George Kidder III
Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory
Box 35, Old Bar Harbor Road
Salisbury Cove, ME 04672
207.288.9880 x421
gkidder@mdibl.org

Eelrass is a valued component of shallow-water estuaries that provides habitat for many species, including juvenile mussels and fish, and helps maintain clean water. Eelgrass beds are disappearing in many areas for various and unknown reasons. In upper Frenchman Bay, eelgrass declined from 85% to less than one percent since 1996. A community-based restoration project has had some success in replanting eelrass beds, and the project partners are expanding their efforts. As part of this expansion, Kidder wants to test a new method of planting grass that uses biodegradable grids (a wooden frame and jute twine) that can be left in place. If it works, the technique could replace plastic-coated wire grids which when removed can disript the transplanted eelgrass. Volunteers will be testing the new grids in Spring 2011.

Sea Grant funds: $1,391