Virginia Coastal Program: 2005 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
FY2005 Task 92.01
Grantee:
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Project Title:
2005 Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Distribution and Abundance Survey of Chesapeake Bay and its Tributaries
Project Description as Proposed:
In 2005, VIMS will
continue the annual SAV survey program, begun in 1984, by mapping
SAV in the shoal areas of the entire Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries
from aerial photography acquired during late spring to late summer.
Black & white aerial photography will be acquired at a photographic
scale of approximately 1:24,000, following guidelines that address
tidal stage, plant growth, sun angle, turbidity, wind, atmospheric
transparency, sensor operation and land features to allow for acquisition
of photographs under near optimal conditions.
For Virginia waters, the first priority will be obtaining data from
the mainstem shorelines. The second priority will be obtaining data
for the Chesapeake Bay embayments on the Eastern Shore. The third
priority will be obtaining data from the upper tidal portions of
the major western shore tributaries (James, York, Rappahnannock).Ground
truthing data on species distribution and abundance will be collected
by participating agencies and citizen groups from as many of the
Chesapeake Bay Program segments as possible and included in the
final report.
The aerial photographs will be evaluated for SAV signatures using
all available information. Photographs containing SAV signatures
will be orthographically corrected and mosaiced by USGS 7.5 minute
topographic quadrangles using Orthobase and Imagine image processing
software.
The perimeters of all SAV beds mapped from the 2005 aerial photography
will be delineated on-screen using ArcInfo geographic information
system (GIS) software and stored in an ArcInfo GIS database. A final
report will include maps of all SAV beds, and areas of these beds.
The report will be published on the VIMS web site, as in past years.
Federal Funding:
$60,000
Project Contact:
Robert J. Orth, 804.684.7392;
jjorth@vims.edu
Project Status:
Project Completed
Final Product Received:
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
The distribution of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in Chesapeake Bay, its tributaries, and the Maryland and Virginia coastal bays of the Delmarva Peninsula, was mapped from black and white aerial photographs. These were taken between June and November 2005, at a scale of 1:24,000, encompassing 173 flight lines. For 2005, 31,671 hectares (78,262 acres) of SAV were mapped in Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. However, in 2005 a portion of the Bay was not flown due to adverse weather in the spring and summer; therefore, portions of the James River were not fully mapped in 2005. In order to ensure a valid analysis of change in SAV distribution and abundance given the reduced region mapped in 2005, all direct comparisons to 2004 in the report are restricted to only those regions that were mapped in both years. For comparison purposes, partial totals for 2004 have been computed for CBP segments, Bay zones, and the entire Bay using only those regions mapped for both years. Notable changes in SAV distribution were measured between 2004 and 2005. SAV increased 7% from 29,489 hectares (72,870 ac) in 2004 to 31,671 (78,262 ac) in 2005 in the regions mapped for both years. In the Upper Bay Zone (17 CBP segments extending south from the Susquehanna River to the Chester and Magothy rivers), SAV decreased 10% from 8,771 ha (21,674 ac) in 2004 to 7,877 ha (19,464 ac) in 2005. This report including maps showing SAV distribution is available at: http://www.vims.edu/bio/sav/sav05/index.html |
Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Laura McKay, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4323 or email: Laura.McKay@deq.virginia.gov
A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov
