Using TrapBag as Sand Dune Stabilization & Protection
TrapBag is an effective solution for stabilizing and protecting the cores of sand dunes so they’re available for future generations. The barriers are strong enough to support dunes of all sizes and provide a stable environment for the sand to stay in place.
Along with planting native dune grasses and other plants, TrapBag barriers protect dunes by giving them a stable anchoring point.
Sand Dune Stabilization Techniques with TrapBag
Installing TrapBag barriers inside the center of a sand dune gives the dune a safe, stable center that can slow down the erosion process or even stop it altogether. It’s also a relatively easy process that requires just a few overarching steps:
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Uncover the sand dune: This will require some digging, ideally with an excavator or other heavy machinery.
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Open the TrapBag packaging: TrapBag barriers come folded up on a pallet. Pull them out like an accordion and stretch them up to 50 linear feet per unit.
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Place the barrier: Set the TrapBag barrier into the core of the sand dune.
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Fill the cells: A team of three people with an excavator or skid steer can fill a TrapBag barrier within minutes with washed gravel or more sand.
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Cover the barrier: Replace the sand back on top of the barrier to give the dune a more stabilized core, or add more sand from offshore to bolster its volume.
Who We Serve
TrapBag supports all types of industries for flood control, mudslide protection, and chemical spill protection. However, industries we work with to stabilize dune cores include:
Coastal engineering
Coastal engineering experts rely on sand dunes to stabilize their engineering projects along shorelines and coastlines. TrapBag helps ensure they have a stable medium for their projects along the coasts.
Learn More »Environmental protection services
Environmental conservation groups can use TrapBag dune core stabilization bags to stabilize coastal habitats and protect them from being washed away in storm surges and other severe weather events.
Learn More »Marine services
Marine service providers need sand dunes to provide a stable medium for installing piers and docks. TrapBags provide that level of stability for their work.
Learn More »Projects
May 25, 2014
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How TrapBags Compare to:
Sand dune boardwalks or crosswalks make it easier for people to walk to beaches and shorelines without displacing the sand in a dune. They’re an ideal form of dune protection because they discourage people from walking directly on the dune, which in turn mitigates the amount of erosion due to foot traffic.
However, boardwalks aren’t very effective at preventing erosion from wave action or wind. This is why it’s important to ensure dunes have a way to stabilize their core in addition to protecting them from the outside. TrapBag offers a relatively easy solution for stabilizing sand dunes.
Sand fences can help fill gaps in dune ridges and prevent sand from being displaced. They also discourage people from walking on sand dunes that need to be restored. These fences are made of wood, plastic, or fabric, and are typically quite affordable.
However, they can also be unsightly and cause disruption along beaches and other natural areas. In many cases, they can also cause sand to build up or disappear unintentionally, or potentially get buried over time. Stabilizing the dunes from within can be a more effective way to restore them.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Sand dune erosion is a natural process that occurs as wind and wave action put constant pressure on dunes. However, as people continue to develop communities along beaches and shorelines, erosion can have more disastrous consequences for things like residential neighborhoods, commercial buildings, highways, and other structures.
Thankfully, sand dunes can be restored after they’ve been damaged. Sand dunes can be saved by rebuilding them, either relatively quickly or over time. Some of the most common methods of rebuilding sand dunes include:
- Adding dredged sand from offshore to the dune
- Planting grasses and other dune vegetation
- Installing dune fences
- Stabilizing the core of the dune from within
Not all local laws allow for all types of dune stabilization methods. Most states require permits before you make modifications to sand dunes.
There are several threats that can cause sand dunes to erode more quickly:
- Wind: This natural force can both create dunes and cause them to wear away over time.
- Waves: Wave action wears away at sand dunes over time and makes them wash away into sandbars and silt offshore.
- Human activity: Activities ranging from construction of residential and commercial buildings to simply walking on them can cause damage to coastal sand dunes.
Sand dunes protect the coastal cliffs and habitats behind them from erosion and storm damage. Therefore, preserving sand dunes is essential for protecting both wildlife and neighborhoods near the shoreline.
Why Choose TrapBag as a Dune Stabilization & Erosion Control Solution?
TrapBag started out as a flood control solution that improved on the design of traditional sandbag barriers during storm surges and other floods. However, it has since been used for everything from stormwater containment to mudslide diversion and dune core stabilization.
One 100-foot section of TrapBag barriers replaces roughly 8,000 sandbags, all while using 40% less material than their traditional counterparts. The cells in these barriers have a pentagonal shape with one sloped side, one vertical side, and a flat top for structural integrity. Because they provide reinforcement and strength from within, they’re an ideal way to strengthen sand dunes.
Our team of experts wants to help you keep your community and its environment safe. That’s why our team is here to help 24/7 across multiple countries and continents.