Potomac River Eelgrass Restoration

As part of a larger effort to restore vital submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) habitat in Chesapeake Bay -- primarily eelgrass (Zostera marina) -- three sites in the Potomac River were chosen for replanting. Project practitioners employed a mechanical harvesting boat to collect eelgrass reproductive shoots, which were then stored at an aquaculture facility before seedling. Seed bags were utilized to mimic natural reproductive processes, and manual and automatic seed dispersal techniques were both employed. Despite a large quantity of distributed seeds and initial indicators of success, long-term survival rates for newly established seedlings proved disappointing, possibly due to poor water quality and ineffective seed storage procedures.