Improving Resilience for Oysters by Linking Brood Reefs and Sink Reefs
Implementing Organization
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; State of Alabama; State of Florida; State of Louisiana; State of Mississippi; State of Texas
Overview
DWH Project Funding
$35,819,974
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 aims to increase oyster abundance and restore resilience to oyster populations by increasing connectivity through larval transport and constructing oyster habitat within a range of habitats and salinities. The project would create a network of high-vertical relief brood (protected) reefs. These brood reefs would be linked by larval transport to sink reefs (harvested or protected) that either already exist or that would be created through the project. This interlinked network of reefs would increase oyster population sustainability and oyster reef resilience. The reef design would help ensure connectivity between larvae produced on the brood reefs and the sink reefs. The selected project sites may contain both subtidal and intertidal habitat, to address the lost connection between these habitats identified in the PDARP/PEIS (DWH NRDA Trustees 2016) and Strategic Framework for Oyster Restoration Activities (DWH NRDA Trustees 2017b). To increase resilience, the reefs could be placed along a salinity gradient based on local conditions. Given annual variation in rainfall, associated freshwater inputs to estuaries, and ensuing variations in salinity, constructing reefs across a range of habitats and salinities increases the likelihood of oyster recruitment and survival. Additionally, constructing reefs along an intertidal-subtidal gradient where possible may restore the population linkage that was disrupted by the DWH oil spill. Reefs would be constructed/elevated high enough to protect oysters from hypoxic bottom waters. Where possible, reefs would be constructed on suitable hard substrate that does not currently support oyst...click on "More Info" link below
Contact
Jamie Schubert(409) 621-1248
jamie.schubert@noaa.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/