In an effort to introduce more water-filtering oysters in the South River, South River Federation is participating in the Marylanders Grow Oysters program.  This program, instituted by Governor O'Malley in 2008 and directed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources reinforces South River Federation's mission to improve water quality.  We are proud to be a partner in this program again this year.  Other partners in the program are the Oyster Recovery Partnership, and Horn Point Laboratory. 

Oysters can filter 50+ gallons of water a day - which contributes to clearer water.  Oyster reefs provide habitat for crabs, fish and other river creatures.  Perhaps in time, with help from our oysters, the South River will be able to sustain submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) again.

In our first year, 2009 - 1020;  we had 80 oyster gardeners with over 400 oyster cages.  Thanks to all our growers and volunteers who helped distribute, collect and plant!!!

WHAT TO DO IF YOU WANT TO BE AN OYSTER GROWER

For the 2010-2011 year, we are hoping to surpass this number.  We are compiling the list for our next growing season and need to hear from you soon, if you'd like to participate.   Please click here to send Cindy Wallace an email, if you need more information and/or want to sign up for cages.  Please include answers to the following questions in your email ......   

FOR INDIVIDUALS

 1. I participated last year and would like to participate again this year.  I had ____ cages and would like ____ cages this year. 

 2. I am new to the program and would like ____ cages.

3. I participated last year but do not want to participate this year.  I have _____ cages that need to be picked up.

 3.  VERY IMPORTANT!!! I understand that I need to bring my cages, or pick up new cages (for new participants) to a designated location on the South River to pick up my oyster spat in early September.

 FOR HOME-OWNER OR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS

 1. Our community participated last year and would like to particapte again this year.  We had _____ cages last year and would like _____ cages this year.

 2. Our community did not participate last year, but would like to participate this year.  We would like ____ cages.

 3.  VERY IMPORTANT!!!  I understand that representatives from our community association needs to bring cages or pick up new cages from a designated location on the South River to pick up new oyster spat in early September.

A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF HOW IT WORKS

If you have a private or community pier that is in a tidal area and you always have water, especially during the freezing temps during the winter - then you probably qualify to have oyster cages.  There is a bit of manual labor involved, as you will need to keep your cages clean of algae and other things that will grow on the cage and inhibit water flow.  This requires either using the 'tea bag" method (raising and lowering the cages in the water), or if this does not work, you need to use more effective method by hosing off with a garden hose.  Click here for a more detailed sheet of how to care for your oyster cages.  One of our current growers made this adaptation for easier cage lifting - this may work for some of you who can't tollerate too much bending and lifting.  Click here to see picture of how it works.

The other thing - oysters can not live in freezing air temperatures!!!  But are OK in freezing water.  So they must be in a location on your pier in the winter where they will always be under water, but preferably, not sitting on the bottom.

 Ways to hang from pier....

Oysters from the 2009 - 2010 growing season have been collected and planted on the sanctuary reef in Glebe Bay. This area is a designated sanctuary reef and is off limits to oyster harvest.  

DETAILS OF THE 2010 - 2011 GROWING SEASON

For the upcoming growing season, 2010-2011, the logistics will be slightly different than last year.  Last year we delivered most of the cages directly to your piers, in part because the cages were delivered to us with oyster spat already in them.  However, since most of you already have your cages - you will need to bring your cages to a designated location after they are delivered to us.  For folks who are participating for the first time, you will come to the collection area to pick up your cages and oysters.  Then you will take your cages with oysters in them back to your pier and suspend from your pier.  You will have a short window to do this, as the oysters will perish if they are out of the water for extended periods at this point in their life cycle. 

SPRING 2011 COLLECTION AND PLANTING

We will need assistance from you in the spring when it comes time to collect and plant our oysters.  Everyone will be asked to bring their cages to a central location in your creek or area for a quicker and more efficient planting process. There are many of you and very few of us!  We all need to work together to make the program a success!

OTHER OYSTER GROWING PROGRAMS ON THE BAY

Please note that this is one of several oyster growing programs on the Chesapeake Bay.Other programs for growing oysters include the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, who has been organizing oyster garden workshops for oyster gardners for many years. This opportunity is still available.  Fee for gardeners is $75.00, $25.00 of which is tax-deductible.  So if you miss the opportunity for the MGO program - please contact CBF and sign up with them.  Some of you participate in CBF's program and the MGO program - this is perfectly fine!  Just be sure to take note that distribution and collection days/times will be different for each program.  Cages for CBF's program look a bit different than the MGO cages, so it is easy to differentiate between the two.

To learn more about oysters and the history of watermen and oysters on the Chesapeake Bay, be sure to visit the Annapolis Maritime Museum and their new exhibit "Oysters on the Half Shell".