Harris Creek Oyster Restoration Open House

Little Choptank River Oyster Restoration

Open House Welcome! We would like to hear your suggestions and comments on restoring the oyster population in the Little Choptank River oyster sanctuary.

Please look at the posters and feel free to ask questions and leave comments.

DNR and Oysters

Historically it is has been the state’s responsibility to conserve and manage fishery resources, including oysters.

1868 State Fishery Force (Oyster Police) 1882 Oyster Commission 1906 Shell Fish Commission 1916 Conservation Commission 1922 Conservation Department 1941 Board of Natural Resources 1943 Authority for oyster management assigned to the Board (Tidewater Fisheries Commission) by the General Assembly 1964 Dept. of Chesapeake Bay Affairs 1969 Dept. of Natural Resources 1972 Fisheries Administration created

NOAA and Oysters In 2009, President Obama signed an executive order that called on the federal government to lead a renewed Chesapeake Bay restoration effort. The strategy developed by federal partners in response set a clear goal for oysters: Restore oyster populations in 20* tributaries by 2025. *Chesapeake Bay Program goal ; this goal is currently out for public comment and may be reduced to 10. NOAA is one of the lead federal agencies involved in oyster restoration in the Chesapeake. We work with federal, state, and local partners to implement large-scale restoration, and provide science support to understand how to better manage the resource and habitat.

NOAA’s Chesapeake oyster restoration program has grown from one small project of less than ¼ acre in 1995 to multiagency projects that have planted more than 300 million juvenile oysters and restored up to 200 acres per year.

NOAA and its partners have implemented the mapping of tributaries with sonar technology to identify suitable bottom for shell and seed planting and reef construction. Preferable sites are: . hard and geologically stable with sand or oyster shell as the base, . either contain or create moderate to high rugosity (a measure of surface irregularity/complexity), and . informed by both water quality and hydrodynamics.

Sites are typically located on historic oyster bottom. Oyster Reef Ecosystem Services Project 1. Habitat Complexity 2. Water Quality 3. Fish Sampling 4. Modeling 5. Economic Analyses

Ecological Ecological Ecosystem Economic Ecosystem Studies Production Service Function Service Value Function

Finfish Sampling Oyster Commercial Reef and Ecosystem Finfish Economic Recreational and Analysis Biomass Value of Finfish Habitat Biomass Models Habitat Monitoring Oyster Reef Ecosystem Services Project: Choptank Complex

Harris Creek

Tred Avon River

Cook Point Sanctuary

Little Choptank River This Restoration Atlas covers the combined efforts of Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, US Army Corps of Engineers- Baltimore District, NOAA Office of Habitat Conservation, Oyster Recovery Partnership, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and the University of Maryland Corps of Engineers and Oysters

Congress authorized the Corps of Engineers to do oyster restoration in the Chesapeake Bay in Section 704(b) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986.

The initial funding for the oyster restoration came in fiscal year 1995; since then, over the past 18 years, more than $21 million has been received for the Maryland effort [there is a similar effort ongoing in Virginia waters] . The Corps has been partnering with Maryland DNR since 1997 to construct oyster bars in the Chesapeake Bay. In the past 16 years, the Corps has placed substrate (both shell and alternative substrate) in the Severn, Magothy, Patuxent, Chester, and Choptank Rivers, as well as Eastern Bay and Kedges Strait.

Currently, the Corps’ mission is focused on ecosystem restoration to maximize aquatic habitat benefits.

Status of Maryland’s Oyster Industry

Harvest – Maryland’s oyster harvest has averaged 129,000 bushels annually since 2002. The annual harvest averaged 2. 5 million and 1. 3 million bushels during the 1920-69 and 1970-2002 periods, respectively.

Maryland Oyster Landings 16

14

12

10

8 Landings Landings 6

(millions of of (millions bushels) 4

2

0 1800 1850 1900 1950 2000 2050

Year

Harvesters - Prior to the disease epizootics (the rapid spread of disease among animals) of the mid-1980s, there were more than 2,000 oyster harvesters. The average number of annual oyster surcharge holders in MD from 2002 through 2014 was 610. Processors - In 1974, there were 58 oyster processing companies in Maryland. Today, there are fewer than 18. Status of the Chesapeake Bay Oyster Resource

Population - Since 1994, the Chesapeake Bay’s oyster population has languished at 1% of historic levels.

Maryland Oyster Biomass Index

2.50

2.00

1.50

1.00

Biomass Index 0.50

0.00 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Survey Year The graph above shows oyster biomass estimates for the Maryland portion of Chesapeake Bay relative to a 1993 baseline. Although biomass has increased the past few years, it is far below historic levels.

Habitat – Over the past 25 years, the amount of suitable oyster bar habitat has declined 80%, from 200,000 to 36,000 acres. Sedimentation has played a large role in the loss of habitat. Decline in Habitat

Reasons For Decline . Disease: Two protozoan diseases, MSX and Dermo, have ravaged Maryland’s oyster populations. Disease was particularly bad in the 1980s. Warren Denton Company, Broome’s Island 1940s . Overharvesting: Oysters were http://calvert.lib.md.us/history/oyster_pile.htm removed by harvest over the past century, and shell was not replaced. Free-swimming larval oysters need to attach to hard material to survive. Oyster shell provides the predominant hard material in the Bay, so as the oyster population declined, so did the habitat for the next generation of oysters. . Pollution and Poor Water Quality: Sediment washed into the bay may smother oyster beds. Excess nutrients entering Tropical Storm Lee , September 2011, the bay may lead to low NASA satellite photo oxygen. Maryland’s 10-Point Oyster Restoration and Industry Revitalization Plan

1. Focus on target restoration strategies to achieve ecological and economic goals 2. Expand the sanctuary program 3. Support a more targeted, scientifically managed and sustainable wild oyster fishery 4. Shift commercial production to aquaculture 5. Rehabilitate oyster bar habitat 6. Manage against oyster disease and facilitate natural disease resistance 7. Increase hatchery production 8. Enhance law enforcement 9. Increase citizen involvement 10. Integrate inmate labor Maryland Oyster Sanctuaries and Public Shellfish Areas How Do We Define a “Restored Reef”? Per President Obama’s 2009 Executive Order on the Chesapeake Bay, state and federal agencies have agreed to a goal of restoring oysters in 20 Bay tributaries by 2025.

But what do we mean by a “restored reef”? Six years after restoration activity, the reef should have at least 15 oysters* per square meter (preferably 50 oysters), covering at least 30% of the reef, and at least two year classes present. Reef structure should also persist, or preferably expand, over six years.

What do we mean by “restore a tributary”? 50-100% of currently-restorable bottom is covered with restored oyster reefs. Currently restorable bottom means hard seafloor, and water quality that will support living oysters. Based on marine protected area theory and the fact that the historic oyster bars contained non-habitat areas, this restorable bottom must be a minimum of 8-16% of the historic oyster footprint. The Little Choptank River has 685 acres of restorable bottom, so the goal is to restore 342-685 acres.

Who determined that? The Oyster Metrics Team, a Bay-wide group of scientists and fishery managers, defined what would be considered a “restored reef” and a “restored tributary” for the purpose of tracking progress toward the common goal of restoring 20 tributaries.

* Technically, the goal is at least 15 oysters and 15 grams of dry tissue weight. One 3-inch oyster has about one gram of dry tissue weight. So you can think of the minimum goal as a square meter of oyster reef with fifteen 3-inch oysters, or that same amount of oyster biomass spread among lots of smaller oysters. Why Was the Little Choptank River Chosen?

 Salinity (salt) level in the river is moderate. This allows for good oyster reproduction (not found in less saline waters), yet still shows low disease levels (saltier waters tend to have higher disease levels). So the Little Choptank is somewhat of a “sweet spot,” where moderate salinities favor both good reproduction and relatively low disease.

 Has some productive oyster reefs, which can produce oyster larvae to help seed existing and newly-built reefs.  Has relatively good water quality.

 Achievable scale – Analysis of the Little Choptank River shows there are 685 acres of restorable bottom (hard bottom, with water quality that will support live oysters, in less than 20 feet of water). Our goal is to restore at least 342 acres in the Little Choptank.  Is already an oyster sanctuary, meaning it is closed to oyster harvesting.

 The expectation is that larvae produced in the creek by existing or planted oysters will tend to stay within the Choptank River system, either in the Little Choptank River itself or in nearby creeks. What Areas in the Little Choptank River Are Suitable for Oyster Restoration?

685 acres of restorable river bottom in the Little Choptank oyster sanctuary. Where Are The Existing Oysters? There are already functioning oyster reefs in the Little Choptank River. We want to do restoration work where it is needed, and not smother existing, healthy reefs with new seed or structure.

Restored reef goal: at least 15 oysters per square meter, preferably 50. Potential Oyster Restoration Sites

Seed only = Areas with good reef structure, but just need additional oyster seed planted on top to jump start the population.

Substrate and seed = Areas that currently have little or no reef structure, so the reef needs to be physically constructed from substrate (usually shell or granite). Oyster seed will then be planted on top of the newly-constructed reef base. Potential Oyster Restoration Sites

Seed Only Areas with good reef structure, but just need additional oyster seed planted on top to jump start the population.

Substrate and Seed Areas that currently have little or no reef structure, so the reef needs to be physically constructed from substrate (usually shell or granite). Oyster seed will then be planted on top of the newly-constructed reef base. Restoration Techniques We Are Considering Adding hard structure to seafloor Free-swimming larval oysters need hard structure to attach to for survival. Oyster reefs historically provided this 3-dimensional structure, but today there is a lack of structure for settlement.

Possible material types . Shell . Fossil shell . Crushed concrete . Granite or other rock

Planting juvenile oysters Adding hatchery-produced juvenile oysters (called seed, or spat-on-shell) to new or existing reefs can help jump-start the population. Three-Dimensional Structures

Three-dimensional structures such as reef balls and oyster castles may be used in some areas

Reef Balls Oyster Castles

Pros Cons • Gets oysters off bottom • Not practical for into flow restoring large areas • May prevent poaching • May interfere with trot • Involves community lining groups Timeline for Restoration

. Oyster goal: 342 to 685 acres; at this time, we are targeting 400 acres of restored reefs. . Right now, we have 17 acres with the goal density. . We need to add seed and/or substrate to a minimum of 325 acres. . 547 acres are under consideration for substrate and/or seeding. . We have funding to create substrate on 131 acres (DNR) this year . We can seed 200 acres/year. . We expect the restoration to take 2 to 5 years at current funding levels. . Restoration is contingent upon continued state and federal funding.

Unrestored Area Restored Area Issues? Here’s What We Know and Don’t Know Question Answer Will I be able to use my boat? Right now, we are limited to 8-foot clearance, but we would like to go shallower to increase the area of restoration. Where are the channels to keep We need your input … clear? What depth needs to be maintained for your boat? Will I be able to fish/crab/anchor? There is no reason why you couldn’t fish/crab/anchor in these spots. Can I trotline over the alternative Legally you can, but we have heard substrate? that larger pieces of substrate physically interfere with gear. How small does the substrate need We need your input … to be avoid trotlining problems? Are there any effects on leasing? Restoration activities will not occur on currently leased areas. Anything else? Please let us know …

To date 189 acres have been restored in Harris Creek with no complaints about navigation. Did You Forget to Tell Us Something?

If you think of issues we may have missed related to oyster restoration in the Little Choptank River, please contact us with your comments.

Thank you for your input.

Eric Weissberger Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service 580 Taylor Ave. B-2 Annapolis, MD 21401 (410) 260-8344 [email protected]

Kim Gross U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District P.O. Box 1715 Baltimore MD 21203-1715 (410) 962-3457 [email protected]

Stephanie Reynolds Westby NOAA Restoration Center, Chesapeake Bay 410 Seven Ave, Suite 107A Annapolis, MD 21403 (410)295-3153 [email protected] All open house materials can be found on the Internet at: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/oysters/eco_resto/index.asp Email comments to: [email protected]