Virginia Coastal Program: 2003 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
FY2003 Task 12.06
Grantee:
Virginia Marine Resources Commission
Project Title:
Seaside Heritage Program-Oyster Reef Restoration
Project Description as Proposed:
Oyster reefs will be constructed in association with eelgrass restoration projects. Reef restoration and eelgrass planting efforts have been very encouraging for the past 3 years, especially, in the Cobb Island and South Bay areas of Northampton County. Reefs will be constructed from shells that have been harvested from local fossil shell deposits. Construction will be primarily in the Gull Marsh area. Because of the shallow water of the Coastal Bays, small shell harvesting and reef constructing equipment will be used. Reefs average 1,000 to 4,000 bushels each, vary from 200 to 800 square feet of footprint, and are approximately 1 to 1 and one half feet tall. Shell costs vary from $1.00 to $1.50 per bushel to construct the reefs. At completion of this project, 12 to 25 new oyster reefs will have been constructed. All reef building activity will occur between May and July. Reefs will be monitored for spatset in the Fall of 2004.
Federal Funding:
$50,000.00
Project Contact:
James A. Wesson, 757.247.2121; James.Wesson@mrc.virginia.gov
Project Status:
Grant Closed
Final Product Received:
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
Oyster reefs were constructed for the Virginia Coastal Program
in two locations. Approximately one acre of reef was constructed
in South Bay (Public Ground #26, Northampton County) behind Wreck
Island. Fossil oyster shells were dredged from a nearby site, cleaned,
transported, and deployed onto a series of small reefs approximately
18 inches high at a cost of $1.00 per bushel. These reefs were constructed
in June 2004 with 27,950 bushels of shells using a combination of
VCP ($19,508) and State funds ($8,442). These reefs were built adjacent
to large area of eelgrass restoration for the Seaside Heritage Program
and in an area where bay scallops are being released for restoration.
Reefs were also constructed in June in the Quinby area of Accomack
County on Public Ground #61. Approximately one acre of reef was
constructed in the Cockle Creek area of Quinby. Shucked conch shells
were used for reefs in this area at a cost of $1.50/bushel for 20,328
bushels for a total cost of $30,492.00.
All reefs were monitored for spatset in the fall. There was an excellent spatset throughout the coastal bays in the summer of 2004. The Wreck Island reef had 2,716 spat per meter and the Cockle Creek reefs had 2,164 and 1,440 spat per meter.
In other related projects in the coastal bays, oyster reefs were
constructed in the Gull Marsh area of Spider Crab bay (1/2 acre;
12,950 bushels and the Cobb Island area (1/2 acre;38,200 bushels)
in Northampton County, and in the Quinby-Swash area (1/2 acre; 13,005
bushels) of Accomack County. Additionally 6.87 million eelgrass
seeds were planted in this Gull Marsh - Spidercrab Bay area. Additionally,
46,692 bay scallops that had been grown by aquaculture were held
in spawning cages in South Bay during this spawning season and later
released into the eelgrass beds. These activities were funded with
NWFW-NOAA grant and with State funds.
Form C end
Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Laura McKay, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4323 or email: Laura.McKay@deq.virginia.gov
A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov
