From staff reports
Volunteers are needed to help build an oyster reef in the Port Royal Sound.
Join the Open Land Trust (OLT), the Coastal Conservation League (CCL) and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources’ (SCDNR) oyster team from 12:45 to 3:45 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 30, to build a reef to increase oyster habitat in the Port Royal Sound and help protect Parris Island from climate impacts.
With support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Coastal Resilience Fund, this oyster reef build is part of a larger goal to restore approximately 3.1 acres of shoreline, creating a shield for 390 acres against environmental challenges.
The CCL will take a boat to the site location, so due to space limitations, this event is capped at 20 volunteers.
While oyster reef builds are a blast, they are very labor intensive. Volunteers should be capable of and enjoy working in soft pluff mud while lifting and passing up to 40-pound wire cages of oyster shell.
Register at https://bit.ly/3KSNIqm. Volunteers are asked to anticipate getting muddy, wet, and being in the sun.
Volunteers should meet at the Parris Island Boat Ramp at 21 Marina Blvd., in Beaufort. Volunteers should wear/bring:
- Closed-toe shoes. Rainboots/muck boots are recommended. If you don’t have boots, old sneakers will work. No sandals.
- Clothes you don’t mind getting muddy or stained.
- Hat.
- Sunscreen.
- Reusable water bottle — there will be a water cooler to refill.
- We recommend leaving a set of clean clothes in your car to change into after the build.
