Military turns to low-tech oyster reefs

MIDDLETOWN, N.J. — Earle (N.J.) Naval Weapons Station, a base the Navy loads some of America's most sophisticated weapons onto warships, suffered $50M in damages during Hurricane Sand. Today, ENWS’ pier is fortifying itself with some decidedly low-tech protection: Oyster shells. The base has allowed an environmental group to plant nearly a mile of oyster reefs about a quarter-mile off its shoreline to serve as a buffer against storms’ wave damage. Other military bases are enlisting the help of oysters, too. In June, environmental groups and airmen established a reef off the coast of Eglin Air Force Base’s reservation in Florida, and more are planned. Three oyster reefs protect the USS Laffey museum in South Carolina; and installations in Alabama and North Carolina have dispatched personnel to help build oyster reefs at off-base coastal sites. A bill introduced in Congress would give coastal communities $100M across five years to create these “living shorelines" that include oyster reefs. (Source: The AP 12/26/17)