Fence posts placed in front of the harrier. Poss were driven into the sand periodically in front of the curtain creating 2 wall in fone of che curtain, The goal was to prevent the cureain from moving pase the stakes and onto the shoreline. However, due to the weight of the curtain the force ofthe current and in- stability ofthe anchors, many ofthe stakes began to slant and fill easing them to be overcome by the curtain and ultimately vscless. ‘Act this method failed, a second an- chors and small fuke anchors. The buckee anchors were created using five gallon buckets that were filled with wee concrete. Each featured a hole inthe top that allowed them to fil with water. However, because conercte loses 4 significant portion of ‘weight in water, the bucket anchor was une stable and subjecc to movement and rolling, along the bottom. In addition, small light ‘weight flake anchors were being used along, the curtain to help keep icin place. Similar to the buckets, these were too light leading to the movement of the anchor along the bottom. Both the concrete filled bucket and fluke anchors were installed by attach- ing the anchor direetly to the buoy with a short chain and the buoy directly to the bottom of the curtain with rope. There are ‘wo challenges with this method of anchor- ing in the location, ‘The first is the shore attachment of the anchor directly to the ‘buoy. Buoys are subject ro both waves and tides causing them to bob up and down in the water. Due to the light weight of the anchors, sandy bottom, and the buoy being. positioned directly above the anchor, the anchor was easily pulled out of the sand, In addition, the attachment of the anchor 1 the bottom of the curtain eaused an un- natural pall ofthe curtain towards the bot- tom of the water. With the anchoring pull- ing the curtain down and the waves pulling, the curtain up, the opposing forces caused the barrier ro rear between the float and the skit. ‘Water Depth. ‘Another significant factor in both the anchoring and the positioning of the caurtain was the shallow water depch of the area. As a general rule of thumb, ic is typically recommended that the curtain be sized to sit, at low tide, approximately Land and Water SEDIMENT CONTROL com 33SEDIMENT CONTROL ‘one foot from the river borom, ensuring there is ao sediment build up on the skirt. In shallow fr fluctuating areas, this can be particularly problematic as the skit is often to0 long oF too lose the bouwom. As matedals begin co setde and build up in the area, the skre will become trapped in piles of sediment cating added. pressure along the bottom of the cura. ‘This leads ta the ealapse and of the curtain. Curtain depth can be addressed ar the time of ordering os ifa curtain ison site already, adjusted on ste throu Fg the bra se wn WOR rope. ‘Changing The Anchoring Method With all of these considerations in mind, our team set out to reposition and anchor the curtain, ‘The fst step in rem- cedying the existing site's curtain was to ‘change the method and sie ofthe anchors. ‘One of the major problems. with the existing anchors on site was that they ‘were simply too light to remain in place given the conditions. Rather than concrete buckets or light weight fluke anchors, our team installed a series of 22 pound fluke anchors. The correct weight of the anchors allowed them ro properly deploy into the sandy location, securing and stabilizing the ‘cttain in the best layout possible to per form in the conditions generated by norch- erly winds. ‘The second major issue on site was the way the anchor was attached r0 both the buoy and the curtain. When anchor- ing curtain, there are a lot of misconcep- tions thac the curtain is supposed to act as adam wall or coffer dam. This is nor the ‘case, Curtains are not designed to stop wa- ter, but to temporarily contain particles to ‘given area. The goal of curtain anchoring, should not be co make the skirca rigid wall, but to allow the curtain to contain turbid ity as ie moves with nacural water flows Rather than insalling the anchor di- rectly beneath the buoy, our team attached the anchors to a chain and the chain to a long mooring ine. Thisline was made eight times the length of the depth of water to give the anchor enough slack to accommo- date water movement. A secondary painter line attached the curtain to the buoy at a 34 Tear between the float and the skirt. Image courtesy of GEI distance of approximately five fet. "This set up allowed the buoy ro perform asa shock absorbent, reducing material fatigue on the curtain, ‘Attachment from the buoy to the cur- tain was additionally changed from the bottom to the top of the curtain. When an- choring a floating turbidity curtain, there are ewo schools of thought on how chis can be achieved 1. Anchor che curtain ar the bottom bal- last chain or connection plate 2. Anchor the curtain atthe top connec- tion or added anchor point For most curtains, the recommended method of anchoring is through a top con- nection plate or dedicated anchor poi “Top attachment helps keep the barter in position withouc adding influencing weight ‘or pressure to the bottom skirt. This is im- portant to allow the skict to billow with water movement. Since no existing anchor points were buile into the curtain, the team installed anchor points manually on field by clamping the anchor point to the top of the curtain to ensure load transfer through tension cables co shore, Upgrading The Curtain For portions of the torn curtain, our team additionally provided the sice with our manufactured heavy duty ‘Type 3 barter, ‘The curtain featured all the same components, bur altered few portions to march the conditions of the sit. ‘The ist was the movement of the tension cable from the top to the bottom of the float. “The second was the addition of universal Land and Water q bulk slide connectors instead of top connection places. These ‘changes ensured the eorrect load. transfer from the curtain to the anchor. “The Result Afeer reanchoring the ‘curtain, our team monitored the site and assessed the effec tiveness of the new anchoring method. Although there were sell significant forces acting on the curtain, the barriers con- trolled the turbidity plume gen- crated by site work and ensured no stoppages to work on ste ‘As with any BMP, routine site maintenance and assess- iment of the barrier is essential, especially afer a rain or storm event. In the weeks following our re-anchoring, the area went through some stormy winds and rains. The result created a build up of marine growth and materials that needed to be cleaned in order for the curtain to continue to operate effectively. Through continued monitoring ofthe site, our team is abl co addres issues as they occur, The process has reinforced for us the fact that all job sites are unique and require consideration, planning and continued monitoring when installing floating barcers. What is interesting about thiscase is tha itis nor dealing with a large project or fast waters, but a small amount of curtain on a small construction project. ‘No matter where they are used, tur- bidity curtains are often the last line of defense and the last chance for a site 10 contain sediment before ic leaves the site. ven imall the right conditions with all the right anchoring methods, the barter stil i ill subject ro un- curtain that is installed properly and moni- tored regularly is essential wo the curtain 3g effective at its job and the site remaining in compliance. L&W by Samantha Davina Far mare information, contact Mark Wilkie of GET Works, Phone: 772-646- 0597, Email: inforagciworkscom, or Web- site: uno geiorkscom.