The Guana-Tolomato-Matanzas (GTM) estuary in Northeastern Florida harbors exceptionally dense populations of Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica), reminiscent of historical abundances documented by early Euro-American settlers. These oyster reefs are vital for ecosystem services, particularly in water filtration, where our models indicate they filter approximately 60% of the estuary’s volume within an estuarine residence time. This significant filtration capacity is influenced by factors such as reef size, hydrodynamic conditions, and particle concentration.

However, recent decades have seen substantial oyster reef mortality, primarily driven by bank erosion exacerbated by boat wakes. Aerial imagery analysis along the Intracoastal Waterway and its tributaries reveals that, on average, marsh banks displays erosion, which damages adjacent oyster habitats and their filtration functions. Hydrodynamic and particle tracking models predict a 12% reduction in filtration services due to current reef losses, with projections in reef losses indicating up to a 20% decline over the next century if erosion persists.

Field observations contrast the health of oyster reefs in main tidal channels versus lateral channels within the GTM estuary. While lateral channels with similar physical conditions support thriving oyster populations, main channels suffering from high boat traffic predominantly host dead reefs. Our analysis demonstrates that boat-induced energy from wakes significantly outweighs the impact of natural wind waves, making boat traffic the primary driver of reef degradation and oyster mortality.