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2nd Annual

DYC Oyster Gardening Workshop

presented by

Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Tuesday 26 June 2018

Location: DYC Dockhouse

Registration Starts: 1700

Workshop Starts: 1715

Swapping Oysters in cages: 1800 - 1900

Why Oysters at DYC

Everyone mooring a boat in the waters of Machodoc Creek has seen the lack of water clarity and rapid marine growth on boat bottoms. Oysters improve water clarity by filtering up to 50 gallons of water a day (per oyster). They provide habitat for small fish, other shellfish and plants. Re- establishing a local self-sustaining oyster bar will be initiated by this DYC effort to grow oysters. When large enough (after one year) they will be placed in locations around the NSASP shore that have good conditions for permanent colonies. If the venture is successful DYC will continue to grow new groups in future years to add to the beds. This is an opportunity for DYC to improve the marine environment around our shore and docks and help the Potomac River recover from years of continuing over harvesting and abuse. DYC, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and NSASP Dahlgren will all be contributing to this effort.

Oyster Workshop

An Oyster Workshop will be held on Tuesday 26 June at 1700 at the DYC. This is a no cost workshop provided by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, presented by an Oyster gardening expert. (of course, donations to CBF are always accepted). The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is donating the cages and initial oyster spat to assist in seeing if an oyster colony can be successfully re-established in our creek. Clubhouse Topics to be covered in the workshop include:

Swapping out the Oysters Hanging at DYC Pier after the workshop.

After the workshop we will be removing last years Oysters from the cages under the outboard end of the DYC pier and placing new Oyster spat in the cages. The Oysters will be future breeding stock for the purpose of re-establishing an oyster bed in Upper Machodoc Creek. The intention is to start an oyster reef in the creek with the oysters grown last year. The oyster baskets are installed under the T section of the dock in a manner that will keep them out of harm’s way.

Follow-on Oyster Maintenance

After cage placement, there is a two to three week periodic cleaning cycle that will be performed on the oyster cages by club volunteers. You can sign up to volunteer by attending the workshop or by contacting the BOG (BOG email) at anytime to join in the effort.