Chesapeake Bay Nutrients, Light and SAV: Relationships Between Water Quality and SAV Growth in Field
- Published:
- June 1, 1995
- Originator:
- Chesapeake Bay Program
- EPA Number:
- EPA 903-R-95-011
The SAV beds in the Chesapeake Bay and the lower bay demonstrated different capacities to attenuate inorganic nutrients and suspended particles from adjacent channel waters. At the Goodwin Island the meadow canopy effectively trapped suspended particles including phytoplankton during April and June when bed development was high, thereby reducing concentrations in the water column within the bed compared to the channel. At Havre de Grace, fine particles carried in by the Susquehanna River were deposited throughout the shallow vegetated flats where they were continually resuspended by wind and currents. This resulted in higher suspended loads and light attenuation within the bed compared to the channel area. In the lower bay site this same phenomenon was observed in August when an abundance of fine organic and inorganic material was present within the bed.