Bid for growth of oyster gardens to help water quality

By Megan Dollar with Newsday

Originally published in Newsday

Twice a week, several Laurel Hollow residents wade into the waters off their local beach to clean and measure more than 1,000 oysters.

They volunteer with the Laurel Hollow Community Oyster Gardening program, started in 2017 by the Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor Protection Committee to teach the basic skills of oyster growing and create a self-sustaining oyster reef in the watershed.

On Tuesday, Town of Oyster Bay officials are expected to vote to create more community oyster gardens in several locations, including Laurel Hollow and Oyster Bay Cove.

While the oyster industry is a large contributor to Long Island's economy, the drive to expand this program isn't economic, it's environmental.

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