Location: Rappahannock River: Punchbowl Point to Towles Point

History of location:Large tributary on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay. History of infrequent natural spat settlement and significant market oyster production. Baylor and private productivity mostly maintained by regular addition of seed oysters and shell cultch.

Current status:Low population levels on Baylor Grounds subject to consistent disease (MSX and Dermo) mortality. Cultch condition on Baylor Grounds is relatively poor. One sentinel site present. Regular collection of additional data. Data held by VIMS and VMRC. Private lease activity is low.

Recent restoration activity (reefs and other) to date: Three reefs constructed in 2002. Significant shell plants in 2002 as part of the Oyster Heritage Program. The risk to private oyster production is high because of disease.

Restoration potential:Limited because of consistent disease risk.

Related projects:

• CBOPE Program - VA Sentinel Sites
• CBOPE Program - VA Basins
• VIMS Molluscan Ecology Oyster Monitoring Program
• VIMS Molluscan Ecology Oyster Stock Assessment Program
• VIMS Oyster Disease Monitoring Program
• Virginia Oyster Heritage Program