The Oyster Is Their World

I would like to extend a warm welcome to the newest site on my blog roll, The Gowanus Oyster Garden Stewards.  A real pearl of an organization that is unshellfishly dedicated to promoting the propagation of one of nature's best water filterers in Brooklyn's glorious Gowanus Canal.

Here's a bit of explanation from their website:

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Why Garden Oysters?

Oyster Gardening: reintroduction of a native species.
Oysters were once an abundant and important species all along the East Coast. Their absence since the 1920’s, due to pollution, disease, over-harvesting and siltation, has highlighted the loss of perhaps their most valuable service; water filtration. Oyster reefs also provide habitat for a multitude of other species important to a healthy and divererse ecosystem. Volunteer oyster garden stewardship contributes to the study and restoration of local oyster populations by raising small oysters in nets and monitoring monthly for growth, health and predation. Healthy oysters grown in this way are released annually onto reefs in the NY/NJ Harbor.

Oyster ecology: absence of a keystone species.
In a healthy oyster landscape, an adult oyster is able to filter water at the amazing rate of up to 50 gallons/day! Oysters feed by pulling water over their gills, filtering out and ingesting huge amounts of algae. Suspended sediments, which block much needed sunlight from reaching the bottom of the canal, inhibit the growth of submerged vegetation. These sediments, pulled from the water column by the oysters as they feed, are deposited on the bottom of the canal. Stormwater run-off and sewage overflow from surrounding neighborhoods are the central causes of excess algae and continue to be one of the largest sources of pollution in the canal today.

Environmental restoration: the role of the Eastern Oyster.
Despite centuries of unsustainable use, New York’s waters are getting cleaner. Restoration is promoted and enacted by environmental protection laws; agencies on the federal, state and local levels; scientists, researchers and non-profit organizations that rally thousands of local volunteers to make a difference in their own community. Oyster gardening heightens awareness of the estuary and its ecological needs and services. Engaged communities can provide healthy oysters populations that will eventually help restore water quality and environmental diversity.

Why The Gowanus?
Who are the Gowanus Canal Oyster Garden Stewards?

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To subscribe to their e-newsletter or to arrange a visit to the Gowanus Oyster Garden please contact Katie Mosher-Smith, 718-369-1089,  plexie@nyc.rr.com. Their most recent newsletter detailing upcoming oyster related events can be found below the fold.

Gowanus Canal Community Oyster Garden
E-Newsletter: April 26, 2007.  http://www.gowanusoysters.com

Next event: Monthly Monitor - Saturday April 28th, 2:30 at the 2nd
Street boat launch. Help pull and clean the nets and check for
predation, disease and mortality.
Directions to all events: Meet at the Canal on 2nd St. off of Bond St.
Exit the front of a Brooklyn bound F or G at Carroll Street. Cross
Smith Street and walk 3 blocks to the canal.

NEW! Spring and Summer Schedule:

Oyster Stewardship Classes (Held at the first hour of the Gowanus
Dredgers summer Saturday open boating sessions)

5/19 - Saturday 1-2:30 (Come meet students from NYHS:  "Acting as
stewards for New York Harbor and spokespeople for the school as members
of the elite Harbor Corps."
6/17 - Saturday 1-2:30
7/14 - Saturday 1-2:30
8/5 - Saturday 1-2:30
9/15 - Saturday 1-2:30

Public Oyster Monitoring Session (Times may change due to tides)
4/28 - Saturday, 2-4
5/27 - Saturday, 2-4
6/24 - Saturday, 2-4
7/29 - Saturday, 2-4
8/25 - Saturday, 2-4
9/29 - Saturday, 2-4

NEW! Committees forming: Be on the lookout for a May stewardship
meeting. This is an opportunity to join the environmental, education
and outreach committees. Help shape the future of our program and help
guide other new stewardship programs as they form. Contact Katie for a
copy of the meeting agenda.

• New York Harbor School applications are available for the 2007
season. If you would like to have your own net in the Gowanus, please
download the form from the left sidebar of gowanusoysters.com and
return it to Roy Arezzo at NYHS. The training and delivery date for
people receiving oysters from NYHS is Saturday June 2nd. The Gowanus
Oyster Stewards will continue to provide technical support and monthly
events for gardeners and visitors to the 2nd Street garden.

Why You? Thousands of volunteers all along the East Coast are helping
to reintroduce Eastern Oysters. Community oyster gardening is for all
ages, free and open to the public. Educators can sign up for field
trips and our teacher training sessions to learn how to incorporate
oyster gardening into their existing curriculum. Tending nets is also a
great weekend and summer activity for families and friends.