RESTORE - Underwater Grasses
 How does the Chesapeake Bay keep itself healthy? Just like we rely on our immune systems to fight off illnesses, the Bay relies on its natural filters — such as forests, oysters, wetlands and underwater grasses — to counter the effects of pollution that enter its waterways.
Underwater grasses help the Bay’s health by: - Filtering polluted runoff from land
- Releasing oxygen into Bay waters via photosynthesis
- Providing an important food source for migrating waterfowl
- Providing food for many aquatic species
- Providing critical habitat for juvenile blue crabs and rockfish
Protect and Restore Underwater Grasses The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is working to increase underwater grasses to 185,000 acres by 2010 to meet the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement goals. To reach this goal CBF offers an interactive and hands-on restoration program called Grasses for the Masses that allows local residents the opportunity to protect and restore underwater grasses in the Chesapeake Bay region. Unfortunately, less than 20% of the historic levels of underwater grasses are currently found in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, but work is being done to bring these vital grasses back. Become a Grasses Volunteer! Join the hundreds of other volunteers who are helping grow, plant, and monitor underwater grasses throughout Virginia in CBF’s Grasses for the Masses program! *Due to staffing and funding changes we are no longer able to offer the program in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Thanks to all of the volunteers who helped restore underwater grasses in Maryland & Pennsylvania.
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