Conducting Large-Scale Intertidal Oyster ( Crassostrea virginica ) Restoration as Mitigation in South Carolina Estuarine

1. Conducting Large-Scale Intertidal Oyster (Crassostreavirginica) Restoration as Mitigation in South Carolina Estuarine Waters Michael Hodges*, William Anderson, Nancy Hadley, Holly Dyar, Allison Kreutzer South Carolina Department of Natural Resource Office of Fisheries Management Shellfish Management Section

2. Background Information • SCDNR is conducting mitigation for seaport expansion by the South Carolina State Ports Authority • Minimum of eight acres of intertidal oyster reefs will be constructed after 5 years • 7.26 acres of shoreline have been planted at 24 sites since 2008 • Approximately 125,000 bushels of oyster shells will be planted along shorelines in Charleston Harbor watershed • Community volunteer component to the mitigation project • Oyster reefs will be monitored for certain success criteria by SCDNR staff

3. South Carolina State Ports Authority Port Expansion • SCSPA is constructing a new 286 acre container port on the Cooper River (highlighted in red) • This will be the 5th port in the Charleston Harbor watershed(highlighted in red) • Currently there are two container terminals and two break bulk terminals • The new port will increase the capacity of the Port of Charleston by 1.4 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) , currently at 2.6 million TEU Photo provided by SCSPA

4. Required Mitigation for Port Expansion • The SCSPA’s terminal mitigation plan includes more than $10 million in environmental and community mitigation activities. • $1 million to restore 8 acres of oyster reefs for direct impacts to aquatic resources and wetlands • $2.5 million to recreate 22 acres of tidal marsh on Drum Island • $2 million for land protection for indirect environmental impacts and serve the public interest • $4 million in community programming to fund education and job training programs, establish an affordable housing trust and other projects. Photos courtesy of SCSPA

5. Oyster Restoration Mitigation Plan • SCSPA provided funding to SCDNR to be used for the purpose of restoring, enhancing and monitoring eight acres of living oyster (Crassostreavirginica) reefs • Reefs are to be constructed in Charleston Harbor watershed • Reefs will be placed in intertidal areas pre-determined by SCDNR • Planting of shells will be contracted out to industry professionals • Planting sites will be monitored by SCDNR staff pre/post shell deployment

6. Why Oysters? • Oysters are designated as essential fish habitat (EFH) by The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) • Federally managed species that depend on oysters include red drum (Scienopsocellatus)and Penaeid shrimp • In S.C., intertidal oyster reefs generate biodiversity and are identified as critical habitats of concern in both the State Conservation Plan and DNR’s Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy • Oysters filter water, thus improving water quality and clarity • Intertidal oysters provide structure to aid in shoreline stabilization and erosion prevention Photo courtesy of Affinity Charters

7. Charleston Harbor Watershed • Consists of Charleston Harbor (20.7 km2), 3 Main Rivers (Cooper, Wando and Ashley Rivers), and associated Tidal Creeks • Numerous Industrial, Commercial and Residential areas on Harbor and Main Rivers • Part of Intercoastal Waterway (ICW) • High wave energy from currents, container ships, recreational boat traffic • Run off from surrounding impervious surfaces, coastal development and the SC upstate • High commercial/recreational pressure from boating and fishing

8. Challenges facing Oyster Restoration • Funding is difficult to obtain for restoration in areas closed to shellfishing • Mitigation is one of the few avenues for obtaining funding in these areas • Projects requiring mitigation often have a difficult time finding suitable projects that meet objectives • Finding suitable restoration sites can be challenging in areas of interest (i.e. wave energy/currents slope, bottom type) Pic of closed waters

9. Restoration Sites • 10.83 acres (44 sites) of restorable shoreline has been mapped with Trimble GPS Pro® • 7.26 acres (20 large scale sites, 4 small scale) have been planted since Summer 2008 • 1.75 acres (10 sites) will be planted in 2011 • 0.625 acres will be constructed by community volunteers

10. Shell Supply and Deployment • Oyster shell (Crassostreavirginica) and mined shell aggregates are purchased and delivered from Florida and North Carolina (700-900 bushels/delivery) • Shell prices are based on cost/bushel including delivery (increasing every year) • To date we have purchased 82,715 bushels of material • Shell is loaded onto contractors barge with bobcat and conveyor loader • Barge is able to transport 1200-1350 bushels per trip • Shell is transported to predetermined sites, Transport time is between 30-120 minutes based on site location Photo courtesy of L.Coen

11. Large Scale Shell Planting • Shells are deployed from barge using high pressure water cannon at high tide • Outer boundary of area to be restored is marked with 10’ PVC stakes • SCDNR monitors planting of shell to insure proper placement within staked boundaries • Volume of shell planted is based on size of restoration site (10,000-12,000 bushels/acre) • Deployment time is 45-120 minutes

12. Success Criteria for Restored Reefs • >70% vertical live oyster at the end of three years • Density, mean and max size of oysters will be within 1 SD of natural populations after three years • Population parameters of restored reefs will meet or exceed F1Strata characteristics • 1,926 bushels live oysters/acre • Size distribution after 3 years will include at least 30% recruits (<25mm) to insure reef propagation

13. Long Term Oyster Recruitment Tray Monitoring 12 season grand mean = 4267 oysters /m2,2 Season SPA mean = 3143 oysters/m2 (6 sites)

14. Long Term Average= 4048 oysters/m2 SPA Average= 1321 oysters/m2

15. Ranking sites based on Natural Resource Restoration Targets

16. Documenting Site Development August 2008 January 2010

17. Monitoring Changes in Shoreline • Changes in sediment composition • Pre-construction vs. Post construction (annually) • Spartina Expansion • Pre-construction vs. Post construction • (annually) • Marsh edge erosion • (annually at selected sites)

18. South Carolina Oyster Restoration and Enhancement Program (SCORE) • Community-based habitat restoration and monitoring program of SCDNR • Allows community volunteers to work with scientists to restore and monitor oyster habitat along the South Carolina coast • Increase oyster habitat at a minimum cost to taxpayers • Develop a citizen constituency for oysters • Initiate a grass-roots effort to restore oysters • Increase public awareness of the value of oysters to the ecosystem

19. SCORE Reefs • Uses 2/3 bushel of shell per bag • Shell bags are made and deployed by volunteers • Can be constructed in higher energy environments than large scale reefs • 0.625 acres will be constructed after 5 years • Increased shoreline stabilization compared to large scale reefs • Can be used as living classrooms for school groups • Sites can be used for volunteer fish sampling efforts • Water quality is monitored by volunteers at restoration sites

20. Volume of Shell Planted each Year

21. Potential Impacts of Restoration • Documented Success=Future Funding for other Mitigation Projects • >8 acres of oyster reefs established • 8 acres of habitat for fish, crab, fish and organisms associated with oyster reefs • Increased water filtration Improved water quality • Denitrification • Shoreline stabilization/erosion prevention • Involving the public in restoration efforts

22. Acknowledgments • South Carolina State Ports Authority • SCORE Volunteers and Organizations • SCDNR Employees • Contract Employees (Capt Pee Wee, Capt Hatt, Froggy, Chip, Trey) • Delivery Drivers (Disco, Brian, Todd, Jim) • Shell Suppliers

23. Questions?