The Palmetto Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) put a spotlight Wednesday on its oyster restoration project along the Manatee River, a multi-month effort researchers say is already helping scientists measure how habitat work can improve water quality.
Out on the water, investigators described the site as a real-life “living laboratory,” where they’re not only placing restoration structures—but studying what happens next.
“Most people just put their reef balls and they walk away,” said Dr. Ernesto Lasso de la Vega, Principal Investigator for the Aquatic Habitat Enhancement Components on the project. “Now here we’re studying the effect of the reef balls and that is information that will be useful for other projects.”