High-quality habitats are required for the overall balance of the Bay ecosystem and the health of fish, crabs, birds, mammals and other wildlife. Habitats provide the food, shelter and spawning areas needed for animals to survive. The restoration of habitats throughout the watershed is also beneficial for other reasons, from improving water quality to reducing erosion to increasing recreational opportunities.
Bay Program partners have focused their habitat restoration efforts on four key areas.
- Planting underwater grasses is critical because these areas are used by crabs, fish and waterfowl.
- Work to restore oyster reefs continues since they can provide habitat for communities of fish and bottom-dwelling organisms.
- Streams and rivers are being reopened to allow migratory fish to swim upstream to spawn and to increase habitat for local fish populations.
- Restoring wetlands will improve the many vital roles these habitats play.
Learn more about important Bay habitats and restoring habitats.
Habitat restoration efforts are measured with four indicators:
Quantitative goals have been set for these indicators. When the goals are reached, it should mean that efforts needed to restore these habitats have been implemented.
Long-term trend
N/A -– data for all component indicators have only been collected for two years.
Short-term trend (10-year trend)
N/A –- data for all component indicators have only been collected for two years.
Change from previous year (2007-2008)
Restoring Habitats Index score increased from 44.2 percent to 54.8 percent of goal achieved.
The most up-to-date tracking data gathered by Bay Program partners are used to provide an assessment of habitat restoration efforts relative to goals adopted by the Bay Program partners.
Percent achievement values for each indicator assessed in the Restoring Habitats category were averaged to create the index score.
For more information contact:
Nita Sylvester at 800-968-7229 ext. 711