USA: New Geothermal Bags Speed Up Wares Creek Project

The image could stop traffic on Manatee Avenue in downtown Bradenton: groups of men are whipping and whacking giant white balloon-like bags hovering above Wares Creek, reports heraldtribune.com.

This unusual sight is part of Wares Creek cleanup. The purpose of the project is to reduce flood risk and related issues within the Cedar Hammock-Wares Creek basin in Manatee County.

Giant white balloon-like bags are used for the cleanup. The new type of geothermal bag was recently installed in order to collect more material, since higher-than-anticipated volumes of fine material were being dredged out of the creek.

Bradenton Councilman Patrick Roff said: “The fine material in the geothermal bags takes weeks to dry out and during that time dredging temporarily ceases. In the current cycle, there are about two weeks left for the material to dry and in the third week the site will be prepared prior to resumed dredging.”

The white balloons are an integral part of the extensive process of cleaning and dredging the creek.

[mappress]

Dredging Today Staff, July 24, 2012; Image: Manatee County Government