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Living Shorelines: Design Options - Fiber Logs
Fiber logs are manufactured products that provide temporary stabilization at upland and wetland planting areas. They come in different lengths and diameters to suit a variety of site conditions. They are biodegradable and will decay within 3-5 years in tidal settings.
Key Factor: will the planted area persist after the logs disappear? If sand fill or plants will be washed out by waves or tidal currents, then another type of containment structure may be needed (see marsh sills).
Suitable Sites
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Marsh restoration areas and planted marshes on tidal coves, very shallow tidal creeks, lakes, ponds
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Tree removal areas
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Graded or terraced banks under landscape restoration
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Elevations higher than mid-tide level
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Minimal wave and boat wake action, not designed to reduce wave energy
Guidelines for Fiber Logs
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Designed to support plant growth, should be used in combination with vegetation management, planted marsh, and/or bank grading and landscape restoration
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Most effective above mid-tide level, away from regular wave action
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Full contact with ground along entire length
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Must be aggressively staked into place along both sides, hardwood stakes only
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Adjacent logs should be laced together with heavy twine
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Not necessary to plant into logs, surrounding vegetation will readily grow into them
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Frequent inspections and re-staking are essential
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Causes for failure include excessive wave action, frequent tidal inundation, inadequate monitoring and staking, and absence of vegetation as primary stabilization technique
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Fiber logs placed at toe of graded bank with a planted marsh before and after.
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Sand fill was used to raise the elevation of the intertidal area in front of a bulkhead. Then fiber logs were used to contain the sand until the planted marsh was established. |
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Using fiber logs to reduce undercutting erosion may not be effective if bank and wetland vegetation growth is not enhanced by the logs. |
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