West Caldwell, NJ, October 14, 2005 – In the wake of recent damage caused primarily by Hurricane Katrina, there is a great need to protect not only citizens and businesses, but also the wetlands that have always acted as a natural buffer from storm surges.

Hurricane Katrina has received much press for being the destructive force behind the levee damage in New Orleans, but not as much was made of the destruction of the natural wetlands.

Wetlands are defined by many varied characteristics such as soil type, level and duration of saturation throughout the year, and the types of resident plant and animal communities present.

Wetlands continue to be vital for protection of the environment because they act as a natural buffer between open water and land. They help to filter pollution, purify drinking water, protect rivers, lakes and coastal water ways. Wetlands are also needed to help absorb floodwaters, protect homes and infrastructure, and provide habitat for many plant and animal species.

The US Fish & Wildlife Service estimates that since the 1800's, the US has lost approximately 53% of its estimated original 221 million acres of wetlands, and continues to lose almost 60,000 acres each year. Loss of even the smallest of wetlands can impact the environment, and once they become degraded, are as much a liability as those that are completely destroyed.

After storms destroy wetlands, new vegetation needs to be created in order to provide the level of protection to the environment that is so vital. During the planting and re-growing stages of the new vegetation, the wetlands are fragile, and susceptible to further destruction, or complete loss. It is then that they need protection from waves so that their growth is not compromised.

To protect the fragile wetlands, and help foster their growth, Elemental Innovation has developed the HALO Eco which offers advanced protection for wetland restoration.

HALO ECO units are the smallest of the HALO line of wave attenuators, are portable, rapidly deployed, and easily adjusted to changing climates once in the water. HALO ECO units require non-invasive anchoring methods, and offer the same low maintenance and self-cleaning properties of other HALO models.

HALO ECO is an ideal solution for wetlands restoration, riverbank protection, pollution control, aquaculture, and oil containment. HALO ECO works with nature to dissipate waves and wakes, foster growth of aquatic vegetation, allow littoral drift of sand, permit the natural flushing of an environment, protect sensitive wetlands, and act as an artificial reef for wild life.

Like other HALO wave attenuators, the HALO ECO is designed to allow a portion of wave energy to pass through small openings on its face to the area located between the unit and its mounting points. This area is where the waves overlap and interfere with each other causing dissipation.

About Elemental Innovation, Inc.
A leading engineering firm, Elemental Innovation, Inc. provides proven coastal protection through the ecofriendly, tunable HALO wave attenuator. For less than half the cost, HALO wave attenuators out performs conventional technologies. By absorbing rather than deflecting the force of waves, HALO eliminates 80% of a wave’s height to protect beaches and harbors. Before founding Elemental Innovation in 2000, Justin Bishop designed and patented the WhisprWaveTM wave attenuator. After selling the WhisprWave business, he then developed more advanced technology and designed the HALO (formerly Tempest).
For more information,please visit http://www.elementalinnovation.com, email info@elementalinnovation.com, or call us at 1.973.218.9880.
# # #

Press Contact:
Glenn C. Breslauer
Vice President, Public Relations
Elemental Innovation, Inc.
+1 973.218.9880
gbreslauer@elementalinnovation.com