Underwater grasses on upward climb in Rappahannock River

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) reported that underwater grasses in the Rappahannock River have made a significant increase in the past year, and continue to climb.

According to a press release, the lower Rappahannock River saw an underwater grasses increase of 43% between 2022 and 2023. This happened alongside an achievement of 90% of the 1,700 acres restoration target.

This progress is part of an estimated 82,937 acres of underwater grasses that were distributed throughout the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries in 2023, which includes the Rappahannock River.

An independent conservation organization, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), also celebrated this continued recovery, while lending some insight into why underwater grasses are important to waterways.

Underwater grasses, also referred to as submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), help provide shelter for several species that live within the bay, including blue crabs, water birds and fish. These grasses also help lower the acidification that can happen as a result of greenhouse gas emissions.

Both organizations are committed to continuing restoration efforts and acknowledge that this progress has to be sustained to combat growing impacts from climate change.

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