We will build on our prior Sea Grant funded laboratory-based research by testing in the field the overall hypothesis that substantial amounts of inorganic nutrients can be removed from eutrophic estuaries as a consequence of the activity of suspension feeding bivalves. We will determine the enhancement of rates of denitrification and phosphorus burial associated with restored oyster beds and use these data to parameterize a model of the influence of bivalve feeding on estuarine nutrient dynamics. This research is pertinent to both the Coastal Ecosystem Health and Aquaculture programmatic areas.