Chesapeake Bay Tributaries Selected for Oyster Restoration

<p>Data are collected on oyster reef restoration in 11 tributaries—Harris Creek, Little Choptank, Tred Avon, and the upper St. Mary’s and Manokin rivers in Maryland; Piankatank, Lafayette, Lynnhaven, Great Wicomico, lower York, and the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth rivers in Virginia. Partners track progress by tallying acres of reefs that have undergone restoration treatment to meet Executive Order 13508 and Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement outcomes, were restored prior to those agreements, or are naturally occurring reefs already meeting oyster density criteria; these categories are summed and reported as “completed acreage” for each tributary. Partners document progress in annual reports approved by the Maryland and Virginia Oyster Restoration Interagency Teams, and the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office maintains these data.</p><p><strong>Note: This Indicator supported progress tracking toward the Oysters Outcome in the original Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, adopted in 2014. The Watershed Agreement and Oysters Outcome were revised in 2025.</strong></p><p>Access the Indicator Materials:<br />- <a target='_blank' href='https://d18lev1ok5leia.cloudfront.net/chesapeakeprogress/chart-assets/oyster-reef-restoration/Analysis-and-Methods-2025-Oyster-Restoration-06012026.pdf' rel='nofollow ugc noopener noreferrer'>Analysis &amp; Methods</a><br />- <a target='_blank' href='https://d18lev1ok5leia.cloudfront.net/chesapeakeprogress/chart-assets/oyster-reef-restoration/Data-File-2025-Oyster-Restoration-06012026.xlsx' rel='nofollow ugc noopener noreferrer'>Data File</a><br />- <a target='_blank' href='https://gis.chesapeakebay.net/ags/rest/services/ChesapeakeProgress/cpOyster_Restoration_2025/MapServer' rel='nofollow ugc noopener noreferrer'>Map Service</a></p>