Submar Mats and Best Management Practices
A Submar project should not be considered complete until the solutions team implements Best Management Practices (BMPs). The group of engineers at Pipeline Monitoring understands this. After surveying your project site, they will come up with a solution for long-term sustainability that meets BMP standards for your area. Our clients often find that the answer begins with erosion control blankets and turf reinforcement mats.
Submar Mats Are Versatile One of the biggest reasons our team is a fan of Submar mats is because of their versatility. They can be used by clients in search of a quick-fix solution for an erosion control project, but can alsobe used by clients in need of more permanent installations. They are easy to install, which makesthem an ideal addition to any project. Typically, our engineers will recommend one of the three solutions for a project.
- Lightweight Blankets
- Turf Reinforcement Mats, which are heavier than blankets
- Hydraulically-applied bonded fiber matrix products
Submar mats are affordable and will end up being a small investment in your project that pays enormous dividends. Failing to maintain BMPs can prove to be costly in the long-run. Remember, it’s not the first year that you should be worried about when planning a project but rather several years in the future. Erosion is natural and will likely occur over time if you do not take proper precautions.
Reducing Environmental Impact
Companies have used the mats in projects across the country, including many pipelines located in the Gulf of Mexico and its inlets. Submar mats offer a sustainable alternative to traditional trenching methods. They are a great solution to help reduce environmental impacts, especially in low-lying coastal areas. The mats have had no significant negative effects when used in the Louisiana Coastal Zone.
Submar mats work to stabilize the soils surrounding your project by reducing in subsoil runoff. They have been proven to reduce the impact to water bottoms by up to 67%. Over time, the mats naturally integrate with the water-bottom, making them one of the best solutions when looking toprotect soft water bottoms. The mats will not interfere with commercial or recreational activities or navigation, nor will they interfere with ongoing operations. All mats are registered with both the U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Natural Resources.
Case Study
The effectiveness of combining BMPs can be seen when looking at the Sunset Farms Landfill. Although there were technically no pipelines involved, the case still shows how critical blankets and mats can be, especially when used in conjunction.
The landfill was struggling with erosion control on slopes that ran 500-600 feet long. The company needed to find a way to alter the flow of water down the slope so that it was not flowing straight down. They did so by using turf reinforcement mats, which are biodegradable and have been proven to hold water better than fully-synthetic mats.
In all, the company installed over 200,000 turf reinforcement mats and coir blankets. The methods were efficient, significantly reducing erosion runoff and protecting the company’s property for years to come.
