Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) are ecologically and economically important throughout the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts. Oysters improve water quality by filter feeding and increase biodiversity by providing substrate and habitat for other species. Oyster aquaculture is a major industry that is worth over $14,000,000 in Connecticut alone. As a result, restoration projects and a push to bolster the aquaculture industry are prevalent in the Northeast, USA, however, climate change, disease, and sedimentation threaten restored and aquacultured populations. To discern environmental and biological effects, we measured growth and survival of juvenile oysters at two sites during summer 2024. Differential mortality between sites was attributed to heavy predation by oyster drills at one site but not the other. Oysters at the site with less predation also had a marginally higher growth rate. In anticipation of increased interest to establish new aquaculture leases, we incorporated these data into a risk assessment framework. Risk assessment and habitat suitability models have been successful in other parts of the world to identify optimal habitat for restoration, so we suggest future work centered around combining existing methods in a way that is relevant to the specific needs of Connecticut aquaculture. These recommendations are intended to serve as building blocks for scientists, industry, and local government to create a standardized framework for assessing the suitability of potential farm or restoration sites in Connecticut.