Eelgrass beds stabilize bottom sediment and serve as habitat for many marine creatures. Historically, disease and poor water quality have greatly reduced the amount of eelgrass growing in New England waterways. Recent water quality improvements from sewage treatment projects have created conditions more conducive to eelgrass survival. Under such circumstances, manual restoration of eelgrass can speed up the re-colonization process by decades.

Participation in this project by local citizens is welcome, not only for the practical help it provides, but to create a sense of ownership and stewardship among participants that will help ensure the long-term protection of this important resource. Also, various labor-intensive aspects of eelgrass restoration become much more feasible when volunteer assistance is utilized. In turn, volunteers can provide valuable knowledge about local conditions that can be of use to scientists. Volunteers who are versed in aquatic or non-aquatic disciplines will be welcomed: e.g., SCUBA divers, snorkelers, kayakers, shoreline assistants.

Massachusetts

SeaGrass Soundings - focuses on the work that scientists and managers are doing to protect, preserve, study, restore and monitor seagrass (for the most part eelgrass, Zostera marina) in Massachusetts.

Eelgrass Mapping Project

Mass Bays Program Seagrass Beds

Eelgrass restoration and monitoring

SeaGrassNet.org - A worldwide ecological monitoring program that investigates and documents the status of seagrass resources and the threats to this important and imperilled marine ecosystem

Narragansett Bay

Save the Bay Homepage

Save the Bay Eelgrass restoration