Restoration Center News

NOAA Dignitary Recognizes Accomplishments of Oyster Restoration in South Carolina on Earth Day 2004

		Timothy R.E. Keeney, NOAA’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, talks with student volunteer at Earth Day event.

On April 22, 2004, Timothy R.E. Keeney, NOAA’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, visited oyster reefs restored through the South Carolina Oyster Restoration and Enhancement (SCORE) program. This program, supported by the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program and administered by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR), engages volunteers to plant recycled oyster shell in the intertidal environment to form new, self-sustaining reefs.

A restoration site on Bowen’s Island in Charleston served as the backdrop while staff from DNR described the details and methods of the program to those in attendance. Staff from the NOAA’s Coastal Services Center were also on hand to demonstrate the web based support and data collection techniques that they developed specifically for the SCORE program. The highlight of the event involved the demonstration of the programs’ scientific monitoring techniques by a group of local high school student volunteers. As the event drew to a close, Mr. Keeney commended the students for their stewardship efforts and for “thinking globally and acting locally” to protect the environment. He also recognized the project for being an effective example of how positive results can be achieved through federal-local partnerships.