1. Olympia Oyster Restoration in Puget Sound
Brian Allen Betsy Lyons, TNC
Betsy Peabody Tristan Peter-Contesse

2. Goals
Re-establish naturally reproducing populations of Olympia oysters throughout their native range
Increase oyster abundance and the ecologic benefits associated with that abundance

3. Geographic focus – Puget Sound

4. Progress to date
7 million native oysters spread at 80 sites since 1999
1 acre of tidelands in Liberty Bay enhanced with shell in 2005 and 2006
Pilot enhancement in Henderson Inlet
5 acres of enhancements planned in 2007

5. Partners Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
Tribes (Suquamish, Skokomish, Squaxin, Lummi, Jamestown S’Klallam, Samish, Swinomish
Commercial Growers (Taylor, Seattle Shellfish, Oly Oyster Co., Little Skookum)
NOAA Community-based Restoration Program
Public and Private tideland owners
The Nature Conservancy
EPA
Marine Resources Committees
U.S. Navy
National Fish & Wildlife Foundation
Local Governments (King, Skagit, Jefferson, Kitsap, Clallam)
Washington Department of Natural Resources
Reporters (newspapers, magazines, TV, radio)

6. Where it All Began: – Olympia Oyster Stock Rebuilding Plan Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
Hal Beadie mentioned new plan at the time Betsy was reaching out.

7. New Directions & Priorities

8. 1. Habitat Enhancement Emerging as Key Strategy
Enhance substrate with shell near existing populations where substrate is too soft to support settlement
This enables remnant population to recolonize historic areas AND
Maintains genetic integrity of local population

9. Bulk Shell Placement

10. Experimental Bag Configurations

11. Scandia, Liberty Bay

12. Woodard Bay, Henderson Inlet The Nature Conservancy

13. 2005 phase 1 Baseline ecological assessment Larval availability
Recruitment potential
Post-settlement survival

14. Schedule for data collection
2006 phase 2
Goals
Continue oyster recruitment monitoring
Experimental 1m2 habitat enhancement plots
Compare post-settlement survival by location and elevation
Expand restoration in 2007 based on lessons learned
Schedule for data collection
Survival assessment in November 2006
Recruitment monitoring June through September 2006
Continue oyster and benthic community assessment in experimental plots in 2007

15. Frye Cove, Eld Inlet, TNC

16. Dogfish Bay, Liberty Bay

17. Raab’s Lagoon, Vashon Isl.

18. Fidalgo Bay

19. Jackson Park, Dyes Inlet

20. 2. Seeding in Select Locations
In the absence of genetic information, seeding is only pursued in areas where there is clearly no larval production and no local population to trigger a comeback – and then only if there is a population relatively nearby.

21. Three methods for producing seed or Transplanting adult oysters

22. Geographic basins within which we can transfer seed are becoming more restrictive

23. Monitoring Ecological Services – An Increasing Priority

25. 4. Searching for Remnant Populations Essential to regional-scale habitat enhancement

26. 5. Forging the Oyster Salmon Connection
Oyster restoration in the lower intertidal is the missing link in salmon recovery efforts
Quantitative monitoring data on ecological benefits of oyster restoration is essential to securing money

27. 6. Working more closely with Tribes
Research historic tribal harvesting sites to target restoration activities
Develop notification and partnership programs with tribes for near-shore activities

28. 7. Determining genetic relationship of each population
Geographic area within which restoration can occur is tightening in the absence of genetic information
Until remnant populations are located, restoration is at a standstill in San Juan Islands and the North Sound.

29. 8. Establishing more oyster nurseries

30. 9. Mapping the physical and ecological features of an untouched natural bed -Vancouver Island

31. 10. Achieving Self-Sustaining populations

32. Ongoing Challenges Permitting Diseases Exotic species Seed production
Logistics of larger-scale enhancement
Coordination with other species restoration efforts

33. Restoration Imperative
We need a system that is productive, full of life and capable of sustaining us.
- Looks vs. Substance
Oysters are an essential part of that system.
Cultural Choice

34. Why oysters and restoration matter
Improve the ecosystem (filtration, habitat, food)
Give people an incentive to protect clean water and habitat
Make the resource REAL – people need to experience the productivity of Puget Sound to value it.

35. Abundance AND Local Food Production

36. Olympia oyster Pantheon