Basin restoration overview: The
Rappahannock River is a large tributary on the western shore
of the Chesapeake Bay that has a history of significant natural
spat settlement and market oyster production. Oyster productivity
on Baylor and private grounds in recent years has been maintained
by regular addition of shell cultch.
The restoration strategy for the Rappahannock River incorporates
both two dimensional shell plants and three dimensional reefs
with the shell plants acting as recruitment and harvest zones
for offspring originating on the three dimensional reef sanctuaries.
