By Mary Reid Barrow

At LRNow’s Oyster Roast over the weekend, the proof was in the pudding in more ways than one.

The word under the tent was the Lynnhaven oysters were delicious. LRNow Director Karen Forget said she had heard from several people that “the oysters were the best ever”. And she thanked Lynnhaven River oysterman Ned Harris and Cherrystone Aqua Farms for their donation.

The oysters themselves also sported good news for the future of our famed Lynnhavens and more. Their shells not only were covered with baby oyster shells, called spat, but young ribbed mussels were tagging along for the ride, evidence of a good year for both across the river.

Thanks to the oysters cleaning our waters all these years, they have “facilitated the mussel explosion we are witnessing,” said Brent James, LRNow’s Oyster Restoration Manager.
“That’s my theory anyway.”

Delicious Lynnhavens carrying lots of spat and mussels on their shells arrived at the oyster roast on top of the good news this spring that more than 50 percent of the Lynnhaven River is now clean and open for shell fishing.

And who facilitated all that? You, our supporters and volunteers. When LRNow started in 2002, only one percent of the river was clean enough for oysters and now it is over 50 percent.

You were the ones who donated to LRNow, came to the oyster roasts, volunteered in cleanups, scooped the poop, planted trees, put native plants in your gardens, restored your shorelines and so much more.

This year’s oyster roast provided a big exclamation point. Thanks to all of you, not only are the Lynnhaven oysters of yore firmly back in business, but now they also are bringing mussels along for the ride!