![]() The Corps restores reef structure to re-establish oyster habitat where it previously existed.ĭNR is responsible for maintaining the network of oyster sanctuaries established in 2010 after extensive scientific study and public outreach. For work undertaken by others like DNR, the Corps evaluates the impact of the discharge of dredged or fill material into all Waters of the United States under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, and any structures/work proposed in navigable waters under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act through a permitting process managed by the Corps Regulatory Program.įor Civil Works oyster restoration projects in Maryland, the Corps Baltimore District is the lead federal agency, and DNR is the non-federal sponsor. Through an authority under Section 704(b) of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1986, as amended, the Corps provides construction assistance for certain oyster restoration projects through its Civil Works program. The Corps is involved in oyster restoration in two ways. This Maryland Interagency Workgroup facilitates oyster restoration by working together and consulting with scientific, academic and oyster restoration experts to ensure environmentally-sound and cost-effective efforts. The Corps, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and Oyster Recovery Partnership (ORP), partner to conduct oyster restoration in Maryland’s tidal waters. Who is involved with oyster restoration in Maryland, and what do they do? The initial purpose of Chesapeake Bay Oyster Restoration projects was to restore oyster habitat and populations in 20 tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay by 2025, as established in Executive Order 13508. The 2014 Chesapeake Bay Agreement later adapted this goal to 10 tributaries by 2025. The State of Maryland’s restoration actions in Maryland waters only are conducted in accordance with Maryland’s 10-Point Oyster Restoration Plan (Maryland Department of Natural Resources, (DNR), 2010). Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) long-term, large-scale Native Oyster Restoration Master Plan (2012) guides projects funded for Corps construction as part of the Maryland and Virginia bay-wide oyster restoration program. There are two important documents that guide how oyster restoration actions are conducted in the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay. What guides oyster restoration in Maryland? Less than one percent of historic oyster populations remains. ![]() Oyster populations in the Chesapeake Bay have declined considerably in the last century, largely due to parasitic diseases, overharvesting, declining water quality, and loss of habitat. Other benefits also include nutrient cycling, reduced sedimentation, long-term carbon storage to help mitigate global warming, and oyster production that extends beyond the defined sanctuaries for restoration. Additionally, oysters are filter feeders that improve water quality - a single adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water in 24 hours. Oyster restoration is important because oysters provide a number of environmental benefits, including reef habitat that is significant to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem for animals like blue crabs and fish. For more information on restoration efforts within the Corps Norfolk District’s jurisdiction in Virginia, visit. The below questions and answers pertain only to oyster restoration in Maryland.
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