Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV):

A Restoration Solution for the Chesapeake Bay

ECOSYSTEM SOLUTIONS, INC

Ecological Importance of SAV

• Filtration• Essential blue crab habitat• Minimizes erosion • Habitat for more fish• Food for waterfowl• SAV loss

The Problem• Poor Water Quality• NO LIGHT!

Solution

•More grasses• BETTER WATER CLARITY•More grasses

Submerged AquaticVegetation (SAV) Restoration

Old techniques (adult plants, seeds, tubers)• Limited success• High cost• Labor intensive

Seed-based restoration

Advantages• Large areas can be restored• Low cost• Unlike adult plants, no harvesting

impact

Encapsulated Eelgrass Seeds

• Agricultural success• Low cost• Easily dispersed• Sinks quickly• Stays put• Higher germination rate• Pelletized seeds for aquatic

plants not currently available

Ease of Handling

Raw seed

Encapsulated seed

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Nov 7 Nov 9 Nov 14

Pe

rce

nt g

erm

ina

tio

n

Date

Germination of Encapsulated and Untreated Z. marina Seeds

Untreated

Encapsulated

0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.1

0.12

0.14

0.16

0.18

0.2

Raw Encapsulated

Se

ttli

ng

ve

loc

ity (

m/s

)Settling Velocities of

Untreated and Encapsulated Z. marina seeds

BenefitsPotential for widespread solution for Bay restoration

• Supports Presidential mandate• Unlimited scalability• Public participation• Self-sustaining and perpetual

Educational opportunities• Student participation• State curriculum requirement

Corporate Social Responsibility• Resource protection• Local community

Future

If funded, we can: • Complete laboratory and field trials• Increase scale• Develop commercialization potential• Apply to other aquatic species

Funding Requirements: $250,000

ESI is a 501(c)3 non-profit research organization Funding is sought through corporate and personal philanthropy Foundation and governmental grants

Contact:Bob Murphy

Director, Ecosystem Solutions(410) 935-0996

murphy@ecosystemsolutions.org