Sag Harbor

Oysters are considered a “keystone species” for their incredible ability to filter water and build a complex reef structures that provide critical habitat, buffer storm surges, and prevent erosion.

Working in tandem with our Back to the Bays Shell Recycling Program, we have established a new oyster reef along the shores of the Redwood property.

We are also introducing hanging baskets off of the docks to serve as a growout nursery for spat-on-shell oysters that will later be added to the new reef or used for other restoration projects.

These oysters will improve water quality in Sag Harbor, restore habitat, and help enhance the wild oyster population. 

CCE Marine’s habiat restoration efforts rely on nursery sites to propagate and growout coastal plants for restoration purposes, including American beachgrass, native shrubs, and coastal pollinator plants.

Continued funding for this site will allow the addition of raised garden beds, a greenhouse, and a marsh grass nursery.

Our new Coastal Plant Nursery at the Redwood Facility will also serve as an important educational site for engaging local students and volunteers in our work.

Salt marshes provide essential habitat for marine and coastal species, prevent erosion, buffer storm surges, sequester carbon, and filter runoff water before it enters our bays.

We are installing and maintaining new Restoration Rafts at the Redwood Facility, which will serve as floating growout areas for saltmarsh cordgrass (Sporobolus alterniflorus).

Our staff and interns are experimenting with these rafts to determine best design and maintenance practices, as well as estimating nutrient uptake by the plants, which further improves local water quality.

Hard Clams are also incredible filter feeders and CCE Marine Program spawns millions of seed clam per year for use in population enhancement projects throughout the East End.

The docks at our new Redwood Facility will support clam FLUPSYs (Floating Upweller Systems) for holding juvenile clams during the growout stages and overwintering.

This new Redwood Facility will enable us to reach our eastern audience with more regular ArtSEA + Marine Science programming, including early ed, afterschool, community and family programs.

This location will also serve as a Learning Lab for local schools, helping them integrate hands-on restoration and research opportunities into their curriculum.

Thanks to our ongoing partnerships within the Sag Harbor Community, we are able to engage local youth and citizens in our hands-on restoration work.

The Redwood Facility will provide a dedicated space for community involvement in our diversity of projects.

Learn more about our Sag Harbor Stewardship Site and enroll as a Back to the Bays Steward.