Oyster Spawning Reefs in Mississippi
Implementing Organization
State of Mississippi
Overview
DWH Project Funding
$10,000,000
Known Leveraged Funding
$0
Funding Organization
Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees (NRDA)
Funding Program
Natural Resource Damage Assessment NRDA
Details
Project Category
Environmental
Project Actions
Species Restoration
Targeted Resources
Oysters/Reefs
Project Description
The project will restore or create a minimum of 100 acres and a maximum of 400 acres of high-relief cultch placements in up to six locations in the Mississippi Sound and areas including St. Louis Bay, Heron Bay, Back Bay/Biloxi Bay, Graveline Bay, Pascagoula Bay, and Grand Bay in Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties. This project includes the possibility of placement of more than 400 acres where it is feasible, depending on engineering and design, costs, and other considerations. Cultch placement will be prioritized to areas determined to be the most suitable to maximize restoration benefits within the potential cultch placement areas. The siting of reefs will consider substrate suitability, on-going and planned management activities, and other environmental factors that could affect restoration efforts. No more than 35% of cultch will be placed in harvestable (tonging only) zones with the remaining cultch placement in non-harvestable zones (Restricted and Prohibited Areas).
Contact
Chris Wells(601) 961-5545
cwells@mdeq.ms.gov
Project Website
None
For official trustee information regarding the Deepwater Horizon NRDA, including information regarding the NRDA process and the status of projects, see https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/