Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Bay Grass Restoration
Partnership Newsletter
Issue 2
Special points of
interest:
• 900,000 eelgrass seeds broad-
cast over 4.5 acres in the
Patuxent River during
November 2005
• 400,000 eelgrass seeds broad-
cast over 2 acres in the Poto-
mac River during November
2005
• DNR’s Restoration Targeting
Model identifies potential eel-
grass restoration areas in the
Bay
• Eelgrass seed storage tech-
niques investigated by DNR at
Piney Point Aquaculture Facil-
ity
• DNR biologists complete fall
monitoring of potential and
existing bay grass restoration
areas in November and
December 2005
• Volunteers needed for upcom-
ing spring eelgrass seed collec-
tion near Crisfield, MD
Inside this issue:
Bay Grass Aquaculture 2
Activities
Restoration Targeting 2 rameters (shoreline, water quality, bathym-
Model
Upcoming Events 4 and shellfish harvest areas) to evaluate the
Bay Grass Monitoring 4
Events
Winter 2005
DNR Continues Bay Grass Restoration Efforts
with Eelgrass Seed Dispersal in the Patuxent
and Potomac Rivers
The Department of Natural Resources from human activities cloud the water and
(DNR) Resource Assessment Service re- harm bay grasses by preventing sufficient
cently completed a third season of eelgrass sunlight from reaching the plants.
seed dispersal in the Patuxent River and a
second season Reducing the
in the Potomac amount of nutri-
River. ents and sediment
in Chesapeake
Bay grasses are Bay is the single
critical to a most important
healthy Chesa- action we can take
peake Bay. to restore bay
They provide grasses.
important habi-
tats for young DNR is working
fish and crabs, on numerous
serve as food fronts to accom-
for waterfowl, plish this. In addi-
help protect tion, DNR is con-
shorelines from tinuing efforts to
Mechanical seed broadcast machine spraying eelgrass seeds
erosion, keep at a restoration site plant or seed bay
water clear, grasses on a large
consume excess nutrients, and add oxygen to scale in strategic locations to help achieve
the water. Excess nutrients (mainly nitrogen the state’s restoration goals.
and phosphorus) and sediment resulting (Continued on page 3)
DNR Uses SAV Restoration Targeting Model to
Evaluate Potential Bay Grass Restoration Areas
DNR’s SAV Restoration Targeting Tool is a ciently to support bay grasses, yet a lack of
GIS-based targeting model that uses five pa- seeds prevents recolonization of these areas.
etry, recent and historical bay grass coverage The SAV Restoration Targeting Model and
results of water quality mapping have been
suitability of the habitat to support bay grass used by DNR to identify new eelgrass seed-
populations. In many areas of the Chesa- ing locations in the Chesapeake Bay, as well
peake Bay, water quality has improved suffi- (Continued on page 2)
PAGE 2 WWW . D NR. ST ATE . MD .U S/ BA Y/ S AV IS SUE 2

Bay Grass Aquaculture Activities

Eelgrass Seed Storage Experiment

DNR biologists recently completed research

on eelgrass seed storage techniques at the
Piney Point Aquaculture Facility. The goal
of the experiment was to determine what fac-
tors (water flow, aeration, seed depth) influ-
ence eelgrass seed survival during storage.
The eelgrass seeds are stored at the Piney
Holding basin for eelgrass seed storage
Point Aquaculture Facility during the sum- experiments
mer months and then are utilized in large-
scale eelgrass restoration projects in the fall.

Treatment tubs for 2005 eelgrass seed
storage experiments
Similar experiments were also conducted by scientists at the Virginia Institute of Ma-
rine Science (VIMS) and St. Mary’s College. DNR, VIMS and St. Mary’s College
will meet in January 2006 to compare results of these experiments. In 2006, modifi-
cations to the seed storage technique will be made based on the results of these ex-
periments.

Targeting Model
(Continued from page 1)
as to monitor the habitat conditions of areas seeded in previous years, including the Potomac and Patuxent Rivers.

In order to ensure that the locations selected by the SAV Restoration Targeting Model would support the growth of eelgrass,
DNR biologists established small test plots (1 m2) of adult eelgrass plants at three locations on the Potomac River, three locations
on the Patuxent River, and two locations on the Little Choptank River in November. Initial survey results indicated a survival
rate between 64 and 70% for all locations. DNR biologists will monitor eelgrass growth and survival in the test plots on a regular
basis over the coming months. If the locations selected by the Targeting Model are able to sustain healthy eelgrass, these areas
will be selected by DNR as potential eelgrass restoration areas.

In addition to the adult eelgrass test plots, DNR biologists also created small (1-2 m2) eelgrass seed plots in several areas of the
Patuxent, Potomac and Little Choptank Rivers in early November. The seed plots were located adjacent to the adult eelgrass test
plots in order to evaluate the success (eelgrass viability) of each method, as well as the cost-effectiveness of each method.

Volunteers Needed !!!!

Volunteers participating in 2005 spring used in large-scale eelgrass restoration projects in
eelgrass harvest
Interested in learning more about bay grasses while assisting DNR
biologists with restoration efforts?
DNR is seeking volunteers to participate in the
upcoming eelgrass seed harvest near Crisfield, MD
this spring. Seed collection typically occurs be-
tween May 15 and June 15. Opportunities include
aiding DNR biologists in the field with the collec-
tion, transport and processing of eelgrass seeds
from Tangier Sound. Seeds will subsequently be
other areas of the Chesapeake Bay.

For more information, contact Katie Preen at the Department of Natural Resources, Volunteers packing eelgrass reproductive
(410) 260-8630 or kpreen@dnr.state.md.us. material near Crisfield, MD
IS SUE 2 WWW . D NR. ST ATE . MD .U S/ BA Y/ S AV PAGE 3

Seed Dispersal
(Continued from page 1)
DNR has long recognized the need for a large-scale bay grass
restoration approach. There are areas of the Bay where water
quality has improved sufficiently to support bay grasses, yet a
lack of seeds prevents recolonization of these areas.

Establishing large beds using seeds collected from healthy

beds elsewhere could lead to vigorous natural revegetation in
adjoining areas.

Large holding tanks containing Using a mechanical harvesting boat, DNR biologists collected
eelgrass reproductive material, eelgrass reproductive material from Tangier Sound from May DNR staff separating seeds
including seeds 23rd until June 9th, 2005. from eelgrass reproductive
material
The seed material was transported to DNR’s Piney Point Aquaculture Facility where it was held
through the summer in large tanks to allow for the seeds to separate from non-seed material.
Seeds were held until water temperatures dropped below 15 oC (59 oF), suit-
able conditions for seed germination.

A mechanical seed
sprayer, mounted to
a boat dispersed
seeds at the rate of
10 minutes/acre.

A total of 900,000
seeds were broad-
cast over 4.5 acres
at three locations
on the Patuxent Eelgrass seeds after separation from reproductive
River in November, material
bringing the total
Eelgrass seeds in final holding tanks prior to fall 2005 seed number of acres seeded to 25.75 since 2003.
dispersal

In the Potomac River, 400,000 seeds

were dispersed across 2 acres at
three sites in November, with a total
of 34.25 acres seeded since 2004.

When water temperatures begin to

increase in the spring, the eelgrass
growing season begins. At this time,
DNR divers will survey these areas
to quantify the successful recruit-
ment of eelgrass seedlings.
PAGE 4 WWW . D NR. ST ATE . MD .U S/ BA Y/ S AV IS SUE 2

Upcoming Events Bay Grass Monitoring Events

DNR biologists are respon-
• January sible for monitoring poten-
Bay Grasses in Classes Teacher tial and existing bay grass
Workshops restoration areas in the
• March
Chesapeake Bay.
Bay Grasses in Classes Here are a few of DNR’s
Classroom Activities bay grass monitoring
• April
events which occurred in
November and December:
Bay Grasses in Classes Class-
room Activities
Eelgrass seed collection area survey,
Crisfield, MD
• May DNR biologists monitoring eelgrass restoration areas

Bay Grasses in Classes Student November

Plantings 1-4 2005 adult eelgrass test plots established in the Patuxent
Eelgrass seed collection, Crisfield, and Potomac Rivers
MD
• June
12 month survey of 2004 seed dispersal areas completed in the
Patuxent and Potomac Rivers
Bay Grasses in Classes Student
Plantings
5 Initial survey of 2005 adult eelgrass test plots in the Patuxent and
Eelgrass seed collection, Crisfield, Potomac Rivers
MD
2005 fall eelgrass seed broadcast in the Potomac River

9 2005 adult eelgrass test plots established in the Little Choptank

River

21 2005 fall eelgrass seed broadcast in the Patuxent River

30 Initial survey of 2005 adult eelgrass test plots in the Little

Choptank River

Survey of past and future eelgrass seed collection areas near

Crisfield, MD

December
21 SCUBA survey of past and future eelgrass seed collection areas
near Crisfield, MD
DNR biologist surveying eelgrass test plots

Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., Maryland Department of Natural Resources C. Ronald Franks,

Governor Resource Assessment Service, Tidewater Ecosystem Assessment Secretary

Tawes State Office Building, D-2

580 Taylor Avenue
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
410-260-8630
Michael S. Steele, Funding for this newsletter provided by the Maryland Coastal Zone Management Program.
Lieutenant Governor The facilities and services of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources are available to all without regard to race, color,
religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin or physical or mental disability. This document is available in alterna-
tive format upon request from a qualified individual with disability.