Estuarine restoration

This is a Volusia County Environmental Management (VCEM) Project, which was funded by a grant from the St. Johns River Water Management District’s Indian River Lagoon License Plate Tag Program. The goal of the initiative is to conduct a demonstration project using several types of restoration techniques to: 1) inhibit shoreline erosion through red mangrove plantings and to 2) increase oyster reefs by providing substrate for oyster spat to adhere and develop into fully grown oysters. Using several techniques will help scientists evaluate which method may be effective under varying circumstances.

Oysters are filter feeders and help to make our estuaries healthier by filtering the estuary water. One oyster can filter up to 60 gallons of water per day. Red mangroves have elaborate root systems that assist in the accretion of detritus, and they provide food and habitat for many different species. Oysters and mangroves together form a significant barrier to shoreline erosion.

We held an initial educational program at the Marine Discovery Center (MDC) in New Smyrna Beach, to inform residents and visitors about the demonstration project, and to provide educational materials about estuaries. Many volunteers from the community were enlisted to help deploy the reef balls, plant the red mangroves, and afterwards to monitor the project.

A consultant from the Reef Ball Foundation, a consultant from Allshouse and Associates, and MDC staff worked together with VCEM staff to successfully implement this project.

Chicken Island Restoration Workshop

On April 4th, 2009 an educational event was held for the public to inform them about the Chicken Island Red Mangrove/Oyster Restoration Project (Project) at the Marine Discovery Center (MDC), in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The day of the event 33 public participants came to view the project details.
To get things started a greeting and overview of the project was given by county staff member and project coordinator, Georgia Zern. Thad Nicholls, with the MDC, then conducted a tour of the mangrove greenhouse, and described the oyster mat making process. And, Chad Truxall, the MDC Education Director, conducted a brief walk along their educational trail, and gave a history of the project site.

Michelle Webster, a county staff member, then explained the benefits of planting red mangroves in the reef ball structures, and described how they would be deployed. And, Ed Northey, also with the county, spoke to the audience about the exotic removal process at the project site, and explained why Brazilian pepper and Australian pine were a particular problem in our area.

A large colorful display helped to further explain the project goals and process. And, four new brochures were distributed to each participant that provided information about invasive plants, estuaries, and oysters. Afterwards light refreshments were served and the project staff spent time answering participant’s questions.