This work has been funded by and in partnership with the South Shore Estuary Reserve Program, and through our Town of Southampton Community Preservation Fund Water Quality Improvement grant
We had an awesome group of volunteers join us on Saturday, October 24th at Tiana Bayside Facility for our Marine Meadows Workshop in support of eelgrass restoration efforts in the South Shore Estuary of Long Island.
After a brief lecture on the biology and importance of eelgrass, participants wove 1,800 shoots of live eelgrass into discs of burlap, which we lovingly call "eelgrass tortillas." CCE Marine’s divers went out the following week to plant them at two restoration sites within the South Shore Estuary Reserve.
Thanks to all who volunteered!
Kim Manzo giving a talk about eelgrass before getting to work!
Restoring eelgrass meadows provides essential habitat to fish and invertebrates, reduces erosion, produces oxygen, and helps to remove nutrients from the water and sequester carbon.
This work is made possible by a NYSDOS grant made through the South Shore Estuary Reserve Program, aimed at restoring ‘Blue Carbon’ Habitats. This grant has allowed us to reach local students and community members through workshops and school visits, bringing awareness to the importance of eelgrass and other coastal plants at mitigating climate change, among other important ecosystem services.
Coming up
While we are starting to wrap up our season at Tiana Bayside, we still have plenty of things to enjoy and get involved with, including programs at our NEW Pine Neck Facility in East Quogue!
Thanks to our dedicated Back to the Bays Stewards and community supporters!