Virginia Governor Celebrates Lower York River Oyster Restoration Goal Achievement

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin celebrated Earth Day 2024 by announcing the achievement of a milestone in the state’s effort to restore oyster habitat in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. 

Youngkin announced Monday the completion of over 200 acres of restored oyster habitat in the Lower York River, solidifying Virginia as home to the largest oyster restoration and replenishment effort in the United States.

The Lower York River milestone is the result of collaborative efforts spearheaded by the VMRC Shellfish Management Division. The support and funding provided by NOAA enabled the implementation of innovative restoration techniques and the monitoring of ecosystem health. 

On Monday, Youngkin, along with Congressmen, delegates and representatives, commemoratively signed the final oyster shells to be added to the restored Lower York River oyster reef. These symbolic shells were then scattered on the oyster reef, marking the completed restoration of this Chesapeake Bay tributary. 

Chesapeake Bay Foundation leaders joined Youngkin, Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources Travis Voyles, and representatives from Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), and oyster growers from across tidewater Virginia for the celebration. 

The project is part of a 2014 plan by the Chesapeake Bay program to restore native oyster habitat and population in ten Bay tributaries across Virginia and Maryland by 2025. CBF has called for accelerating and expanding oyster restoration to 20 additional Bay tributaries by 2035 due to the overwhelming success of these efforts.  

Chesapeake Bay Foundation President Hilary Harp Falk issued the following statement: 

“It’s incredible to see how oyster restoration goals, which were set back in 2014, are now being met. This oyster restoration success is a prime example of how smart, targeted investments can help us turn prior challenges into one of our greatest strengths as a community. The Lower York River oyster restoration achievements underscores why we must continue to ramp up oyster restoration work for the next 20 Bay tributaries.”