City Island Oyster Reef Inc

OYSTER REEF CIOR has been funded to select two sites for oyster reefs from five potential locations around the island that were identified by an extensive survey of existing oyster populations around City Island. CIOR monitored the five sites and the data on oyster growth and mortality from those sessions was used to inform the selection of the two sites. The plans and designs for the oyster reefs at those sites are now being presented for sign-off and permitting. Now that the two sites have been selected, specially engineered structures will be put in place, and cured shell material will be added in order to promote reef formation. In addition, CIOR has partnered with local City Island restaurants to collect their discarded shells in 32-gallon bins and bring them to a curing site at the Pelham Bay Landfill. The shells are placed on the grass-covered soil on top of one another to a height of two feet and regularly turned to provide sufficient airflow. No chemicals are used in the curing process, which takes up to twelve months.