Our vision, put simply, was to “Turn Brown Tide Blue.” After decades of poor water quality plaguing western Shinnecock Bay, it was time for a new solution. When we started the ShiRP program in 2012, our goal was to use the power of science and our top tier expertise within Stony Brook University to restore the water quality, shellfish, habitat, and fisheries within Shinnecock Bay through a multi-faceted and evidence-based approach. The heart of the strategy was to repopulate shellfish in the bay and replace lost filtration capacity, with supplemental action to build oyster reefs and seed new acres of eelgrass habitat. If successful, the result would be clearer water, healthy marine life, and benefits for bay users and the surrounding community.