Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) Outcome:Factors Influencing Progress

The public perception of underwater grasses as a nuisance must be transformed if our restoration and protection efforts are to succeed. Effective communication could better engage this audience.

Laws and regulations meant to protect underwater grasses are essential to their preservation.

Small-scale efforts to restore underwater grasses would benefit from partner coordination and collaborative community engagement. Large-scale restoration activities led by federal agencies that are not specific to submerged aquatic vegetation would benefit from the inclusion of SAV.

Efforts to monitor and restore underwater grasses cannot be sustained without continued support from funders.

Efforts to monitor existing underwater grass beds through the annual aerial survey and the work of partner organizations and individual volunteers are critical to our work to protect and restore underwater grass beds. This work will also benefit from a better understanding of the potential impacts of climate change, the most successful methods of underwater grass restoration and the economic value of the ecosystem services healthy underwater grass beds provide.

Invasive species (e.g., plants, animals, bacteria) could impact the recovery of underwater grass beds in some locations. Poor water clarity will also impact underwater grass recovery, although underwater grass restoration should also lead to water clarity improvements.