Volunteers Sought to Restore Eroding Shorelines, Help Oysters in Lagoon

UCF Biology professor Linda Walters is looking for help this summer for a variety of community projects to help restore eroding shorelines with native plants and rebuild colonies of oyster beds in the Mosquito Lagoon.

There are opportunities in June and July to work on different projects. The first involves restoring the oyster reefs that are part of the Canaveral National Seashore. Volunteers will travel by boat to sections of the park that need help with reefs. Those interested must RSVP with Judy Palmer at the Brevard Zoo, which is a partner in the project. She can be reached at jpalmer@brevardzoo.org ^[1]. Instructions will be provided on meeting sites when reservations are made. Dates for this project are:

June 6, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

June 18, 8 a.m. – noon

June 19, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

June 22, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

June 23, noon – 4 p.m.

June 29, 6:30– 10:30 a.m.

June 30, 7– 11 a.m.

Volunteer who would rather stay on dry land can participate in the Living Shoreline Stabilization project. This involves planting native vegetation and deploying oyster shells along shorelines in Oak Hill and St. Augustine. RSVPs are needed to participate by emailing Walters at linda.walters@ucf.edu ^[2].

Other options include:

July 25-26, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Seminole Rest historic site project in Oak Hill.

Walters and her team also will work at Fort Mose Historic State Park in St. Augustine later this month. Times and days for that project will be announced.

For more information on any of the projects, email Walters.