Maryland restores 343 acres of oyster reef in Harris Creek with 2.49 billion seeds

Maryland has restored 343 acres of healthy oyster reef in Harris Creek by planting 2.49 billion oyster seeds, marking a major ecological achievement in the Chesapeake Bay. Monitoring shows 99% of six-year-old restored reefs in Maryland meet minimum oyster density and biomass thresholds, with 83% reaching higher targets. Harris Creek was the first tributary to reach that six-year mark. The effort is part of a broader Maryland-Virginia initiative that has restored reefs in all 10 selected tributaries, totaling over 2,400 acres. Oysters build habitat for other species and filter water, though only about 1% of the native population remains due to disease, overfishing, and poor water quality.