Second Phase of CCA MD Oyster Project Launches in Hellen Creek

More than 25,000 baby oysters today were placed in floats along piers in Calvert County’s Hellen Creek as the second phase of a project developed by the Coastal Conservation Association Maryland’s (CCA MD) Patuxent River Chapter. Today’s work was done in conjunction with a group of 21 property owners on Hellen Creek.

This raises the number of oysters planted by the Patuxent River Chapter to 56,000 with 31,000 oysters now growing in St. Thomas Creek, the project’s first phase.

“While we clearly understand that this project by itself will not restore water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, it has the potential to help cleanse the water where we are planting oysters and set a blueprint for organizations and individuals who want to replicate this activity,” said Scott McGuire, president, CCA MD Patuxent River Chapter.

The Chapter plans to place its oysters from St. Thomas Creek onto a sanctuary in the Patuxent River when they reach adulthood, and Hellen Creek growers will have the option of placing oysters on a sanctuary or harvesting them.

“A three-inch adult oyster is capable of filtering 50 to 55 gallons of water every day,” said McGuire. “The 25,000 oysters planted in Hellen Creek clearly can make a difference in the water quality there.”

Today’s project is the first effort by CCA MD to bring homeowners directly into their oyster project. Under the leadership of Chris Moe, a CCA MD member and Creek Captain of the Hellen Creek activity, homeowners on Hellen Creek were invited to a meeting in April to discuss the value of planting oysters and the support that CCA MD could provide in starting this project.

“Today’s effort is an outstanding example of how local property owners, aqua culturists and recreational anglers can come together on a project that will benefit the environment,” Moe said. “Hellen Creek and CCA MD volunteers contributed more than 150 hours in planning the project, building floats, filling sacks with oysters and attaching those floats to piers.”

Circle C Oyster Ranching Association, led by Rich Pelz, sold oysters and equipment to the Hellen Creek growers and provided training in the construction of floats. The six-foot floats, constructed of PVC frames, each have three bags housing the oysters suspended from them.

Twenty-one property owners had a total of 42 floats placed on their piers today, according to Moe, who believes the number of participants will grow in the next several months as additional residents see the value of the project.

Those growing oysters on Hellen Creek will be able to use the Maryland $500 personal ($1,000 per household) income tax credit for the purchase of floats and will receive support from CCA MD in maintaining their oysters during the approximate three year period it will take for them to mature.  Hellen Creek growers will then be able to harvest their oysters or donate them to a sanctuary in the area so they will continue to filter water.

CCA MD plans to publish a handbook on how organizations and individuals can raise oysters in their area once it evaluates the success of the first two phases.

“We continue to look for volunteers for our oyster growing project, and encourage people in other creeks in Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties to consider whether they want to become involved,” McGuire said. “If a group of residents on other creeks wishes to initiate a project, the Patuxent River Chapter will consider supporting that effort.”

Further information on the project can be obtained from the chapter’s oyster committee chairperson, James Cotugno, at jcotugno@verizon.net.