Bay Grass Abundance

Underwater bay grasses provide crucial habitat for a host of aquatic organisms, including fish, shellfish, invertebrates and waterfowl. They are also important food sources for waterfowl. Healthy communities of grass can provide clearer water by slowing water movements, thus allowing sediment to drop to the bottom.

Status:

The most recent baywide data from 2008 show bay grasses covering nearly 77,000 acres – or about 42 percent of the 185,000-acre restoration goal. Although an increase from 65,000 acres in 2007, grasses have not yet recovered to the recent high level of 90,000 acres in 2002.