Protecting Chesapeake Bay Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) Given Changing Hydrologic Conditions: Priority SAV Area Identification and Solutions Development
CompleteThis project, conducted by Tetra Tech, evaluates how best management practices (BMPs) implemented across the Chesapeake Bay watershed influence the health of submerged aquatic vegetation—a vital habitat that supports water quality, stabilizes sediment and provides refuge for fish and invertebrates.
Description
Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) is a critical habitat found in nearshore waters of the Chesapeake Bay. While SAV populations throughout the Bay have declined over the past century, land managers have increasingly implemented a variety of best management practices (BMPs) intended to improve water quality in support of living resources. However, to date, there has been no systematic study that evaluates the effectiveness of BMPs on habitat, including SAV.
This project, conducted by Tetra Tech, evaluates how BMPs implemented across the Bay watershed influence SAV health. Using a novel prioritization framework and machine learning models trained on over a decade of environmental and BMP data, the project identified 12 priority SAV beds and highlighted which BMPs are most effective at promoting SAV persistence. Findings suggest that practices that reduce surface runoff and minimize stream discharge fluctuations are critical for protecting and restoring SAV habitats in the Bay.