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South Shore Estuary Eelgrass and Bay Scallop Restoration Planning Project

Objectives:

1. To assess the current condition of extant eelgrass meadows throughout Southampton Town waters (in the SSER) using standard monitoring protocols currently in use in the Peconic Estuary.

2. To assess the potential seed yield for use in future restoration efforts.

3. Identify potential restoration sites within Shinnecock, Tiana, Quantuck, and Moriches Bays using a GIS-based planting suitability index model developed and refined for the Peconic Estuary.

4. Conduct small scale seeding of eelgrass and adult shoot plantings to refine and test planting model.

5. Identify potential bay scallop planting sites based on existing conditions and historic occurrence.

6. Conduct test plantings of scallops in existing eelgrass meadows to test assumptions of the site identification methodology.

7. Measure bay scallop recruitment from planted brood stock using spat collectors deployed near scallop seeding areas.

Background:

This project is specifically designed to address declines in local eelgrass and bay scallop populations in the SSER. We believe that through proactive management and restoration these populations can be enhanced and eventually restored.

This project is designed to develop a comprehensive eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) and bay scallop (Argopecten irradians) restoration plan making possible future restoration efforts in Southampton Town’s SSER bays including Shinnecock, Tiana, Quantuck and Moriches Bays. Restoration of eelgrass and shellfish populations has been identified as a priority in the SSER CMP. The results of this work will be a detailed and practical restoration plan that will facilitate future resource enhancement efforts in Southampton and other areas within the SSER.

The anticipated benefits of this work include establishment of a comprehensive restoration blueprint for eelgrass and bay scallops within Southampton’s SSER bays. Successful completion of the proposed restoration activities will have far reaching implications on both the ecology and economics of town waters. The methods developed during this project will be applicable to other areas within the SSER.

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