Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV)—also known as underwater grass—plays an essential role in the Bay ecosystem.SAV is sensitive to both positive and negative changes in water quality, and scientists and mangers often look at the status of SAV as an indicator of overall Bay health. Because SAV is such an important component of the Bay ecosystem, the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) and its partners have remained committed to its restoration since the CBP was first established in 1983. Aerial surveys provide useful information on the location and density of SAV beds throughout the Bay, but it does not provide local-scale data on SAV species diversity or habitat conditions. For this reason, scientists have asked volunteers for help collecting more widespread, coordinated and detailed SAV data, which could inform new, targeted restoration efforts and management decisions that help us reach our SAV restoration target sooner. This is where you come in…During this 2-hour training, Brook Landry, a Natural Resource Biologist with the MD Dept. of Natural Resources and Chair of the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Workgroup, will equip you with the knowledge you need to participate as a SAV Watcher. If you are a canoer, kayaker or boater, your time on the water can now help the Bay.

Bio: Brooke Landry is a Natural Resource Biologist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Chair of the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) Workgroup. She has over 20 years of experience in SAV research, conservation, restoration, and management. Her love of SAV began as an undergraduate at the University of Virginia where she studied Environmental Sciences and worked on a project mapping SAV in Florida Bay, Florida. From there she continued her work with SAV while getting a Master’s degree in Marine Sciences from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. After getting her degree and working for several years for the NOAA Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, she came to Maryland and to her current position with Maryland DNR and the Chesapeake Bay Program Partnership. While here, she has participated in or led dozens of projects or initiatives, including the development of the Chesapeake Bay SAV Watcher Program. 
Community Science is the collaboration of everyday citizens and trained scientists to advance scientific knowledge. Community scientists can help the scientific community in myriad ways including data collection and data analysis. For scientists who don’t have the time or access to do research the way they want to, citizen scientists are stepping in to fill the gap.
NHSM is committed to supporting ongoing research by serving as a community scientist pipeline. These presentations are free to attend. You will have the opportunity to donate financially to NHSM during the registration process. Please direct any questions to bstrong@marylandnature.org