Conducting Habitat Suitability Analyses to Identify Optimal Oyster Restoration Locations Along Florida's Gulf Coast
Implementing Organization
State of Florida
Overview
DWH Project Funding
$2,802,812
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
This project will address critical data gaps to oyster restoration in Florida by assessing habitat suitability for oysters, therefore greatly increasing the success of future oyster restoration efforts. Specifically, this project will develop oyster habitat suitability indices (HSI) for six basins along the Gulf coast to provide critical information on the most suitable restoration sites and sequencing of Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) implementation activities. This will involve 1) data compilation, 2) benthic mapping, 3) field deployment and oyster reef monitoring, and 4) development of GIS-based HSI maps in Pensacola Bay and St. Andrew Bay in the Panhandle region, Suwannee Sound and the Withlacoochee/ Crystal River area in the North Peninsular region, and Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor in the South Peninsular region.
Contact
Gareth Leonard(850) 617-9452
gareth.leonard@myfwc.com
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/