Box 11: Rappahannock River: Lowerys Point to Neals Point
| Location: Rappahannock River: Lowerys Point to Neals Point History of location: Large tributary on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay. History of rare 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 (Dermo) and occasional freshet 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: Occasional seed oyster and cultch planting. The risk to private oyster production is high because of disease and freshets. Restoration potential: Limited because of low spat settlement, consistent disease risk, and occasional freshet. |
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