James Madison HS Students Construct Oyster Reef Balls

From James Madison HS: In conjunction with the Northern Virginia chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association, students from Madison High School constructed 21 oyster reef balls. Teachers from the school’s science department, volunteers from CCA and over 30 students worked on the project over a two day period. The volunteers assembled the molds for the artificial oyster reef balls, helped get out any voids after the concrete was poured into the molds, then removed the molds on Sunday.

The 21 reef balls were then loaded onto a truck to go to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation site where they will cure for 30 days and then be set with oyster spat (larvae). They will be placed in the Chesapeake Bay where they will become part of an already established reef. Students worked together and learned engineering skills and lots of great conservation and oyster reestablishment facts. They acquired a new understanding of the importance of their contribution towards improving the water quality and biodiversity of the Chesapeake Bay. Vulcan Materials Company donated the cement for the reefs and Engel Coolers also donated supplies.

Photos courtesy of James Madison HS