WYE RIVER OYSTER PROGRAM – Fall 2026 Update
2026 — A YEAR OF GROWTH
The Wye River Oyster Program made significant progress in 2026 through oyster restoration, community engagement, and an expanding network of restoration partners.
RESTORATION
· 60 MILLION SPAT-ON-SHELL planted over 9 ACRES in 2026. Since May 2025, our cumulative restoration totals 80 MILLION SPAT-ON-SHELL over 12 ACRES of historic oyster bars within the Wye River Sanctuary.
COMMUNITY
· More than 100 Wye River households are engaged in our restoration efforts, demonstrating local commitment to a healthier Wye River.
· Leveraged community support to secure grants from Queen Anne’s County and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)
PARTNERSHIPS
· Our restoration partners include:
Maryland DNR • NOAA • Oyster Recovery Partnership • ShoreRivers • NFWF • Queen Anne’s County • Seed-to-Shuck Ventures • Mid-Shore Community Foundation
LOOKING AHEAD — 2027 GOALS
· Expand Restoration: Plant approximately 80 million additional spat-on-shell over 12 acres, potentially bringing cumulative restoration to 160 million spat-on-shell over 24 acres.
· Increase Environmental Impact: A projected 160 million spat-on-shell would ideally filter approximately 320 million gallons of water daily as the oysters mature.
· Increase Community Engagement: Build on participation of more than 100 Wye River households, with a goal of increasing engagement by 15–25%.
· Expand Monitoring: Collect data on oyster survival, growth, and reef conditions to assess restoration effectiveness.
· Strengthen Partnerships: Maintain existing partnerships and develop additional expertise and funding.
The Wye River Oyster Program is a component fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3).
Wye River Oyster Program
News & Updates
The latest on our neighbor-funded effort to bring oysters back to the Wye River.
June 8, 2026
County News
Commissioners Support Wye River Oyster Restoration Efforts
This weekend County Commission President Jim Moran and County Commissioner Phil Dumenil presented the Wye River Oyster Program with a check and witnessed the program in action. At their last meeting, the Commissioners approved a $50,000 contribution to support the continued work of the program.
Continue Reading → Read the original on Queen Anne’s County website →
In The News
Bay Times · Submitted News
May 29, 2026
Wye River Neighbors Unite to Fund Second Oyster Restoration Project
QUEENSTOWN — On June 6, the Wye River Oyster Program, a community-driven effort to replenish the oyster population in the Wye River, will take another step toward that goal by planting 15 to 20 million spat on shell in the river’s designated oyster sanctuary. Another planting of the same amount is planned for later this summer.
Continue Reading → Read the original on My Eastern Shore MD →
Spring Newsletter
Planting dates, our goals for this season, and a big thank-you to the neighbors and partners who make it possible.
Read the Full UpdateClose Update
Spring Newsletter
Planting dates, our goals for this season, and a big thank-you to the neighbors and partners who make it possible.
Read the Full UpdateClose UpdateJoin us on the water!
Our tentative planting dates are June 6 and June 20. With two dates, we expect to plant two barges of spat-on-shell (SOS) oysters at two to four locations in the Wye River.
The dates are tentative because two things have to line up: the hatchery’s oyster larvae must be ready on the shell, and the weather has to cooperate.
Last year, 15 resident boats came out to watch the planting. This year, we’d love to double that!
Where we’ll plant
Planting locations are being coordinated with Maryland DNR and will be confirmed. The Wye River Oyster Sanctuary includes 23 historic reef locations covering 341 acres, and harvesting is not permitted there.
Thank you to our funders
- 55+ households (so far), with 100% of their donations going to planting oysters
- Queen Anne’s County Commissioners: $28,000 grant
- Chesapeake Bay Trust: $5,000 Community Engagement Mini Grant
Thank you to our supporters
- Sushil at Bennett Point General Store and Joe at Hunters Seafood, for spreading the word
- The 35 neighbors who bought WROP hats
- ShoreRivers and Ben Ford, Riverkeeper, for their expertise and encouragement
- Oyster Recovery Partnership, which is targeting two large historic Wye River reefs for restoration this year
- Mark Brush at VIMS, for helping assess oyster filtration rates
- NOAA’s Office of Habitat Conservation, for offering to help with future restoration
Questions or want to get involved? Email us at WyeRiverOysterProgram@gmail.com.
In the News
Bay Times · by Andrea Grabenstein
QA Commissioners offer support for Wye River Oyster Program
Local residents working to improve water quality on the Wye River received a boost Dec. 9, as the Queen Anne’s County Commissioners approved $28,000 in matching grant funds for the Wye River Oyster Program.
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On December 9, the Queen Anne’s County Commissioners approved $28,000 in matching grant funds for the Wye River Oyster Program, a grassroots effort by local residents to improve water quality in the Wye River.
The county’s support matches funds raised by neighbors, helping the program buy and plant more spat-on-shell oysters on historic reef bottom in the Wye River Oyster Sanctuary.
Every dollar donated goes toward planting oysters, because the program is run entirely by volunteers.
Summary of reporting by Andrea Grabenstein, Bay Times.
Star Democrat · by Andrea Grabenstein
‘Barge-r’ than life: Wye River Oyster Program ensures 21 million oysters in Wye River
The Wye River Oyster Program plants 21 million spat.
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On June 29, 2025, volunteers with the Wye River Oyster Program planted 21 million oysters, each attached to a shell, across three acres of the Wye River bottom to help restore the local oyster population.
The program, a community group organized by Steve Burleson, partnered with Ricky Fitzhugh of Seed to Shuck Ventures, a Cambridge-based hatchery. One barge carried three canisters of about 675 bushels each, and several boats brought volunteers and river enthusiasts out to watch.
Donations came mostly through word of mouth. Because volunteers do all the work, every donated dollar goes toward buying oysters. The fund is held by the Mid-Shore Community Foundation.
Maryland DNR estimates that about 15% of the planted oysters will reach market size. Oysters filter pollutants and excess nutrients from the water, and their reefs provide habitat for marine life.
The group hopes to make the planting an annual event and to inspire neighboring rivers to start similar efforts.
Summary of reporting by Andrea Grabenstein, Star Democrat, July 2, 2025.