The Suwannee Sound/Cedar Key Oyster Restoration Project involves the placement of reef building substrate and/or live oyster seed on damaged or degraded oyster reefs along the Levy County coastline. The project will restore oyster reef habitat and support ecosystem services along the coast of Levy County, Florida and provide for the economic sustainability of fishery-related businesses in Levy County’s coastal communities. The region, for the purposes of this project, is divided into three nearshore restoration areas; including Suwannee Sound, Cedar Key, and Waccasassa Bay. Three primary methods that can be applied in the region include: 1) transplanting/re-seeding using live oysters from natural donor reefs; 2) depositing cultch material on degraded oyster reefs or historical oyster reef locations (recipient sites); and 3) re-populating restored oyster reefs with hatcher-reared seed where the natural reproductive potential is low. The selected Consultant is expected to have expertise in the benefits and risks of transplanting or “relay” in the context of oyster restoration. An important component of the Scope of Work will include developing a multi-level approach to restoration that includes partnerships with the agencies responsible for environmental and resource management in the project area. The following specific tasks are included in the Scope of Work to plan, design and perform the oyster restoration activities: 1. Describe the current condition (pre-project assessments) of oyster resources and oyster reef habitat in the project area; including oyster population assessments on specific project sites, mapping restoration sites, and photo-documentation. 2. Develop protocols for assessing oyster resources (including population and habitat) and apply these assessments to: a. Identify damaged oyster reef habitat where rehabilitation activities will be performed; and b. Assess success of subsequent restoration. This should include both extant oyster populations as well as structural habitat, which includes more than living oyster populations. 3. Conduct feasibility studies to determine restoration sites, potentially including donor and recipient reefs. Determine such factors such as accessibility, availability of nearby seed stocks, population parameters, extent of damage, and potential for success before selecting specific reefs for restoration. It should be noted that there is evidence to suggest that the greatest return on investment comes from restoring sufficient structural habitat (e.g., rock or other large and durable materials). 4. Determine the best methods for restoring oyster population and reef habitat based on biological, environmental, ecological and operational parameters that are specific to individual reefs. The proposed methods should accommodate procedures for adaptive management to identify when management changes should be triggered. Delivery of rocks and cultch and re-seeding activities will be performed at locations where natural oyster reproduction, growth and survival are limited. Degraded reefs will be re-seeded with juvenile stocks or rehabilitated by depositing material to: a. Create reef infrastructure b. Stimulate spat setting c. Enhance ecological function d. accelerate oyster recovery, as long-term solutions to current habitat degradation 5. Specify the amounts and types and locations of cultch material to deploy at each reef restoration location (plans and specifications to be prepared in a manner to directly guide implementation efforts). This should be guided by the available funds for restoration of $1.5M. 6. Additionally, the consultant should develop reef restoration plans and specifications for a phased approach if additional funding becomes available to contribute to oyster restoration in the area. 7. Apply for and comply with Special Activity Licenses and other permits required to perform project activities. 8. Conduct organizational meetings to plan the project and select project participants, including local workers to collect and transport seed oysters and rock materials, and workers who will assist in conducting restoration verification (ensuring materials delivered in the amounts and locations specified. 9. Participate in public meetings, in association with the Cedar Key Oysterman Association, to provide information and details about the project. 10. Perform the restoration activities in accordance with the plans developed in 1 – 8 above. 11. Conduct pre-and post-project monitoring and data collection to provide critical information regarding site selection, restoration methodology, and ecological restoration success (per protocols described in 2 above). 12. Provide on-going oversight and adaptive management of the oyster restoration plan during actual implementation/restoration phase of the project 13. Complete reports as required
