Examples of the mollusks from a reef built in 2012. Steve Remich for The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal profiled some unlikely heroes in the ongoing struggle in the effort to clean the Bronx River: Oysters.
Since the major cleanup of the River began in 2001, many strategies has been employed to improve the River’s health, and this latest effort has been significantly improving water quality.
The mollusks have a natural filtration system, collecting dirt and grime, adding a level cleanup that’s a more manageable affair, akin to “changing the filter.”
The last deposit of oysters numbered at 250,000, with more being grown in New Jersey waterways.
As the oysters do their work, additional light passes through the water, allowing plants to grow and more natural filtration to occur.
Read more at The Wall Street Journal
Featured Image: Alexis Kleinbeck and Sarah Tobing return oysters to a reef in the Bronx River. Steve Remich for The Wall Street Journal
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