Collaborative Effort Restores Submerged Grass Beds
Lee Yokul, Outreach and Education Coordinator
Mobile Bay National Estuary Program

Several local partners teamed up recently to restore underwater grass beds in coastal Alabama. Their first planting initiative took place this April in Weeks Bay Reserve. The project is a culmination of several efforts striving toward the same goal - saving underwater grasses. 

In 2003, the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program secured a grant from the Gulf of Mexico Program to develop a manual and volunteer planting program for Submerged Aquatic Vegetation or underwater sea grasses, commonly called "SAV." The program began with research on the different grasses in Alabama coastal waters and how they might be grown and transplanted.  Ms. Lisa Allen at Gulf Shores High School was also interested underwater grasses.  She was looking for unique projects that would involve her Aqua Science class students.  Ms. Allen applied successfully for a minigrant from the Mobile Bay NEP to grow SAV with her students.

In 2004, Dr. Just Cebrian at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab took on the next steps of the Mobile Bay NEP's grant.  He began working with Ms. Allen and developed a local guide for restoring SAV.  Margaret Sedlecky at the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve was also gaining interest in growing SAV for habitat restoration and education.  She began researching opportunities for a new program, "Baldwin County Grasses in Classes" which also incorporates other important native vegetation.

So why all the fuss about SAV?  Submerged grasses are critical habitat in coastal waters.  They provide a food source for waterfowl, turtles, fish and other creatures.  SAV provides habitat for a host of juvenile species.  These grasses also help to stabilize sediments, preventing erosion. 

Some 30 Gulf Shores High School Students plus scientists and researchers planted Vallisneria americana or tape grass on April 19.  The students had grass that they had grown in their classroom.  The researchers had young tape grass they have harvested for transplant.  Once the project is complete, the team will monitor its success.  Tape grass cannot be found in herbariums around the Gulf Coast and the team is anxious to see if SAV will survive and thrive. They hope to learn how to expand their program, planting other types of submerged grasses over the course of the next few years.

For  more information, contact:
MBNEP,  (251) 431-6409