Abstract

More than a Mollusk: Oyster Restoration Efforts in South River, MD
Track: Environmental Management
Authors: Parrish Henderson

Oysters are a critical economic and environmental resource, but their population in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries has declined to less than 1% of pre-colonial levels due to over-harvesting, pollution, and disease. As public agencies and private organizations collaborate to revitalize oyster populations, the author presents a GIS framework to support oyster husbandry and oyster reef restoration site selection efforts for the South River (Federation), a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay.