Flagler County is getting a free environmental upgrade at three of its public boat docks, courtesy of a local initiative called “Oysters for My Neighborhood.” The group has agreed to install Vertical Oyster Gardens at the Moody Boat Launch in Flagler Beach, Bing’s Landing in the unincorporated county, and Herschel King Park in Palm Coast.
Vertical Oyster Gardens, known as VOGs, are suspended, artificial habitats made by stringing recycled oyster shells onto heavy-duty wire or rope. When hung from docks or seawalls, the strings attract juvenile oysters — called spat — along with small crabs, shrimp, and other marine life. Over time, they function as miniature reefs that improve the water quality of the surrounding waterway.
“This is a really great project,” said Interim County Administrator Adam Mengel, who noted he has had an interest in vertical oyster gardens for several years. “These gardens both clean the water and create habitat for other creatures — small crabs and shrimp.”
Chuck Gleichmann, who started the local Vertical Oyster Garden Initiative on the Intracoastal Waterway, said the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) of Florida will officially survey all three docks early next week to determine the exact number of gardens needed at each location. Installation is targeted for mid-June.
The scale of the project can be significant. “As an example, the Herschel King dock is 115 feet long. We space VOGs two feet apart, give or take,” Gleichmann said. “This dock should take somewhere between 55 and 60.”
The environmental impact of oyster filtration is notable. “A full-grown oyster can filter 50 gallons of water per day,” Gleichmann said. “A string of oyster shells creates a home for new oysters and also creates habitat for others.” As the oysters grow on the vertical gardens, they are capable of naturally filtering between two and five gallons of water per hour — a rate that can meaningfully improve water quality in the Intracoastal Waterway over time.
Gleichmann and his partner Brian Hilgers operate the initiative outside the nonprofit structure but work with individuals and businesses interested in adding VOGs to their water-adjacent properties.
“This is a big win for our conservation efforts and our community,” Mengel said. “Any time we partner with a group like ‘Oysters for My Neighborhood’ that also expands their visibility and reach, it is a win, any way you look at it.”
For more information, visit www.oystersformyneighborhood.com.
