Updated Summary of MES Reef BallÔ Activities, 2004-5
March 2005
- Magothy River Association (MRA) Reef Ball Project:
On Oct. 12 and 13, 2004, 110 Reef BallsÔ
were deployed at two oyster sanctuaries; Rock Point and Dobbins Island, in
the Magothy River, Ann Arundel County, Md. Deployment was by Ocean
Outfitters of Maryland. This was a
joint project with MES and MRA with grant support. MRA also had support
from and coordinated with DNR. The staging area was at Cypress Marina,
whose owner provided in-kind services for unloading, loading and storage
of the Reef BallsÔ prior to deployment. MES
also organized and funded two local pours of Reef BallsÔ
with volunteers from the MRA. The Abell Foundation partially funded this
project.
- Hollicutts Noose Reef Site: The Constellation
Energy grant partially funded placement of 32 Reef BallsÔ
at the Hollicutts Noose artificial reef site in Eastern Bay, Queen Anne’s
County, Md. on October 14, 2004. This placement was done in partnership
with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF). CBF staff and volunteers help
produce the Reef BallsÔ and the CBF vessel Patricia
Campbell and crew assisted in the deployment of the Reef BallsÔ.
- Cedar Point and Little Cove Point Reef Ball
Project: On Nov. 3 and 4, 2004, a total of 160 Reef BallsÔ
of various sizes were deployed at two artificial reef sites in Calvert
County, Md. At the Cedar Point
reef site, 78 Reef BallsÔ were placed at two
locations. At the Little Cove Point reef site, 82 Reef BallsÔ
were placed at three locations. Deployment was by Doug West with the Robert
Lee. This project was done in
cooperation with the Solomons Charter Boat Captains Assoc., (SCBCA) which
contributed $4,800 towards the project, and the local chapter of the MSSA,
which contributed 2 Lo Pro Reef BallsÔ.
The staging area was at Calvert Marina, whose owner provided in-kind
services for unloading, loading and storage of the Reef BallsÔ
prior to deployment. Costs were
covered through the Constellation Energy, Abell Foundation and Chesapeake
Bay Trust/Fish America Foundation (CBT/FAF) grants and MES project
development funds.
- Tilghman Island Reef Ball Project: Placement of 15 Reef BallsÔ
occurred on Nov. 12, 2004. These were Reef BallsÔ
that had been produced at the first production pour in April 2004. The Robert
Lee placed the Reef BallsÔ at the Tilghman Island
artificial reef site off Tilghman Island, Talbot County, Md. Costs were covered by the Constellation
Energy and CBT/FAF grants and MES project development funds. The project
was done in cooperation with local sport fishermen and charter captains.
- Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center (CBEC) Reef
Ball Project: Reef BallsÔ
were both procured and produced for CBEC for a restoration and fish
habitat project in Prospect Bay, Queen Anne’s County, Md. CBEC obtained a
CBT/FAF grant for the work and contracted MES for the procurement and
production of the Reef BallsÔ, as well as
deployment. Local production of 32
Reef Balls by MES, CBEC staff and volunteers occurred August 23 and 24,
2004 and was partially funded by the Abell Foundation. The Oyster Recovery
partnership (ORP) was contracted by MES for deployment and transportation
of the Reef BallsÔ at CBEC to the staging
area. ORP subcontracted CBF for
the deployment of the Reef BallsÔ
in Prospect Bay. Deployment
occurred March 17 and 18 with the CBF vessel Patricia Campbell. Labor
costs were partially covered by the Abell Foundation grant and MES project
development funds.
- University of Maryland Center for Environmental
Studies (UMCES) Reef Ball Project: The Sandy Point Integrated
Ecosystem Restoration (SPIER) Initiative by UMCES is a restoration and
habitat project planned for the late spring/early summer. The project is located at the tip of
Sandy Point on Solomons Island, Calvert County, Md. in the shallow water
adjacent to the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory (CBL). MES agreed to
fund, through the CBT/FAF and Abell grants, the procurement and
transportation of 100 Reef BallsÔ
as part of the SPIER initiative. Deployment is expected to take place in
the late spring, early summer, 2005.
In summary, a total of 549 Reef BallsÔ of
various sizes were procured/produced by MES for placement at various reef sites
in the Chesapeake Bay. Of the 549 Reef BallsÔ, 449 were deployed to 7
reef sites. An additional 100 Reef BallsÔ of various sizes have
been procured and will be deployed in the near future.