DRG Construction joins 80 million oyster restoration project in New York Harbor

DRG Construction has been selected to help install 80 million oysters for the Living Breakwaters coastal resiliency project off Staten Island. The work ties marine construction to one of the region’s largest ecosystem restoration and shoreline protection efforts.

Why it matters: - The Living Breakwaters project combines coastal defense with habitat restoration in New York Harbor. - The oyster installation is part of a broader effort to reduce wave energy, limit erosion, and protect coastal communities from storm surge. - The project is also intended to rebuild oyster reefs that once helped filter harbor water and support marine life.

What happened: - DRG Construction was selected to assist with the installation of 80 million oysters for the Living Breakwaters project. - The work will take place off the southern coast of Staten Island in Raritan Bay. - The announcement was dated July 24, 2026.

The details: - The Living Breakwaters project is described as a first-of-its-kind coastal defense system. - The partially submerged breakwaters are engineered to manage physical climate risks, including wave force, shoreline erosion, and storm surge. - DRG Construction will deploy and install specialized oyster habitat systems throughout designated breakwater zones. - The company will use specialized marine equipment, including cranes and transport barges, to secure the habitat systems to the breakwater foundations. - Marine construction in Raritan Bay requires work around shifting tides, heavy machinery on floating barges, and tight placement tolerances. - New York Harbor’s historical oyster reefs were depleted by industrialization and overharvesting. - Once established, the living reefs are expected to filter harbor water, support diverse marine habitats, and strengthen the breakwaters over time.

Between the lines: - The project reflects a wider shift toward green infrastructure that mixes civil engineering with ecological restoration. - DRG Construction’s role shows how marine contractors are being pulled into climate resiliency work, not just traditional waterfront construction. - The project could serve as a reference point for similar coastal protection efforts in other regions.

What's next: - DRG Construction will move into installation work within the designated breakwater areas. - The oysters and habitat systems will need time to establish before delivering their full ecological and structural benefits. - The broader Living Breakwaters effort will continue as a long-term resiliency and restoration project in New York Harbor.

The bottom line: - New York Harbor’s shoreline protection strategy is shifting from hard infrastructure alone to a model that uses living ecosystems to help defend vulnerable coastlines.