Assessment of oyster reefs in the great wicomico river, VA

The Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), a division of the Department of Defense, awarded Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) a $100,000 cooperative agreement effective September 18, 2025, through September 17, 2027, under the Basic, Applied, and Advanced Research in Science and Engineering program (CFDA 12.630). The project, titled "Assessment of Oyster Reefs in the Great Wicomico River, VA," will be performed at VIMS's facility in Gloucester Point, Virginia. This cooperative agreement funds applied research activities focused on evaluating the condition and ecological characteristics of oyster reef ecosystems in the specified Virginia waterway.

The award supports VIMS's technical expertise in marine ecosystem assessment and coastal environmental research, disciplines central to the CFDA 12.630 program's mission of advancing applied and advanced research with long-term potential for Department of Defense applications. Given VIMS's established capabilities in shellfish ecology, marine habitat assessment, and Chesapeake Bay environmental monitoring, the research is expected to deliver scientific analysis and technical findings related to oyster reef structure, health, and restoration potential. The cooperative agreement mechanism enables collaborative engagement between ERDC and the research institution to advance understanding of this critical coastal habitat within Virginia's estuarine system.