Outcome: Oyster Restoration Goal: Sustainable Fisheries-Protect, restore and enhance finfish, shellfish and other living resources, their habitats and ecological relationships to sustain all fisheries and provide for a balanced ecosystem in the watershed and Bay.
Outcome: Continually increase finfish and shellfish habitat and water quality benefits from restored oyster populations. Restore native oyster habitat and populations in 10 tributaries by 2025 and ensure their protection. Draft Date: 3/17/16
Long term Target: Restore oyster populations (complete construction/seeding) in 10 tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay by 2025.
2 year Target: Complete Harris Creek restoration construction, continue construction/seeding in the Little Choptank and Tred Avon. Assess past restoration projects in Lynnhaven and Lafayette against the Oyster Metrics. Develop plans and acreage target for the Piankatank River.
2016-2017 Workplan Members of the Maryland and Virginia Interagency Teams are listed below this chart. Management Approach 1: Restoration planning and implementation.
Key Action** Performance Target(s) Participating Entity Geographic Location Timeline Factors Influencing Description of work/project. Define each Identify incremental steps to achieve Key Identify responsible partner for each Identify completion date and/or Gap Identify major action step on its own row. Action. step. (month & year) for each related factor or gap in Identify specific program that will be step) Management Strategy used to achieve action.
Harris Creek: Monitor restored reefs for parameters outlined in the Oyster MD Interagency Team, University Harris Creek (MD Eastern Metrics. Monitor first cohort in Fall 2015 Fall 2016 and Fall 2017 of Maryland Shore) and the second cohort in Fall 2016 for oyster growth and survival.
Harris Creek: May need maintenance seeding of restoration sites TBD Harris Creek (MD Eastern MD Interagency Team 2016 depending on monitoring results from Shore) 2015.
MD DNR will continue to collect continuous water quality data at sites in Harris Creek, and monitor the Harris Creek (MD Eastern MD DNR 2016-2017 prevalence of Perkinsus marinus (which Shore) causes Dermo disease) as part of their annual Fall Survey.
Tred Avon River: Continue seeding and # acres seeded will reef construction. Specific acreage # for depend hatchery seeding and construction is TBD. Plans production. Estimate called for constructing 8 acres of oyster Tred Avon River (MD MD Interagency Team 2016-2017 approx. 100 total acres reef habitat in the Tred Avon River in Eastern Shore) will be seeded between FY16. This construction is delayed Tred and Little Choptank pending the State of Maryland's review in 2016. of oyster management strategies.
Maryland Interagency Team Tred Avon River: Conduct a series of continues restoration and monitoring meetings and on-water data collection in the three currently selected trips with the watermen community and Tred Avon River (MD tributaries in Maryland. staff/leadership from NOAA, USACE and MD Interagency Team early-mid 2016 Eastern Shore) MD DNR. Finalize the draft tributary plan based on the outcome of these meetings.
Tred Avon River: Gather public input on Tred Avon River (MD the shallow water reef construction USACE Spring 2016 Eastern Shore) Environmental Assessment (EA).
# acres seeded will Little Choptank: Continue seeding. with depend hatchery specific acreage # TBD based on production. Estimate Little Choptank River (MD hatchery production. Reef construction MD Interagency Team 2016-2017 approx. 100 total acres Eastern Shore) pending reactivation and approval of will be seeded between permit application. Tred and Little Choptank in 2016.
Tred Avon and Little Choptank Rivers: Tred Avon and Little Funding for YSI's and Maryland DNR will continue to collect MD DNR Choptank Rivers (MD 2016-2017 salary must be secured. continuous water quality data. Eastern Shore)
Continue monthly meetings of the MD Interagency Team to discuss progress MD Interagency Team (NOAA Maryland Ongoing and future plans in selected tributaries in lead) Maryland.
Total Lynnhaven River: Complete restoration planning process and develop a tributary Lynnhaven Team (USACE lead) Lynnhaven River (VA) Ongoing acreage goal. Continue evaluating the status of past restoration projects.
These projects are Lynnhaven River: Add hard reef habitat dependent upon the as part of the Lynnhaven Ecosystem USACE Lynnhaven River (VA) 2016-2017 ability to obtain bottom Restoration Project (FY16 and 17). leases in the project areas.
Lafayette River: Complete restoration planning process. Construct 10 acres of reefs to meet tributary target of 80 acres Lafayette Team (NOAA lead) Lafayette River (VA) Ongoing (70 acres have already been restored or meet the Oyster Metrics criteria for Virginia Interagency Team continues restored reefs). restoration and monitoring in the three currently selected tributaries in Virginia.
Piankatank River: Complete restoration planning process and develop a tributary acreage goal. Develop a baseline Piankatank Team (NOAA lead) Piankatank River (VA) 2016-2017 evaluation to evaluate existing reef acreage and inform the tributary acreage goal.
These projects are Piankatank River: USACE plans to dependent upon the construct 39-acres of habitat USACE Piankatank River (VA) 2016 ability to obtain bottom (alternative substrates and possibly leases in the project larger reef balls). areas.
Piankatank River: VMRC will continue shell maintenance on past restoration VMRC Piankatank River (VA) 2016-2017 sites.
VA Interagency Team will continue to meet quarterly to discuss progress and Virginia Interagency Team (USACE future plans for restoration in Virginia. Virginia Ongoing lead) Specific tributary teams will continue to meet more frequently as needed.
Total
Interagency teams review selection criteria and recommend additional candidate tributaries in Maryland and Virginia for restoration, including MD and VA Interagency Teams MD and VA late 2016/early 2017 collaborating with the Potomac River Fisheries Commission to discuss efforts in the Potomac River. Select additional tributaries in Maryland and/or Virginia for restoration. Jurisdictions identify candidate tributaries to go forward for public MD DNR and VMRC MD and VA early 2017 scoping.
Maryland: Conduct public scoping to obtain input on tributary selection in MD Interagency Team MD early 2017 Maryland with selection by late 2017.
Total
NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office will Maryland: Harris Creek, continue to administer their grant- Little Choptank River, Tred funded Oyster Reef Ecosystem Services NOAA, VIMS, UMD, UMCES, VCU, Avon River; Virginia: Great (ORES) projects. The ORES Principal Ongoing through 2017 SERC Wicomico River, Piankatank Investigators will continue to conduct River, Lynnhaven River, their research to quantify the ecosystem Lafayette River benefits of oyster reef restoration.
Maryland: Harris Creek, Little Choptank River, Tred ORES Principal Investigators will meet NOAA, VIMS, UMD, UMCES, VCU, Avon River; Virginia: Great regularly to discuss their research and Ongoing through 2017 SERC Wicomico River, Piankatank results. River, Lynnhaven River, Continue collecting data to quantify Lafayette River ecosystem services on restored reefs.
Communicate Results: Develop a plan Maryland: Harris Creek, for future publication of ORES projects Little Choptank River, Tred and results. Share results with state Avon River; Virginia: Great NOAA Ongoing through 2017 management agencies. Post regular Wicomico River, Piankatank research updates on NOAA Chesapeake River, Lynnhaven River, Bay Office websites. Lafayette River
Continue compiling information on additional ecosystem services studies NOAA, MD and VA Interagency Maryland and Virginia Ongoing and incorporating results where Teams tributaries appropriate.
Collect data from community groups on MD DNR Maryland Ongoing location and quantity of oysters planted.
Track oyster restoration efforts by community groups and efforts in other locations in the Chesapeake Bay. Provide data for implementation of DoD installations where oyster reef projects at select DoD DoD (Navy) 2016/2017 applicable installations.
Total
Management Approach 2: Securing support and resources. Key Action** Performance Target(s) Participating Entity Geographic Location Timeline Factors Influencing
Restoration partners will continue to Communicate the progress on current Long-term funding to meet with funding agencies and restoration efforts to funding agencies MD and VA Interagency Teams MD and VA Ongoing support future organizations to maximize available and organizations. construction, seeding and resources. monitoring. Total
Restoration partners will work Discuss how to preserve leases in VA Interagency Team, Lynnhaven Bottom leasing and collaboratively to promote efficient, restoration areas for future restoration Lynnhaven River (VA) 2016 Team permitting for restoration streamlined permitting processes. efforts planned for those leased area. project areas.
Total Discuss the issue of limited Consider the concerns of shell budget shell/substrate resources and hatchery Shell/substrate availability and hatchery capacity and how to capacity at the February 2016 Oyster MD and VA Interagency Teams MD and VA February 2016 and hatchery spat supply. address future issues. Summit hosted by the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office.
Explore availability and suitability of Collect information on the availability, alternative substrates for use in reef price, and performance of potential MD DNR, UMCES, ORP Maryland 2016-2017 restoration and hatchery. substrates for use in oyster restoration.
The Chesapeake Bay Commission will work collaboratively with the Bay Program partners to identify legislative, budgetary and policy needs to advance the goals of the Work with oyster restoration partners to Chesapeake Watershed Agreement. identify legislative, policy and/or Chesapeake Bay Commission, MD CBC will, in turn, pursue action within MD, VA Ongoing budgetary needs and identify potential and VA Interagency Teams our member state General actions where feasible. Assemblies and the United States Congress. See CBC Resolution #14-1 for additional information on the CBC’s participation in the management strategies.
Total
Management Approach 3: Future Protection. Key Action** Performance Target(s) Participating Entity Geographic Location Timeline Factors Influencing
Improve surveillance techniques and MD DNR and VMRC MD and VA Ongoing technology where possible.
Promote increased awareness of MD and VA Interagency Teams, Maryland, Virginia and the Potomac MD and VA Ongoing consequences of poaching. MD DNR, VMRC River Fisheries Commissions natural resources law enforcement agencies will continue to implement and Enforcement
will continue to implement and Enforcement assess the effectiveness of enforcement plans to address Explore the use of alternative poaching. materials/substrate as protection for MD and VA Interagency Teams MD and VA Ongoing restored reefs.
Tributary teams will identify additional considerations for sanctuary reefs that MD and VA Interagency Teams MD and VA Ongoing are in close proximity to harvest/seed areas open to industry.
Total
Management Approach 4: Approaches Targeted for Local Participation.
Key Action** Performance Target(s) Participating Entity Geographic Location Timeline Factors Influencing
Conduct stakeholder outreach meetings for local communities near selected MD and VA Interagency Teams, MD and VA Ongoing Public support Conduct outreach to the general tributaries during the restoration VMRC, MD DNR public and to stakeholders near planning process. selected tributaries or candidate tributaries to inform them and obtain their feedback about restoration Utilize restoration partner websites and efforts . the Chesapeake Bay Program website to Fisheries GIT MD and VA 2016 feature information and progress updates on restoration efforts.
As part of the Marylanders Grow Oyster Promote stewardship and oyster Program, deliver spat and cages to restoration through oyster gardening MD DNR, DoD, ORP, UMCES, CBF Maryland Ongoing oyster growers and plant last year's spat programs. in oyster sanctuaries.
Total MD Interagency Workgroup Virginia Interagency Workgroup Virginia Interagency Workgroup NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office (lead) Piankatank River Lafayette River USACE Baltimore District NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office (lead) NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office (lead) Maryland Department of Natural Resources USACE Norfolk District USACE Norfolk District Oyster Recovery Partnership Virginia Marine Resources Commission Virginia Marine Resources Commission Virginia Institute of Marine Science Virginia Institute of Marine Science The Nature Conservancy Chesapeake Bay Foundation Chesapeake Bay Foundation Christopher Newport University City of Norfolk Elizabeth River Partnership Acronyms CBF Chesapeake Bay Foundation Virginia Interagency Workgroup CNU Christopher Newport University Lynnhaven River ERP Elizabeth River Partnership USACE Norfolk District (lead) Fisheries GIT Sustainable Fisheries Goal Implementation Team NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office MD DNR Maryland Department of Natural Resources Virginia Marine Resources Commission NCBO NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office Virginia Institute of Marine Science NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Chesapeake Bay Foundation ORES Oyster Reef Ecosystem Services Lynnhaven River NOW ORP Oyster Recovery Partnership City of Virginia Beach PRFC Potomac River Fisheries Commission Oyster Reefkeepers SERC Smithsonian Environmental Research Center TNC The Nature Conservancy UMCES University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science UMD University of Maryland USACE United States Army Corps of Engineers VCU Virginia Commonwealth University VIMS Virginia Institute of Marine Science VMRC Virginia Marine Resources Commission