ANNAPOLIS, Md.— Underwater grasses in the Chesapeake Bay showed mixed results in 2024, with overall coverage declining slightly even as some Virginia waters recorded their highest levels since monitoring began four decades ago.
The annual survey found total grass coverage dropped 1% compared to 2023, driven primarily by losses in Maryland waters where pollution, temperature changes and other environmental factors took a toll on the critical habitat.
“This year, they didn’t do well for a variety of temperature and salinity reasons,” said Joe Wood, Virginia Senior Scientist with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “But overall, pollution is certainly playing a role in the underwater grasses’ ability to thrive.”
The submerged aquatic vegetation provides essential habitat for commercially important species including blue crabs, striped bass and menhaden. The grasses also help cool surrounding waters during heat waves and buffer against acidification linked to climate change.
But the plants depend on clean, clear water to survive. Nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment — often from agricultural runoff, wastewater and stormwater in developed areas — can cloud bay waters and limit the sunlight the grasses need for photosynthesis.
“They’re sensitive to light,” Wood explained. “If the water is turbid and there’s sediment in the water, underwater grasses get shaded out and we lose these habitats.”
Virginia’s portion of the bay told a different story in 2024. The saltier waters recorded their highest underwater grass coverage since systematic monitoring began in 1984. Areas including Mobjack Bay and Poquoson Flats saw major eelgrass gains, with some locations breaking previous records.
The Chesapeake Bay currently has reached just 64% of its grass restoration target under the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, which aims for 130,000 acres by 2025.
Wood said the latest results should motivate policymakers to commit to stronger protections in the updated watershed agreement, which is open for public comment until Sept. 1.
“It’s valuable to see progress,” Wood said. “We’ve been working on Chesapeake Bay restoration for decades, and with the climate continuing to worsen, it’s critical we prepare this ecosystem to be as strong as it can.”
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