Seagrass
Seagrasses provide critical habitat to key species and can improve water clarity. Seagrasses are submerged plants found in shallow waters and are critical to providing a number of benefit, including buffering coastal communities from storms, removing pollution from the water, and providing shelter for animals.
How is it measured?
Estimates of seagrass coverage (i.e., the bottom area covered) are derived each year using aerial surveys. The seagrass score is determined as the area of seagrass present in each of the six reporting regions as a percentage of the reporting region's restoration goal.
Threshold Levels
| Reporting region | SAV restoration goal by reporting region (acres) |
|---|---|
| St. Martin River | 48 |
| Assawoman Bay | 1,745 |
| Isle of Wight Bay | 1,476 |
| Newport Bay | 341 |
| Sinepuxent Bay | 3,031 |
| Chincoteague Bay | 20,400 |
| Total | 27,041 |