The Oyster Highway Project is set to enter its fourth phase, focusing on enhancing the ecological health of North Carolina's waterways through the installation of additional oyster reefs. Each of the twelve designated sites, ranging from site 12 at the top to sites 4, 7, and 8 near Stones Bay, will be expanded with smaller reefs made from innovative oyster castles—interlocking concrete structures designed to withstand storm impacts.

The project aims to introduce three million oysters over the next three years, ensuring the long-term resilience of the river ecosystem. The oyster castles will provide protective cubbyholes for adult oysters, allowing them to thrive while minimizing predation from species such as black drum and blue crabs. This strategic approach is intended to bolster oyster populations and promote natural spawning, contributing to the overall health of the river.

Funding for the Oyster Highway has been entirely sourced from private donations and grants, underscoring community support for this environmental initiative. The project has also established research sanctuaries at each reef site, prohibiting the harvesting of oysters to facilitate their growth and dispersal.

Recent monitoring efforts by the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) have indicated a significant increase in oyster populations throughout the river, with oysters now being found in areas previously devoid of them. This success is part of a broader initiative to promote the North Carolina Oyster Trail, with October designated as Oyster Month by the governor. The project team is actively engaging the public, offering tours to showcase the progress and importance of the Oyster Highway, which is becoming a vital component of local marine conservation efforts.