From plants to wildlife, our local high students gather to make a difference in the community

The Ecology Club is our weekly program where we teach high school students about local ecological issues. Today, we made oyster bags out of burlap sacks to restore habitat for the Olympia oyster (Ostrea lurida). We fill these bags with oyster shells, providing oyster larvae the rocky substrate that they need to settle and grow. 

Oysters play an important role in aquatic ecosystems. They filter water providing high water quality and stabilizing sediments to counteract shoreline erosion. We want to thank our volunteers from Estancia High School and Orange County Coastkeeper for their phenomenal work here in the Upper Newport Bay.

Learn more about other Olympia oyster restoration efforts in California here, or for extra expert knowledge, check out this highly cited, research publication. We look forward to seeing you next time for more ecological restoration techniques and stewardship.

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