Synthetic Turf for Lake Shorelines

[chris_logan]

So, while at work, I just started looking through my latest Geosynthetics Magazine, and what do I see on the front page?... A picture and reference to an article about shore protection for wakeboarding lakes. This caught my eye immediately, as the construction/engineering world doesn't often intersect with the watersports world, especially in the literature that I receive at the office.

 

 

 

From reading the article, this seems like a great product for maintaining the "perfect shoreline," preventing erosion and keeping the desired slope to prevent any backwash. In addition, being a synthetic turf, it also keeps a very nice aesthetic appeal year round without any maintenance. Can you imagine never weed-eating, and not having to deal with a rocky shoreline or any sand erosion?

 

 

Of course there is always the initial cost of installation, which doesn't look like a DIY project by any means, but how long would it take to see ROI in this product? I guess it depends on what your time, back health, and perfect shoreline conditions are worth to you - in combination with the overall maintenance cost that a typical lake endures with natural shorelines.

 

With this facility relatively being in my neck of the woods, I want to go check it out. I might even round up a trick ski to take with me, but I really want to see the end product and how it performs... so maybe on a busy day for them and hope the wind picks up while I'm there. By the looks of the finished product, at least in a picture, it doesn't look half bad. I may need to add some budget to my "dream lake fund".

 

 

 

watershedgeo.com/hydroturf/

 

 

 

[liquid d]

HOLY CRAP ....THAT LOOKS EXPENSIVE! Where is that?

[oldjeep]

Doesn't look that different than the stuff they used to use for high school sports fields. The older stuff was uni-directional and packed with sand. Newer, safer stuff is multi-directional and packed with rubber pellets.

 

[chris_logan]

@liquid d That is in Emerson, GA. It is right off of I-75, opposite of Lake Allatoona. This is actually really close to @MattP's stomping grounds. Besides, "looks expensive" is a relative term. All new ski boats "look expensive" to me, but I'm in the process of changing that.

[chris_logan]

As far as costs go:

 

HydroTurf™ is significantly less costly than hard armor revetment systems. Installed cost for HydroTurf™ is typically up to 50% less than that for traditional hard armor systems. In addition, HydroTurf™ requires minimal maintenance and will drastically lower long-term maintenance budgets.

 

*Estimated Installed Cost Comparison:

 

HydroTurf – $4 to $6/sf

24″ Riprap – $7.5 to $15/sf

6″ Concrete Paving – $6 to $8/sf

Articulated Concrete Block – $8 to $12/sf

 

This is per their website.

[MattP]

@chris_logan‌ is right. It's my next of the woods about 10 miles from my school. We do have a wakeboarding class that meets there. I also have some friends that work there. If I find the time I'll take the Graviton and my Camaro out for a ride on the cable. Should be interesting to ride there and see the turf setup.

[Skoot1123]

@chris_logan - very interesting indeed. I'll have to take a look at that for our shorline. Installed costs are bad at all!!!

[Wish]

Maybe not that expensive. That last link shows just how much these guys have....a LOT.

.

https://orlando.craigslist.org/mad/4690557013.html

https://orlando.craigslist.org/mad/4723557700.html

http://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/mad/4675693177.html

[jcamp]

This stuff might become super cheap if they used rubber pellets that turn out to be cancer causing!

 

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/how-safe-artificial-turf-your-child-plays-n220166

[TylerR]

@chris_logan‌ that looks nice...

[mmosley899]

Yep, I have been there. Looks good and like a good idea... All it takes is money!

[jcamp]

@scotchipman the bulk used turf listed for sale on craigslist above did have the rubber pellets. They removed 95%, supposedly.

[chris_logan]

I guess I should probably point out that sports turf and hydro turf are not the same thing. Hydro turf is a geotextile product designed with strength properties specifically for erosion control, and has a prescribed installation process that must be done properly in order for it to work. If you try to do this with used sports turf, you will likely end up with a giant mess and undercut erosion - negating the intended purpose to begin with.

 

As is true with most engineering concepts - you can either do it right, or try to fake it and face the consequences.

[mattm]

Might be able to get it cheap if schools and parks start replacing it due to concerns of causing cancer. Just shake the rubber out before you put it in your lake.

[ColeGiacopuzzi]

We use artificial turf on our islands, looks green all the te, no upkeep, and from a distance looks like grass!!'