Tampa Bay Watch is recruiting volunteers to build oyster reef balls at Tampa Bay Watch Marine Education Center, 3000 Pinellas Bayway South, Tierra Verde, FL 33715. The minimum age to participate is sixteen years old since this is a physical project which requires bending, stooping, and some heavy lifting.
This project will consist of three stages as described below. Each stage will start with a thorough visual and verbal demonstration of the process. Volunteers are encouraged to take short breaks between stages to ensure time for hydration and rest.
1) Disassemble previously built molds in order to remove the cured reef ball inside.
2) Reassemble the molds in preparation for the final stage
3) Mixing and pouring environmentally friendly concrete into the ORB molds.
Volunteer jobs
There is something for everyone, and volunteers are encouraged to rotate through positions.
o Work individually or in teams to take apart an Oyster Reef Ball mold (involves bending and squatting)
o Help move Oyster Reef Balls to wash station and then load onto trailer (heavy duty as ORBs weigh 200lbs each)
o Work individually or in teams to reassemble an Oyster Reef Ball mold (involves bending and squatting)
o Help to reinflate morning buoys and place small spacer balls in mold in preparation to fill molds with concrete. (light duty)
o Assist in the concrete mixing process.
-open and pour concrete bag into mixer (heavy duty as each bag weighs 65 lbs.)
-keep count of material being added to mixer (light duty)
-remove and discard used material form mixing site (light duty)
o Help pour concrete mix into molds using 2-gallon buckets (involves bending and squatting)
o Tamper mix with rubber mallets once mold is ½ way full (involves bending and squatting)
o Use a garden hose to clean molds of excess concrete (light duty)
These reef balls will be installed at a later date to stabilize shorelines and prevent erosion while creating habitat similar to natural oyster communities found along shoreline areas throughout Tampa Bay.
Click here to visit our webpage to learn more about reef balls.
If you would like to volunteer with a group, please contact Rachel Arndt directly at rarndt@tampabaywatch.org.