Oysters for Salmon
Welcome to Natural Landscapes new project, Oysters for Salmon!
Oysters can filter large quantities
of nutrient pollutants out of the water. This improves water
clarity allowing sunlight to reach the bottom, promoting the
growth of eelgrass beds essential for healthy salmon habitat.
Oyster long lines
|
|
Sorting juvenile oyster seeds
|
Eelgrass beds serve as nurseries for juvenile salmon and a
wide variety of marine life on which salmon feed. A 1997 study
showed healthy eelgrass beds in Eagle Harbor. In 2004, the
City of Bainbridge Island and the State Department of Fish and
Wildlife conducted a field survey and found that most of those
eelgrass beds had disappeared.
Storm water run-off washes into waterways carrying
excessive amounts of “nutrient” pollutants such as
nitrogen and phosphorus from yard fertilizers and
septic systems. Even treated sewage waste water
releases nutrients that adversely affect the Harbor.
The reef at the mouth
of Eagle Harbor restricts the flow of fresh sea water causing
a further build-up of these chemical pollutants. Plankton and
seaweed absorb these contaminants, creating excessive
growth, often referred to as algae blooms. This
surplus growth blocks sunlight from reaching the
bottom, killing essential eelgrass meadows.
As algae decomposes it also depletes oxygen from
the water, suffocating marine life which can create
“dead zones” like those documented in Hood
Canal. Nutrient pollution is a problem, not only
throughout Puget Sound, but also in oceans
around the world.
Oysters are Natural Bio-filters
- Shellfish populations filter nutrients like nitrogen
from chemical fertilizers, poor septic maintenance,
animal waste and wastewater effluent
- Each oyster deployed
in this pilot project, when mature, is
expected to filter up to 55 gallons of
water daily which should make the water
more clear
- 100,000 oysters
have been hung in 300 baskets
and long lines around Eagle Harbor, bringing
the total water filtered to five million
gallons per day!
- Oysters use nitrogen by incorporating it into their
tissues and by depositing it into bottom sediments
where eelgrass can potentially use it ( the rest is
off-gassed to the surface)
- The technique of planting oysters to improve water
quality has been tried successfully in Chesapeake
and San Francisco Bays
- Depending on the results, this pilot project could
facilitate future oyster and/or eelgrass restoration
You
Can Help Reduce Nutrient Pollution into the Harbor
Oyster Gardening is a natural approach
contributing to the multi-pronged effort
to clean up Eagle Harbor’s water.
Oysters alone will not solve our
problem. We must reduce the sources of nutrient contamination.
- Use only natural organic slow release fertilizers
(low in nitrogen)
- Provide regular pumping and maintenance for your
septic system and reroute rainwater away from your
drain field to prevent failure
- Dispose of pet waste in the trash, not the toilet,
because it contains nutrient and bacterial pollutants
that runoff from septic systems, driveways, yards
and docks directly into the Harbor
- NEVER discharge anything into the water from
your boat; pump-out wastewater at marine facilities
Volunteer to Help Maintain Oyster Baskets!
Help with Pollution Prevention and
Enjoy Hands-On Outdoor Fun!
To Volunteer and for More Information:
Cara Cruickshank, Natural Landscapes Project
(206) 842-4815
OR
Puget Sound Restoration Fund, (206) 780-6947
Mailing Address:
Natural Landscapes Project
978 Aaron Ave.
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Tax-deductible donations are needed to ensure the
successful completion of this project.
Oysters
for Salmon Pilot Project Sponsored By:
Natural Landscapes Project
Project
Puget Sound Restoration Fund
City of Bainbridge Island Shoreline Stewardship Program
With Funding From:
National Fish & Wildlife Foundation
East Kitsap Community Salmon Fund
Salmon Recovery Funding Board
City of Bainbridge Island
Bainbridge Island Rotary Club
Bainbridge High School Earth Corps Club
Pacific Coast Congress of Harbormasters and Port Managers
To learn about other environmental efforts
to help clean up Puget Sound please visit these fascinating
web sites:
www.pugetsound.org People
for Puget Sound
www.restorationfund.org Puget Sound Restoration Fund
www.pugetsoundpartnership.org The
governor's statewide coalition
www.psat.wa.gov Puget
Sound Action Team
www.nfwf.org National Fish & Wildlife
Foundation
This project is funded by the
City of Bainbridge Island and by Washington State Department
of Ecology’s
Public Participation Grant.
|
