Chesapeake Bay Underwater Grass Restoration Goals May Increase Amid Challenges

Efforts to restore Chesapeake Bay's underwater grass populations may face increased challenges as the target area is set to rise. The joint state-federal Bay Program is considering elevating the goal for submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) from 185,000 to 196,000 acres. This proposed adjustment reflects a more accurate understanding of the Bay's potential SAV habitats, based on historical and recent mapping data. Since the early 1980s, measurements of SAV have shown the Bay has not approached the 185,000-acre goal, with recent surveys indicating a maximum of around 108,000 acres in 2018. Despite this, experts argue that updating the goal aligns with the region's pollution reduction ambitions, which could create more suitable conditions for SAV recovery. The original 2003 goal was derived from aerial photographs and surveys that underestimated the actual extent of SAV due to mapping limitations. Recent observations have identified grass beds in previously uncharted areas, leading to a revised estimate of 196,000 acres of potential SAV habitat. Achieving this new target will be challenging, as current and historical conditions suggest that the Bay has never maintained such extensiv...