05/27/2026
Press Release: Levy County Launches $1.9 Million Oyster Restoration Project in Waccasassa Bay
Date of Issue: May 27, 2026
BRONSON, Fla. - Levy County is proud to announce the official launch of Oyster ROCKS, the County’s “Suwannee Sound / Cedar Key Oyster Restoration” project, a major community-led coastal restoration initiative focused on restoring critical oyster reef habitat in Waccasassa Bay and strengthening the long-term ecological and economic resilience of Levy County’s coastal communities.
Funded through approximately $1.9 million in RESTORE Act Bucket 3 funds, the project is supported by the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council through a grant to The Gulf Consortium, which is sub-awarding the funding to Levy County for implementation.
The project will restore oyster reef habitat within the Corrigan’s Reef area of Waccasassa Bay. Restoration activities are designed to improve water quality, enhance marine habitat, support fisheries, strengthen shoreline resilience, and sustain the economic vitality of Levy County’s historic working waterfronts and seafood industry.
“Oyster reefs are essential to the health, economy, and heritage of our coastal communities,” said Kari Bastow, Grants & Finance Manager for Levy County. “This project represents a significant investment in both environmental restoration and the future sustainability of Levy County’s commercial fishing industry.”
The restoration effort will build on sixteen years of oyster restoration research in coastal Levy County to promote oyster reef recovery by depositing naturally occurring limestone on degraded oyster bars to recover lost oyster reef material - the critical habitat oyster larvae require to settle and grow to adult oysters.
The project also creates direct economic opportunities for Levy County’s commercial
oystermen and fishing families. Overall the project is estimated to provide ~$3.6 million in short-term local economic activity in Levy County through wages, material sourcing, and transportation. Local oystermen will play a critical role in hauling and depositing restoration rock material throughout the project area, providing valuable off-season income while utilizing their extensive knowledge of local waters and working waterfront operations.
“This project not only restores habitat, it supports the people whose livelihoods depend on these waters,” Commissioner Tim Hodge added. “By partnering with local oystermen, we are investing directly back into our coastal communities while preserving a way of life that has defined this region for generations.”
Levy County is implementing the project in collaboration with several state, federal, scientific, and industry partners, including SWCA Environmental Consultants, Cedar Key Oystermen's Association, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
In addition to reef construction activities, the project includes long-term monitoring to evaluate oyster recruitment, reef performance, habitat conditions, and overall ecosystem recovery. Oyster reefs provide critical ecosystem services by filtering water, creating habitat for marine species, supporting recreational and commercial fisheries, and helping protect shorelines from erosion and storm impacts.
Project activities are anticipated to continue through 2028 pursuant to federal and state authorizations.
For additional information, please contact:
Kari Bastow
Grants & Finance Manager
(352) 486-5218 | [email protected]
Please follow this link for updates and additional information: https://www.levycounty.org/409/Project-Updates
