Box 7: Mouth of the Rappahannock River
| Location: Mouth of the Rappahannock River History of location: Large tributary on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay. History of significant natural spat settlement and market oyster production. Baylor and private ground 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 relatively good. Two sentinel sites 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: Six reefs constructed in 2000 and 2001. Significant shell plants in 2000 and 2001 as part of the Oyster Heritage Program. Smaller shell plants have been made since 2002. The risk to private oyster production is high because of disease. Restoration potential: Limited because of consistent disease risk. |
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