Chesapeake In Need of Oysters!

Preservation Proposal

Basics
Description:
The Chesapeake Bay is a vital part of Maryland and Virginia’s history and livelihood. Although the Chesapeake Bay’s watershed includes New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia, the two states that are directly connected to the Bay and use it the most recreationally, and for work are Maryland and Virginia. Over the years, the Bay has become increasingly more polluted because of agricultural and residential run off1. Development in the watershed has led to more paved surfaces that are unable to filter out the trash and nutrients that have a major impact on the declining health of the Bay.
Oysters are an integral part of the Chesapeake Bay’s health. They filter water - about 50 gallons per day!1 There has been such a decline in the population due to harvesting and other reasons that now, it would take over a year to filter all of the water that is in the Chesapeake1. Before, when the population was booming, it would only have taken a few days. That is a phenomenal change in population and it is critical that the numbers get back to where they were in the 1800’s.

Purpose and Main Goal:
The purpose of this project is to lend a hand in helping the Chesapeake recover from years of continual stress and decline. The main goal that I would like to see accomplished is to set up a protected oyster farm by utilizing the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in Maryland to set up oyster beds and habitat. There is already a project like this in Virginia that utilizes many volunteers in order to transplant the oysters. They worked with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science in order to get the project running, and as well as to maintain it.

Public Awareness:
This project will enhance public awareness because a lot of people do not know how to help the Bay recover. After the oyster beds are created, they will still need to be maintained, and possibly there may be more of a push to create new beds. Because this project will rely on volunteers as well as the class to help, newspaper articles and advertisements would be a great way to raise awareness. If you get the community involved, they may try to make lifestyle changes in order to promote the health of the bay.

Sustainability:
As previously stated, the project can be sustained with the help of a marine biology center and by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Also, if they oyster beds are created they should be able to sustain themselves by reproduction. The oysters filter the water in the Bay and eventually, after there are enough oysters, there should be a change in water quality.

Budget:
I am not sure what the budget will need to include yet because the Chesapeake Bay Foundation may be able to fund some of this project. I would assume however that we could run newspaper ads and also feed the volunteers.
Newspaper Ad(s): $100-$200
Food/Drinks for Volunteers: $200-$300

Contacts:
Chesapeake Bay Foundation Headquarters
Philip Merrill Environmental Center
6 Herndon Avenue
Annapolis, MD 21403
phone: 410.268.8816
phone: 410.269.0481 (from Baltimore)
phone: 301.261.2350 (from D.C. metro)
fax: 410.268.6687

Virginia State Office
Capitol Place
1108 E. Main Street
Suite 1600
Richmond, VA 23219
phone: 804.780.1392
fax: 804.648.4011

Research
Historical Significance:
As previously stated, the oyster population in the 1800’s was at a point where all of the water in the bay could be filtered in a few days. Now, it would take over a year to do the same. It is important that Maryland and Virginia be able to still harvest oysters while maintaining the critical numbers needed to filter the Bay’s water.

Readings:
1. Moore, Chris. “CBF’s Oyster Farm in Virginia is a Huge Success”. Chesapeake Bay Foundation. 12 Oct. 2006.
This article discusses the project of creating oyster beds in Virginia. It also discusses the significant role that oysters play in filtering the water in the Chesapeake Bay. It describes how the project was started, and implemented as well.