In recent weeks, there has been some confusion concerning the Native Oyster Restoration Master Plan, and the Corps’ role in developing new sanctuaries in the Chesapeake Bay. We want to make it clear that our current oyster restoration efforts are focused on tributaries that have already been designated as permanent sanctuaries, not creating new permanent sanctuaries. The Corps of Engineers has no responsibility or authority to create sanctuaries in the Chesapeake Bay. The master plan identifies the best tributaries for restoration based on current physical and biological conditions. Of these “Tier 1” tributaries, current and future restoration efforts by the Corps of Engineers are being focused on those tributaries, such as Harris Creek, that are already designated as permanent sanctuaries in Maryland. This approach is in keeping with the Corps’ ecosystem restoration mission and funding priorities.
Maryland oyster populations have declined dramatically since the turn of the 20th century, largely due to parasitic diseases. Oyster restoration is critical to the economic and environmental survival of the Chesapeake Bay and is a high priority for the State of Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay Program.
Project elements include: (1) disease-free spat from State-owned hatcheries; (2) creation of new oyster habitat; (3) rehabilitation of existing non-productive oyster habitat; (4) construction of seed bars for production and collection of spat; (5) planting spat on the new and rehabilitated bars; and (6) monitoring of project performance. The non-federal sponsor for the Maryland portion is the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MDNR).
The Maryland project cooperation agreement was executed February 27, 1997, with an amendment in July 2002. The Virginia project cooperation agreement was executed September 17, 2001, with two amendments in July 2004 and June 2007. To date, placement locations in Maryland have been in Kedges Strait, Eastern Bay, and the Chester, Choptank, Magothy, Patuxent, and Severn Rivers. Some of these oyster bars were left for natural recruitment; others received hatchery-raised spat (nearly 1.2 billion to date). Starting in 2001, the program was opened up to the Commonwealth of Virginia. The FY 2001-2012 funds have been split between the Norfolk and Baltimore Districts to support activities in Virginia and Maryland, respectively. In Virginia to date, activities have been focused on oyster bar creation in Tangier Sound, Pocomoke Sound, the Great Wicomico River, and the Lynnhaven River, creating a total of 393 acres. Through fall 2012, we have constructed approximately 481 acres of new Maryland oyster bars in the Magothy, Severn, Choptank, Patuxent, and Chester Rivers, as well as Kedges Strait and Eastern Bay. For the 13 acres of sites built in the Severn River in fall 2009, spat was placed on these bars in August 2010. Monitoring of these projects will continue for the next several years. Construction of the 2010 substrate sites began in January 2011 in the Cook Point sanctuary in the Choptank River near Cambridge, MD, and was completed in February 2011. Construction of the 2011 substrate sites, 21.9 acres in Harris Creek, was completed in July 2012.
Prior to the 2009 restoration activities, the USACE oyster restoration program did not focus on large-scale tributary restoration in Maryland as it does now. From 1997 to 2006, the Baltimore District received relatively small funding allocations which were expended on a number of small sites, scattered throughout the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay. An assessment of the sanctuary sites constructed during this period was prepared and can be found in the September 2011 report, 2008 Sanctuary Assessment.
Authorization: Section 704(b) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986, as amended.
Type of Project: Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration
Contribution to the Chesapeake Bay: Directly contributes to Executive Order 13508 goals to restore clean water, recover habitat, and sustain fish and wildlife.
Project Phase: Construction
Non-Federal Sponsor: Maryland Department of National Resources, Virginia Marine Resources Commission
Congressional Interest: Senators Mikulski and Cardin (MD), Warner and Kaine (VA); Representatives Harris (MD-01), Sarbanes (MD-03), Hoyer (MD-05), Wittman (VA-01), Rigell (VA-02), and Scott (VA-03).
The FY12 Maryland contract was awarded in September 2012. For this contract, clamshell and granite will be placed as substrate on 34 acres in Harris Creek, a tributary to the Choptank River. The work will be accomplished in March - May 2013. The long-term native oyster restoration master plan was completed in December 2012.
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Total Estimated Cost (MD+VA)
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$66,600,0001
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Federal Cost Estimate
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$50,000,000
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| Non-Federal Cost Estimate |
$16,600,000
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| Federal Funds Data |
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| Allocation thru FY 2011 |
$29,629,835
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| Allocation for FY 2012 |
$4,510,001
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| President Budget FY 20132 |
$5,000,000
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Allocation for FY 20132
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TBD
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| Balance to Complete |
$15,860,164
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1 Estimate based on the current federal authorization for this program. The long-term master plan has identified a need of $2-6 billion.
2 The President typically sends the budget to Congress in February each year. Upon release, budget amounts for the USACE Civil Works programs and specified projects are posted online at the USACE website in a program budget press book at http://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Budget.apsx
3 The FY 2013 Energy and Water Appropriations Act has not been enacted as of February 1, 2013. The 6-month continuing resolution authority (CRA) expires on March 27, 2013. Projected CRA allocations are not presented. The FY 2013 funds will be split between Baltimore District and Norfolk District.
FY 2012 Completed Work: With the funding received, a $2.36M contract was awarded in September 2012 to Argo Systems, LLC, for substrate construction in Harris Creek. In addition, we conducted public review and comment on the draft master plan, and finalized the long-term master plan for the entire Chesapeake Bay. In Virginia, efforts were focused on the completion of a fossil shell survey and continuation of ERDC harvest management modeling efforts. Project monitoring continued at all sites.
FY 2013 Scheduled Work: Previous year carry-in funds in the amount of $2,641,000 ($211,000 in Baltimore District and $2,430,000 in Norfolk District) are being used for final review and approval of the master plan ($21,000), design of the next Harris Creek substrate contract ($190,000), develop a bay-wide NEPA document for restoration in Virginia tributaries ($60,000), adaptive management of reefs constructed in the Great Wicomico River ($600,000), design and construct 6 acres of reefs in the Lynnhaven River ($600,000), and develop a tributary plan for the Lafayette River ($50,000). With the anticipated FY 2013 allocations based on the President’s budget, we will continue program coordination and monitoring ($200,000), construct approximately 70 acres of oyster bars in Maryland ($4,500,000), and prepare the Little Choptank River tributary plan ($300,000).
COMPLETION: With optimum funding, the long-term master plan was approved in December 2012, and there will be a Maryland construction contract award in summer 2013.
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