Finding and organizing the right locations for underwater storage of bog wood

Finding and organizing the right locations for underwater storage of bog wood

DREVO Heritage Timber Reserve Site Selection System

Concept

The correct storage location determines whether the wood will survive for decades and centuries or be destroyed by currents, oxygen, microorganisms and mechanical influences.

Therefore, an underwater storage facility cannot simply be built in a nearby river, lake, or flooded quarry. Each site must undergo hydrological, geological, environmental, and technical surveys.

The main principle:

The trunk must be located in a stable, low-oxygen and controlled environment, without posing a threat to the river, animals, shipping or infrastructure.

1. Main types of suitable places

Deep floodplain lakes

Suitable if you have:

stable water level;

weak current;

depths below the zone of active mixing;

soft bottom sediments;

limited access for people.

Advantages:

natural wood protection;

gradual covering with silt;

relatively simple maintenance.

Old women

Old river beds can be used as small timber reserves.

Advantages:

poor water exchange;

high natural humidity;

proximity to floodplain forests;

low flow rate.

Old riverbeds that regularly dry out or freeze completely are not suitable.

Deep sections of reservoirs

May be used subject to agreement with the owners of hydraulic structures.

Advantages:

great depth;

stable volume of water;

possibility of organized access.

Risks:

level fluctuations;

water intakes;

shipping;

change in dam regime.

Flooded quarries

One of the most manageable options.

Advantages:

isolation;

great depth;

absence of strong current;

the possibility of creating a closed protected area;

convenient control.

Particular attention is required to the chemical composition of the water and the stability of the slopes.

Artificial reserve pools

They are created specifically for the formation of bog wood.

This is the most controlled option.

It is possible to determine in advance:

depth;

bottom type;

water composition;

water exchange rate;

oxygen level;

access system;

arrangement of trunks.

The disadvantage is the high cost of creation.

Protected deep pools

Suitable only for:

absence of strong flood flows;

stable banks;

absence of shipping;

low risk of wood loss.

2. Inappropriate places

It is not recommended to use:

fast flowing river bed;

rifts;

shallow;

areas of seasonal drying;

zones of active shipping;

areas in front of dams;

areas near water intakes;

spawning grounds;

areas with high oxygen concentration;

contaminated bottom sediments;

landslide banks;

areas where underwater cables and pipes pass;

places of intensive recreation and fishing.

3. Initial search of sites

The search begins with an analysis of the entire territory.

Used:

historical maps;

maps of old riverbeds;

hydrological schemes;

topographic maps;

satellite images;

digital elevation model;

reservoir archives;

forestry information;

data from local residents;

information about flooded quarries and industrial pits.

DREVO AI generates a preliminary map of potential zones.

4. Remote examination

TREVO AeroSense Drone

Used for:

coastal mapping;

site accessibility assessment;

identifying seasonal changes in water levels;

vegetation analysis;

search for old riverbeds and flooded hollows.

Satellite data

Allows you to evaluate:

change in the area of ​​the reservoir;

seasonal fluctuations;

siltation;

flood risks;

change in coastline.

LiDAR

Helps to determine:

shape of the banks;

old floodplain channels;

depth of relief depression;

possible areas of future flooding.

5. Underwater survey

After remote analysis, the site is surveyed on water.

Used:

River Rover Scout;

River Rover Recovery;

multibeam echo sounder;

side sonar;

underwater camera;

oxygen sensors;

temperature sensors;

bottom sediment samplers.

The following are determined:

depth;

bottom relief;

silt thickness;

presence of stones;

availability of scrap metal;

flow;

visibility;

density of the bottom soil.

6. Hydrological requirements

Desirable conditions:

For certain areas, a shallower depth is possible, but only if the wood is reliably covered with bottom sediments.

7. Oxygen regime

For long-term storage, conditions with low dissolved oxygen levels near the bottom are preferred.

This reduces:

activity of wood-destroying organisms;

oxidation rate;

biological destruction of wood.

However, it is impossible to create a completely oxygen-free zone artificially without an environmental assessment.

Important:

not to worsen the condition of the entire reservoir;

do not cause death of fish;

do not create a hydrogen sulfide problem;

do not disturb the natural water exchange.

The goal is to use existing local low-oxygen bottom zones.

8. Requirements for bottom sediments

The most suitable bottom:

soft silt;

clayey silt;

fine mineral deposits;

stable organomineral deposits.

Such materials:

partially cover the trunk;

protect it from oxygen;

reduce movement;

stabilize the temperature.

Unwanted bottom:

large sharp stones;

shifting sand;

heavily polluted sludge;

peat with active gas emission;

construction waste.

9. Chemical analysis of water

Before creating a reserve, the following is analyzed:

pH;

electrical conductivity;

mineralization;

oxygen content;

iron;

manganese;

calcium;

magnesium;

hydrogen sulfide;

petroleum products;

heavy metals;

organic pollutants.

It is necessary to exclude areas where wood can accumulate hazardous substances.

10. Environmental survey

Before laying the timber, the presence of:

spawning grounds;

rare fish;

shellfish;

amphibians;

aquatic plants;

underwater meadows;

wintering pits;

bird feeding places;

protected species.

If the site has high ecological value, the reserve is moved to another location.

11. Archaeological and historical verification

Some oxbow lakes, lakes and old riverbeds may contain archaeological sites.

Before starting work, it is necessary:

study historical maps;

check the registers of monuments;

conduct a preliminary sonar survey;

exclude areas of possible cultural layers;

coordinate the work with relevant services.

When an unknown object is detected, work stops.

12. Legal review

You need to install:

owner of the reservoir;

land status;

water protection zone regime;

restrictions of environmental legislation;

the right to place objects;

conditions for future timber extraction;

the order of inheritance and ownership of the reserve.

Without legal confirmation, a project for 100–300 years loses its meaning.

13. Organization of the storage area

Once a location has been selected, a structured reserve is created.

The site is divided into:

sector;

rows;

deep levels;

age categories;

breed groups.

Example:

sector A — oak;

sector B - ash;

sector C - elm;

sector D - larch;

Sector E - experimental breeds.

14. Preparing the bottom

If necessary, the following are performed:

removal of artificial waste;

local scrap metal clearance;

leveling of individual sites;

creation of shallow nests;

installation of bottom guides;

formation of protective ramparts;

laying a mineral filter layer.

Complete leveling of the natural bottom is not required.

15. Laying wood

The trunks are located:

in parallel rows;

groups by breed;

with technological passages;

taking into account future extraction;

without blocking the channel flow.

For each trunk the following is determined:

position;

depth;

direction;

fixation method;

distance to neighboring objects.

16. Fixing the trunks

Used:

stone loads;

biodegradable temporary slings;

durable mineral anchors;

bottom lodgements;

wooden guides;

covering with a layer of silt.

It is not recommended to use large amounts of steel, which can corrode and contaminate the area.

The barrel should not float, move, or collide with adjacent objects.

17. Step-by-step immersion

The work is carried out sequentially:

barrel registration;

cleaning from contaminants;

measurement;

3D scanning;

setting a mark;

transportation;

controlled flooding;

laying on a prepared place;

fixation;

rescan;

inclusion in a digital passport.

18. Methods of flooding

Natural saturation with water

The trunk is temporarily fixed at the surface and gradually becomes saturated.

Advantages:

minimal damage;

uniform immersion.

Disadvantage:

it takes time.

Ballast diving

Temporary loads are used.

After complete saturation, some of the ballast can be removed.

Controlled diving by robots

River Rover Recovery и River Cargo Platform:

hold the barrel;

control the direction;

they lower it onto the bed;

fix;

release the slings.

19. Marking

Each barrel receives:

internal passive RFID;

acoustic underwater identifier for especially valuable objects;

digital coordinate;

visual code on the protected end;

recording in Mountain Digital Twin.

The mark must be durable, chemically neutral and not damage the wood.

20. Digital reserve map

A 3D map is created for each storage facility.

She shows:

site contours;

depths;

position of each trunk;

breed;

dive date;

state;

next inspection date;

environmental restrictions;

access routes.

21. Classification of storage locations

Class A - strategic

Stable storage areas for 100–300 years.

Requirements:

high hydrological stability;

protected status;

continuous monitoring;

legal protection.

Class B - long-term

Deadline:

50–100 years.

Class C - medium term

Deadline:

20–50 years.

Class D - experimental

Used by:

to study different breeds;

water composition testing;

development of storage methods.

22. Site evaluation system

Each site receives points based on the following criteria:

Areas with low final scores are excluded.

23. Monitoring

Controlled by:

water level;

temperature;

oxygen;

pH;

flow;

sediment thickness;

wood movement;

condition of fastenings;

the appearance of contamination;

state of the ecosystem.

Checks are carried out:

automatically by sensors;

annually River Rover Scout;

in detail once every 5–10 years;

after major floods and hydrological accidents.

24. Emergency scenarios

For each reserve, an action plan is developed for:

falling water levels;

dam collapse;

flood;

landslide;

pollution;

illegal extraction;

damage to fasteners;

change in the riverbed.

Valuable trunks must be able to be temporarily moved to a reserve storage facility.

25. Protection from illegal access

Used:

hidden location;

conservation status;

underwater motion sensors;

acoustic control;

satellite monitoring;

automatic notifications;

restricting access to precise coordinates.

A public map may show the existence of a reserve without revealing the exact location of each shaft.

26. Integration with Living Mountains

Storage areas are created primarily:

during floodplain restoration;

when clearing old riverbeds;

during the formation of new swamps;

during reconstruction of reservoirs;

when creating ecological reservoirs;

during forest restoration and removal of hazardous trees.

Thus, harvesting bogwood becomes part of, rather than the opposite of, ecological restoration.

27. Optimal model

The most rational way is to create not one huge storage facility, but a network of reserves:

several small areas;

different bodies of water;

different breeds;

different immersion times;

different hydrochemical conditions.

This reduces the risk of total fund loss due to one accident.

Conclusion

The right location for the formation of bog wood must be chosen as carefully as the location for a reservoir, a scientific station or a nature reserve.

Main criteria:

stable depth;

weak current;

safe water quality;

suitable bottom sediments;

low risk of wood loss;

absence of conflict with ecosystems and infrastructure;

long-term legal protection;

digital control capability.

Within the frameworkDREVO Living MountainsSuch sites become not timber warehouses, but centuries-old natural and technical reserves, where each trunk is preserved as an ecological, cultural and economic resource for future generations.