Location: Mouth of the Piankatank River and Gwynns Island History of location:
Small tributary on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay. History of
modest (intensity) and consistent natural spat settlement with focused
VMRC efforts to cultivate the river as a seed river in the 1960s and
beyond. Baylor and private productivity mostly maintained by regular
addition of shell cultch. Current status: Low
population levels on Baylor Grounds subject to consistent disease (MSX
and Dermo) mortality. Cultch condition on Baylor Grounds is modest. 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: Occasional shell cultch planting. The risk to private oyster production is high because of disease. Restoration potential:Limited because of consistent disease risk. |