For softer sediments , it is recommended to place oyster shell bags on top of standard wooden pallets ( 48 inches long x 40 inches wide x 60 inches high ) made of untreated timber materials . This technique distributes the weight and increases the elevation of the reef , preventing the reef from sinking into the sediment .
Installation
Typical oyster shell bag arrangement is a rectangular shape , with a perpendicular orientation to the shoreline commonly set at a width of 8 foot and the length determined by the amount of shoreline to be protected . To hold the structure in place , it is recommended to use 30-inch L-shaped rebar staked every 5 inches along the outer , seaward sides of the rows . To mitigate the problems related to sediment , a footprint of wood pallets in rows can be installed on the intertidal bank beneath the shell bags .
Figure 34 : ( Left ) Pile of bagged oyster shells and ( Right ) oyster shell bag placement along the shoreline at the Marina on MacDill Air Force Base , Florida . Photos by Senior Airman Vernon L . Fowler Jr ., U . S . Air Force ( 2015 )
Figure 35 : General layout of an oyster bag installation with pallets , adapted from SCDNR ( 2019 )
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NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS MANUAL FOR KIAWAH ISLAND