Chesapeake Bay Program
A Watershed Partnership
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410 Severn Avenue, Suite 109 • Annapolis, Maryland 21403 • 410-267-5700 • toll free 800-YOUR-BAY
Since 1978, scientists have
annually gathered data on the
abundance of submerged aquatic
vegetation (SAV) throughout the
Chesapeake Bay and its rivers.
Bay grasses serve as a unique
yardstick for measuring our
progress in restoring the Bay, as
they are not under harvest
pressure and their health is
closely linked to the quality of
local waters.
Currently, the annual SAV survey
is conducted by the Virginia
Institute of Marine Science and is
derived from the analysis of more
than 2,000 black-and-white aerial
photographs taken between May
and October.
Bay scientists believe that long-
term resurgence of underwater
Bay grasses is critical to the
overall Bay restoration effort. As
such, Bay Program partners have
placed a great deal of emphasis
on developing the best science
available to assist the return of
underwater grasses to historic
levels.
2002 Chesapeake Bay SAV Abundance and
New Baywide Restoration Goal
In 2002, SAV coverage reached a record 89,658 acres - more than twice the
level first recorded in 1978. While this increase is impressive, a great deal
more needs to be done to reach the Bay Program's new 185,000-acre
baywide restoration goal.
180 -
« 160
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80 -
60 -
40 -
20 -
Restoration Goal (185,000 acres by 2010)
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To help put SAV restoration efforts into perspective, the table on the following
pages highlights SAV acreage in 1984 (the sparsest year on record), 2002 (the
most abundant year on record) and new segment specific restoration goals
adopted by the Bay Program in April 2003.
- more -
The Chesapeake Bay Program is restoring the Bay through a partnership among the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency representing the
federal government, the State of Maryland, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth of Virginia, the District of Columbia, the
Chesapeake Bay Commission, and participating citizen advisory groups.
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2002 Chesapeake Bay SAV Abundance and the New Baywide Restoration Goal Page 2
Mainstem Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay Program
Segment
1984 SAV Abundance
(acres)
2002* SAV
Abundance (acres)
SAV Restoration
Goal (acres)
Northern Chesapeake Bay
5,377.91
9,227.29
12,908
Upper Chesapeake Bay
27.47 (pd)
502.16
302
Upper Central Chesapeake Bay
944.13
94.69
943
Middle Central Chesapeake Bay
45.03
269.44
2,511
Lower Central Chesapeake Bay
679.55 (pd)
4,904.97
14,961
Western Lower Chesapeake Bay
754.46
767.24
980
Eastern Lower Chesapeake Bay
6,971.48
9,801.07
14,620
Mouth of the Chesapeake Bay
0.00
10.42
6
Western Shore Tributaries
Chesapeake Bay Program
Segment
1984 SAV Abundance
(acres)
2002* SAV
Abundance (acres)
SAV Restoration
Goal (acres)
Bush River
5.93 (pd)
349.83
158
Gunpowder River
0.00 (pd)
463.07
2,254
Middle River
nd
629.46
839
Patapsco River
0.00
7.88
298
Magothy River
23.51
208.77
545
Severn River
0.00
282.04
329
South River
0.00
35.61
459
Rhode River
0.00
0.00
48
West River
0.00
0.00
214
Upper Patuxent River
0.00
170.67
5
Middle Patuxent River
0.00
21.03
68
Lower Patuxent River
35.37
140.62
1,325
Upper Potomac River
1,185.45
3,673.06
4,379
Piscataway Creek
344.74
631.63
783
Mattawoman Creek
0.00
792.64
276
Middle Potomac River
536.21 (pd)
2,235.08
3,721
Lower Potomac River
147.95 (pd)
2,618.66
10,173
Upper Rappahannock River
nd
3.42
20
Lower Rappahannock River
33.25
1,006.88
5,380
Corrotoman River
0.00
768.62
516
Piankatank River
25.27
701.66
3,256
Upper Mattaponi River
nd
22.59
75
Upper Pamunkey River
nd
170.98
156
Middle York River
0.00
0.00
176
Lower York River
441.19
921.81
2,272
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2002 Chesapeake Bay SAV Abundance and the New Baywide Restoration Goal Page 3
Chesapeake Bay Program
Segment
1984 SAV Abundance
(acres)
2002* SAV
Abundance (acres)
SAV Restoration
Goal (acres)
Mobjack Bay
6,758.41
8,743.47
15,095
Upper James River
nd
83.58
1,600
Appomattox River
nd
0.00
319
Middle James River
nd
11.63
7
Chickahominy River
nd
186.40
348
Lower James River
0.00
1.47
531
Mouth of the James River
0.00
279.83
604
Lynnhaven River
95.05
38.34
69
Eastern Shore Tributaries
Chesapeake Bay Program
Segment
1984 SAV Abundance
(acres)
2002* SAV
Abundance (acres)
SAV Restoration
Goal (acres)
Northeast River
0.00
75.99
88
Bohemia River
0.00
136.19
97
Elk River
33.84
435.15
1,648
Sassafras River
49.47
830.36
764
Middle Chester River
nd
0.00
64
Lower Chester River
1,032.81
204.86
2,724
Eastern Bay
215.14
2,779.61
6,109
Middle Choptank River
nd
0.00
63
Lower Choptank River
0.00
154.45
1,499
Mouth of the Choptank River
142.64
6,584.53
8,044
Little Choptank River
69.46
2,904.93
3,950
Honga River
33.15
6,319.91
7,686
Fishing Bay
0.00
108.91
193
Middle Nanticoke River
nd
0.00
3
Lower Nanticoke River
nd
0.00
3
Wicomico River
nd
0.00
3
Manokin River
0.00
727.77
4,359
Big Annemessex River
0.00
782.03
2,014
Lower Pocomoke River
1,064.94
1,811.76
4,092
Tangier Sound
11,136.79
15,023.95
37,947
Totals
Chesapeake Bay Program
Segment
1984 SAV Abundance
(acres)
2002* SAV
Abundance (acres)
SAV Restoration
Goal (acres)
Baywide Total
38,210.58 (pd)
89,658.41
184,878
Notes: *These are preliminary 2002 SAV totals. (9/25/03). 'nd' indicates that the segment was not surveyed that
year, 'pd' indicates that the segment was not fully surveyed that year.
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