Box 6: Great Wicomico River
| Location: Great Wicomico River History of location: Small tributary on the northwestern shore of the Chesapeake Bay. Trap type estuary with history of significant natural spat settlement and seed oyster production. Baylor and private productivity mostly maintained by seed production and regular addition of shell cultch. Current status: Low population levels on Baylor Grounds subject to consistent disease (both MSX and Dermo) mortality. Cultch condition on Baylor Grounds is relatively good. Three sentinel sites present. Occasional additional data collected as needed. Data held by VIMS and VMRC. Private lease activity is modest. Recent restoration activity (reefs and other) to date: Reefs constructed in 1996 and 1998 by VMRC. Eleven reefs constructed in 2004 by COE. Occasional seed movements (export) and numerous shell plants. The risk to private oyster production is high because of disease. Restoration potential: Limited because of consistent disease risk. |
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