Oakland Bay is one of the southern fingers of Puget Sound. The upper reaches of the bay are shallow, and the waters warm up considerably in the summer. Careful cultivation and predator control insure abundant harvests of clams and oysters year in and year out. Gentle tides allow for oyster cultivation using the beach culture method.

Turn-of-the-century oyster dikes can still be seen in some parts of the bay. These dikes were once used to grow clams and Olympia oysters. The foot-tall dikes held the tideland soils and gravel in place, thereby maintaining a stable environment for shellfish. It was also believed that the nutrient-rich water that pooled above the dikes helped young oysters mature more quickly. Today’s techniques provide even better growing conditions. However, the dikes stand as reminders of the history and heritage of shellfish farming in Puget Sound.