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BEsT MANAGEMENT PRACTICEs HANDbooK - Tahoe BMP

BEsT MANAGEMENT PRACTICEs HANDbooK - Tahoe BMP

BEsT MANAGEMENT PRACTICEs HANDbooK - Tahoe BMP

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8.10 TURBIDITY CURTAINS8.10.1 OVERVIEWTurbidity curtains, also known as silt curtains, gunderbooms, temporarycofferdams and sheet piling, also offer shorezone protection. The purpose of aturbidity curtain is to retain the re-suspended sediment generated duringconstruction activities, including dredging, within the disturbed area bycontrolling dispersion. 54Turbidity curtains are floating impermeable barriers that are constructed offlexible reinforced thermoplastic material with an upper hem containingfloatation material and a lower hem that is weighted. Turbidity screens aresimilar but are constructed of permeable geosynthetic fabric and thus allow forsome water to flow through the material. Some models include an absorbentdiaper to help contain petroleum products. Turbidity curtains are one of theprimary methods for controlling turbidly generated from shorezone dredgingactivities, especially for containable areas such as marinas. 55Turbidity curtains promote the settling out of suspended sediments from thewater column in a controlled area, thus minimizing the potential transport offine sediment out of the project area. Turbidity barriers are applicable to anyconstruction or operational activity conducted within the backshore,foreshore, and some nearshore settings of Lake <strong>Tahoe</strong>. They are required inorder to contain the impacts which may result by disturbing the soil or lakebottom sediments due to excavation within a permitted project area.Turbidity curtains are also an effective temporary <strong>BMP</strong> for aquatic weedsduring removal/construction. They are not a standalone technique, but need tobe combined with physical removal of plants and fragments from the projectarea.8.10.2 TURBIDITY CURTAINS: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGESThe turbidity curtains currently available would not maintain positiveperformance during weather events. Larger waves put drag loads on thecurtains causing them to drag and potentially fail. The energy contained inwaves and currents during storms may pull the curtain off the lake bottom orcause lateral curtain anchors to fail. Closely monitor weather forecasts andpostpone projects if advisable. Curtains are effective for short-term projects (1-254USACE, 2008, Coastal Engineering Manual - Parts I-655USACE, 2008, Coastal Engineering Manual - Parts I-6TRPA <strong>BMP</strong> HandbookCHAPTER 8: Shorezone Protective Structures and <strong>BMP</strong>s2012 8.10 Turbidity CurtainsPage 8-65

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