Aquatic Reef Habitat Plan Agreement Commitment Report 1994
- Published:
- December 1, 1994
- Originator:
- Chesapeake Bay Program
The purpose of this Plan is to guide the development and implementation of a regional program to rebuild and restore reefs as habitat for oysters and other ecologically valuable aquatic species. The main objective of this of this initiative is to create three-dimensional reef structures in selected areas that will incerase the quantity of oysters and establish a diverse commuity of ecologically important species. Increasing the Baywide stocks of oysters was the goal of the 1989 Chesapeake Bay Oyster Management Plan, which recommends restoration of natural oyster bars and creation of sanctuaries. The process for implementation of the Plan is for each jurisdiction to evaluate existing reef sites; designate about 5,000 acreas in each of Maryland and Virginia, and 1,000 acreas in the Potomac, for oyster reef construction over five years, conduct a pilot test of substrate materials, placement densities, and saloinity regimes; conduct reserach and monitoring to guide expansion into additional areas and sites.