USA student volunteers are needed to help carry and stack Oyster Castle blocks during low tide along the shoreline of Bayfront Road, Mobile, AL the afternoon of June 22nd, 3pm to ~7pm. This will serve to provide important oyster habitat in Mobile Bay, reduce erosion from wave action, and increase sediment retention on the shoreline. Oysters are one of our best tools to improve water quality. A single oyster can filter 50 gallons of water in a single day!
The Bayfront Road Oyster Castle Project began in February of 2020 as part of a living shoreline project. As it stands now, the reefs are doing a good job of building up sediment shoreward, but the grasses we planted in 2020 unfortunately succumbed to too much wave energy and did not survive. This June (22nd), we would like to build 2 more reefs between the existing ones with the remaining oyster castles to further slow the waves and then replant the Spartina.
Volunteers must be capable of lifting 30 lbs. and be willing to get a little wet and muddy. Sturdy work gloves are recommended for moving the Oyster Castles, and boots or waders are recommended since parts of the shoreline are soft mud. We’ll bring extra waders and boots for volunteers to use, as well. Since we will be working outside, please bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, and a snack.
ALL VOLUNTEERS MUST SIGN USA’S RELEASE FROM LIABILITY FORM PRIOR TO THE EVENT. The form is attached to this Need. Hard copies can be picked up at the School of Marine & Environmental Sciences, Education & Outreach Building, 3rd Floor Lobby front desk. Drop off hard copies to EOB 3rd floor lobby and/or email an electronic copy to Dr. Sprinkle at sprinkle@southalabama.edu no later than June 21st at 3pm.
