Until recently the lower Hudson River estuary supported about 4450 acres of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV).

Water celery (Vallisneria americana ) dominates these beds. In the years since the 2011 Tropical Storms Irene and Lee, SAV have declined dramatically and there is concern that the SAV beds may not recover without intervention. SAV are important components of the freshwater and brackish portions of the estuary providing habitat for foraging, spawning and sheltering from predators for a variety of invertebrates, fish and wildlife.

OR&R's Assessment and Restoration Division participated in an October 8, 2014, Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Restoration in the Hudson Estuary workshop focused on addressing current declines in SAV, improving response to major future disturbances, and evaluating the feasibility of restoring SAV in the estuary. The workshop was attended by scientists, resource managers, restoration practitioners, and others.

For further information, contact Lisa.Rosman@noaa.gov.

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