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Bay Grasses Underwater Grasses Decline in Maryland’s Coastal BaysMay 3, 2007 — Bay grass acreage in Maryland’s portion of the Coastal Bays suffered a setback in 2005 and 2006, primarily the result of an eelgrass die-back due to elevated water temperatures in the summer of 2005. Long-term monitoring data has also identified increasing nutrient and chlorophyll trends in this area, which can impact bay grasses as well. The losses were reported today by the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences (VIMS), which has conducted an annual aerial survey of bay grasses in the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays since the mid 1980s. |
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Read more about water quality actions DNR is implementing through the Maryland Coastal Bay Program.
You can get more information on Maryland’s Bay Grass
Restoration efforts at:
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/bay/sav/index.asp
Bay grasses or seagrasses (technically known as Submerged Aquatic Vegetation, or SAV) are rooted plants that resemble terrestrial plants, but live and grow completely under water up to the water surface. Bay grasses are an important part of the Coastal Bays ecosystem because they improve water quality and provide food and shelter for waterfowl, fish, and shellfish. Two species of bay grasses (eelgrass and widgeon grass), are common to the Maryland Coastal Bays. Following a massive decline in the 1930's that resulted from an eelgrass "wasting disease," the Coastal Bay's grasses have undergone a steady increase since the 1980's. As these grass beds expand, so too will the benefits they provide, including improved water clarity, improved fishing opportunities, and utilization as a food source for migratory waterfowl that over-winter in these bays. A composite map of seagrass distribution (2001-2003) shows the general locations of bay grass beds.
Jan 2005 -Read Chapter 6.1, Seagrass abundance and habitat criteria in the Maryland Coastal Bays, in Maryland’s Coastal Bays: Ecosystem Health Assessment
For
detailed information on location of seagrass beds in the Coastal Bays,
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Water Quality |
Harmful Algae |
Living Resources Return to the Maryland
DNR Home Page. |
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