Recycled Oysters Improve Water Quality in Lafayette River

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation began restoration efforts at the Norfolk, Va., Lafayette River to increase the river's oyster population and ultimately decrease bacteria levels. The foundation is leading the effort to collect used oyster shells, clean them, harvest baby oysters and return the shells to the water.

“We’re trying to increase the population of oysters,” said Heather North, oyster restoration specialist for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “They filter the water. A single adult oyster can filter water in the summer months up to 50 gal of water a day.”

Staff and volunteers dumped more than 400,000 oysters into the Lafayette River over a three-day period in August 2016. The foundation plans to add 5 million oysters in the water throughout the remaining summer. 

Since 2010, the foundation has delivered more than 60 million oysters to more than 60 acres of oyster reef built by the foundation and its partners. The reefs provide a place for the oysters to grow and provide a home for fish, crabs and hundreds of other organisms. 

The Lafayette River was once deemed not safe for swimming or recreation due to high bacteria levels. The goal of the recycling project is to improve water quality for those who live on or near the water and use the water for recreation.

“This holistic approach that we’ve gone about has ultimately led to the Lafayette River being delisted for bacteria levels, which is a huge piece of evidence that this work has been meaningful,” said Jackie Shannon, oyster restoration specialist for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. "We all benefit from having a healthy, thriving Chesapeake Bay.”

The foundation wants to replicate their success in nearby tributaries in the years to come. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has oyster-recycling efforts in place in communities across the region, including Gloucester, Mass.; Newport News, Va.; Chesapeake, Va.; Hampton, Va.; and Smithfield, R.I. 

Source: WAVY-TV