A participant examines underwater grasses during a workshop led by Maryland Department of Natural Resources in the Susquehanna Flats near Havre de Grace, Md., on July 25, 2016. (Photo by Will Parson)
Are there grasses that china could grow, and harvest after the flood is gone?
I LIVE ON WATER FRONT PROPERTY IN BEAR CR.COUEK OFF THE PATAPSCO.L
.LIVED HERE ALL MY LIFE I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS GRASS INTHE WATER BEFORE,ITS THICK AND PROBLY WINT LAUNCH JET SKI AND BOAT THIS YEAR DUE TO THE GRASSES THICKNESS. HOWEVER I CANT IDENTIFIY THE GRASS. I INVITE ANYONE TO MY HOME TO EVALUATE. MY ADRESS IS IN DUNDALK.PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU FOR ANY HISTORY OR INFO.THANK YOU.
RIVER
Hi Alan, thanks for the comment! Given the time of year, it's likely that the grass you saw has turned a red/brown color because it has lost all of its chlorophyll and is dying back for the season, or that it is already dead. There are species of SAV that appear red. Here in the Bay, we have a species of naiad that's got quite a lot of red in it, but not this time of year. There's also the rare occurrence that a patch of marsh plants finds itself submerged, and they often have some red pigmentation.
I have noticed a few clumps of red colored SAV in about 4 ft MLW in Milford Haven in Mathews County.
I would like to know if red colored SAV is common.
Hi Vic, at this point, any use of herbicides is thoroughly regulated. All SAV in the Bay is considered good SAV. Feel free to look through our SAV Fact Sheet for more information! https://gis.chesapeakebay.net/sav/
Was there any herbicide (24-D) intentionally put into the Chesapeake Bay and it tributaries to kill bay grasses?
This seemed to have happen in the late 60’s and early 70’s with massive fish kills and the lost of grasses.
The grasses would try to make a comeback yearly but died off as the roots would grow and reach the herbicide level that rests on the waters floor and die.
The reason for this was complaints filled by recreational boaters and it’s industry, commercial watermen, waterfront property owners ect.
The boaters couldn’t maneuver their boats in the grasses to reach deeper waters where the grasses couldn’t grow because of lack of sunlight.
I’ve lived on the lower Potomac River my entire life and have seen many changes from swimming in waters as clear as the Caribbean in the 60’s to the decline of water quality , lost of fish species, sturgeon, garfish, crabs including horseshoe just to name a few
This year (2020) seems to be a remarkable growth
In grasses. Hope this continues, but people are complaining about it again. They have no idea of the importance of these grasses. Most have never seen them and complaining that waters don’t look as nice.
Hope to get some sort of an answer.
Thank you for your time,
Vic Foote
5/16/2020
Charles County Md
Hi Jim, “Boom and bust” means that the abundance can fall from year-to-year as the grasses can rapidly reproduce (they can self-reproduce), but are highly susceptible to changes in pollution in the water or extreme weather events. One hurricane could knock out all of the grasses for one given year. And yes, it is common to see no grasses and then a boom. It’s an indicator that your water is healthy! Here’s some more information you may find interesting:
Widgeon grass in Eastern Bay: https://gis.chesapeakebay.net/images/SAV/EasternBay(EASMH)_TT_11.5.19.pdf
Widgeon grass in the Lower Choptank River: https://gis.chesapeakebay.net/images/SAV/LowerChoptankRiver(CHOMH1,CHOMH2)_TT_11.5.19.pdf
My wife and I have owned a house on the eastern branch of Dixon Creek near Easton for about five years. We never saw any underwater grasses but this spring, we are seeing an explosion of grasses. It looks like it might be widgeon grass. The article mentioned the boom and bust cycle but why is that? And is it common to see no grasses for years and then such a wide spread? Thank you.
Thank you!
Your comment has been received. Before it can be published, the comment will be reviewed by our team to ensure it adheres with our rules of engagement.
Comments
Are there grasses that china could grow, and harvest after the flood is gone?
I LIVE ON WATER FRONT PROPERTY IN BEAR CR.COUEK OFF THE PATAPSCO.L
.LIVED HERE ALL MY LIFE I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS GRASS INTHE WATER BEFORE,ITS THICK AND PROBLY WINT LAUNCH JET SKI AND BOAT THIS YEAR DUE TO THE GRASSES THICKNESS. HOWEVER I CANT IDENTIFIY THE GRASS. I INVITE ANYONE TO MY HOME TO EVALUATE. MY ADRESS IS IN DUNDALK.PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU FOR ANY HISTORY OR INFO.THANK YOU.
RIVER
Hi Alan, thanks for the comment! Given the time of year, it's likely that the grass you saw has turned a red/brown color because it has lost all of its chlorophyll and is dying back for the season, or that it is already dead. There are species of SAV that appear red. Here in the Bay, we have a species of naiad that's got quite a lot of red in it, but not this time of year. There's also the rare occurrence that a patch of marsh plants finds itself submerged, and they often have some red pigmentation.
I have noticed a few clumps of red colored SAV in about 4 ft MLW in Milford Haven in Mathews County.
I would like to know if red colored SAV is common.
Hi Vic, at this point, any use of herbicides is thoroughly regulated. All SAV in the Bay is considered good SAV. Feel free to look through our SAV Fact Sheet for more information! https://gis.chesapeakebay.net/sav/
Was there any herbicide (24-D) intentionally put into the Chesapeake Bay and it tributaries to kill bay grasses?
This seemed to have happen in the late 60’s and early 70’s with massive fish kills and the lost of grasses.
The grasses would try to make a comeback yearly but died off as the roots would grow and reach the herbicide level that rests on the waters floor and die.
The reason for this was complaints filled by recreational boaters and it’s industry, commercial watermen, waterfront property owners ect.
The boaters couldn’t maneuver their boats in the grasses to reach deeper waters where the grasses couldn’t grow because of lack of sunlight.
I’ve lived on the lower Potomac River my entire life and have seen many changes from swimming in waters as clear as the Caribbean in the 60’s to the decline of water quality , lost of fish species, sturgeon, garfish, crabs including horseshoe just to name a few
This year (2020) seems to be a remarkable growth
In grasses. Hope this continues, but people are complaining about it again. They have no idea of the importance of these grasses. Most have never seen them and complaining that waters don’t look as nice.
Hope to get some sort of an answer.
Thank you for your time,
Vic Foote
5/16/2020
Charles County Md
Hi Jim, “Boom and bust” means that the abundance can fall from year-to-year as the grasses can rapidly reproduce (they can self-reproduce), but are highly susceptible to changes in pollution in the water or extreme weather events. One hurricane could knock out all of the grasses for one given year. And yes, it is common to see no grasses and then a boom. It’s an indicator that your water is healthy! Here’s some more information you may find interesting:
Widgeon grass in Eastern Bay: https://gis.chesapeakebay.net/images/SAV/EasternBay(EASMH)_TT_11.5.19.pdf
Widgeon grass in the Lower Choptank River: https://gis.chesapeakebay.net/images/SAV/LowerChoptankRiver(CHOMH1,CHOMH2)_TT_11.5.19.pdf
Widgeon grass details:
https://www.chesapeakebay.net/discover/field-guide/entry/widgeon_grass
My wife and I have owned a house on the eastern branch of Dixon Creek near Easton for about five years. We never saw any underwater grasses but this spring, we are seeing an explosion of grasses. It looks like it might be widgeon grass. The article mentioned the boom and bust cycle but why is that? And is it common to see no grasses for years and then such a wide spread? Thank you.
Thank you!
Your comment has been received. Before it can be published, the comment will be reviewed by our team to ensure it adheres with our rules of engagement.
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