GROUND SURVEYS

Ground surveys were accomplished by cooperative efforts from a number of agencies and individuals. Although not all areas of Chesapeake Bay were ground surveyed, the data did provide valuable supplemental information. The ground surveys confirmed the existence of some SAV beds mapped from the 2005 1:24,000 scale aerial photography, as well as SAV beds that were too small to be visible on the 1:24,000 scale photography. The surveys also provided species data for many of the SAV beds. Ground survey information supplied to VIMS researchers is included on the SAV distribution and abundance digital maps and included in the VIMS SAV GIS Database. The group that performed each survey is designated by a unique symbol to identify the different methods of sampling. In many cases the symbols on the SAV maps have been offset from the actual sampling point to avoid confusion with the mapped SAV bed. Where species information was available, it is included on the map. Because of space limitations on the maps, occasionally one or more survey points are combined where the information was duplicated. All ground survey data supplied to VIMS are tabulated in the ground survey table (Appendix D.)

Ground survey data were obtained in 2005 by:

• Todd Beser of Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) for Bush and Gunpowder rivers
• Peter Bergstrom of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for Susquehanna Flats and Magothy, Severn, South, Rhode, and Honga rivers
• Daniel Ryan of District of Columbia Department of Health, Fisheries and Wildlife Division (DCFWD) for the Potomac River
• Nancy Rybicki of the United States Geological Survey Water Resources Division (USGS) for the Potomac River
• Mike Naylor and Julie Bortz of Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MD-DNR) for Susquehanna Flats; Eastern Bay; and Patapsco, Bush, Gunpowder, St. Marys, and Patuxent rivers
• Elizabeth Amy Lewis of Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) for the Rhode River
• Chris Tanner of St. Mary's College of Maryland (SMCM) for St. Mary's River
• Jennifer Harlan of Maryland Environmental Services (MES) for Hart-Miller Island
• Candace Croswell of Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management (BCDEPRM) for the Middle, Gunpowder, Back, and Patapsco rivers
• Michael Norman of Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) for the Severn River
• Terry Willis of Chester River Association (CRA) for the Chester River
• Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) for the Honga, Mattaponi, Pamunkey, Piankatank, Chickahominy, and York rivers and Broad and Mobjack bays

SAV research conducted on Bush and Gunpowder rivers by APG also provided data in the form of species presence by estimated percent cover, although these percentages are not reported here.

VIMS researchers made observations principally from small boats and by diving in areas identified from the aerial photographs.

Ground survey data from all sources reported here are presented on the SAV quadrangle maps.