Basin restoration overview: The
Great Wicomico River is a small trap-type estuary on the western
shore of the Chesapeake Bay. It was chosen as an oyster restoration
zone because it historically supported oyster populations,
has watershed characteristics which facilitate survival and
retention of oyster larvae in the system, and
has a history of significant natural spat settlement and seed
oyster production.
Three dimensional reefs were constructed in the system in
1996 and 1998. Two dimensional shell plants have been added
by VMRC since 1996 and 64 acres of additional shell plants were added by the ACOE in 2004. Oysters have been planted at sites within
the estuary since 1996. Recent oyster additions have included
focused efforts to plant cultured disease tolerant broodstock
oysters through the efforts of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation,
VIMS, VMRC, NOAA, and ACOE.
