This summer, NEIWPCC, in partnership with the Connecticut National Estuarine Research Reserve (CTNERR) and Cornell Cooperative Extension Suffolk County (CCESC), initiated a project to update and improve upon a 2013 site-suitability model for eelgrass habitat in the Long Island Sound. Development of this geographic information system (GIS)-based model is part of the broader Long Island Sound Eelgrass Management and Restoration Strategy, and will provide critical information for future eelgrass restoration efforts by identifying areas where water conditions are ideal for its growth.
Eelgrass, also known as Zostera marina, is a type of seagrass that grows in shallow coastal waters across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. It is a flowering plant that anchors to the sediment of the seafloor, forming underwater meadows. These eelgrass meadows provide essential ecosystem services like stabilizing the seafloor, providing shelter and food for coastal marine life, capturing carbon from the atmosphere, and improving water quality by trapping nutrients and sediment. While eelgrass was historically abundant across Long Island Sound embayments, it has suffered a significant decline over the last century due to habitat loss. Warming waters, pollution, and biological and physical disturbances have reduced the extent of available habitat.
CTNERR and CCESC will work with NEIWPCC to develop and implement an EPA-approved Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) to ensure that the data and modeling meet rigorous quality standards. The model will incorporate newly available data for seafloor topography (bathymetry), water temperature, sediment, water clarity, and hardened shorelines. After a preliminary model is developed, the project team will test its skill at field sites, collecting current data on water and sediment quality. Results of this project will provide information on key conditions for suitable eelgrass habitat and will assist decision-makers in understanding where to target eelgrass restoration efforts.
For more information on eelgrass in Long Island Sound, visit the Long Island Sound Partnership website.