Oysters are crucial to a bay ecosystem because they filter and clean the water while providing habitats, food, and barrier protection from tides and erosion.
An EPA program has been working to restore oyster reefs in the Chesapeake Bay and is making incredible progress ahead of its 2025 goal.
The EPA established a Chesapeake Bay Program through a unique regional partnership involving six states and Washington, D.C. The program supports habitat and climate resilience efforts in the bay to address changing conditions, such as fluctuating sea levels.
As CoastTV reported, eight of 10 tributaries needing restoration have completed large-scale oyster reef improvements.
"Oysters, often hailed as essential to the Bay's ecosystem, are once again flourishing, thanks to these efforts," wrote Alyssa Baker in the CoastTV article.
This is just one of several recent wins for the Chesapeake Bay Program.
Stay hydrated and refreshed this holiday season — without any sugar or harmful additives Nuun’s zero-sugar hydration tablets are a perfect, guilt-free way to enhance your water throughout the day. You’ll get five essential electrolytes for everyday hydration — with zero grams of sugar. Plus, Nuun tablets are certified vegan and gluten-free, and they’re the perfect size to keep in your car, purse, or anywhere you'll want a healthy, restorative drink. Learn more → |
The program restored a 200-acre oyster reef in the York River of Virginia, a significant milestone in the world's largest oyster restoration project. Program leaders also reported that community-wide restoration work resulted in 2 miles of Turtle Creek in Pennsylvania being taken off the impaired streams list.
This vital work comes amid the destruction of oyster farms due to extreme weather events like Hurricane Irene. However, there is hope that oyster shells can help rebuild destroyed reefs to help oysters come back and restore biodiversity.
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, a nonprofit committed to restoring and protecting the bay, is a key partner in these efforts and a driving force in the 2025 deadline to restore oyster reefs in 10 local tributaries.
"Oysters are the bedrock of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem, long recognized for their ability to provide habitat and improve water quality. But their benefits to communities and the ecosystem extend far beyond that," said the foundation's Maryland executive director, Allison Colden.
There's a reason dermatologists personally use this daily moisturizing sunscreen more than any other brand Dermatologists see and understand skin at a much deeper level than the rest of us, and they know that the perfect SPF both protects and corrects your skin. That's why they trust, recommend, and personally use EltaMD more than any other brand. EltaMD's clinically tested formulas are designed with dermatologists to meet the needs of any skin type or condition. They're also designed for consistent daily wear to build long-term resilience with a moisturizing, lightweight, non-comedogenic texture — plus hyaluronic acid to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Learn more → |
"Oysters are key to adapting to climate change, supporting local economies, and cleaning up waterways. You can't overstate their importance to the bay."
Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
Cool Picks
