Ground Water Refugia for Eelgrass Restoration

Rising water temperatures are restricting seagrass coverage to areas of increased oceanic influence throughout the northeastern US. Resource managers are faced with the reality that climate change is rendering many current restoration strategies ineffective. This project will demonstrate the use of groundwater as thermal refugia in an emerging restoration strategy. Using novel groundwater assessment techniques for radon profiles as a marker of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) and seagrass transplant techniques, we will test and demonstrate an approach that has the potential to transform this type of eelgrass restoration. Doing so will make such projects more predictable and effective, allowing for larger-scale efforts in estuaries impacted by groundwater discharge.