Oyster Bagging & Deployment

Many hands will make for easy work bagging and deploying oyster shell for reef restoration projects in Indian River Lagoon

Volunteer Opportunities

Be a part of habitat restoration in Indian River Lagoon

Update: here are some diagrams and photographs of spoil island SL 18B showing the work of volunteers over the last 9 months.  

  (Click Image To Enlarge) Oyster Modules underway around Spoil IslandThe 2010 aerial shows your hard work surrounding the island.    The buffer between the oyster modules and the seagrasses on the western shoreline appears to be fairly stable at 6 feet wide.  Seagrasses on the eastern shoreline have grown towards the oyster modules however, possibly as a result of sand accumulation in these areas. 

A proposed Boy Scout reef is waterward of the southwestern shoreline (between the 2 tree root balls) in this photograph, demonstrating the need for shoreline stabilization to prevent further erosion and settling onto valuable seagrass beds nearby.


 May update from Jim -   Cracker Boy Boat Works has reloaded our bagging table and the Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserve has purchased additional netting to make bags with.  Thanks to Cracker Boy and the Aquatic Preserve!

In the last 10 days we have documented at least 9 species of seabirds, including one nesting pair, using your reef and the island.  For now its probably best to stay off the island.  This island may become an ecotourism destination if it continues to develop!


Halodule (shoalgrass) growing toward SE ModulesSeagrasses are starting to come back near the oyster reef and we spotted large snook, sheepshead, and schools of mullet on the reefs at high tide.  Please inform me if anyone is interested in bagging next week in the late afternoons or if you'd prefer to wait another week.

Thanks,
Jim

James B. Oppenborn
St. Lucie County Marine Resource Coordinator
Public Works Department
2300 Virginia Ave.
Fort Pierce, FL  34982

Here are More Articles About Fish Habitat and Research