Measuring the Health of our waters --Eelgrass

Island County Beach Watchers have started a major new program with funding from the Island County Marine Resources Committee. Beach Watchers will be building a video survey system so we can measure the eelgrass beds around Island county. These marine grasslands are a major component in Puget Sound's "web of life". They also are a major indicator of the water quality in the near shore areas.

The first objective is to combine the Video, GPS, depth, and temperature measuring equipment ; train our volunteer team; and take underwater videos in Cornet Bay. We will follow the Washington DNR measuring methods and they will check that our data can supplement the data they collect.

Later we will work with other researchers (Friday Harbor Laboratories) to measure areas in Holmes Harbor and to help develop new methods for planting and improving the health of the eelgrass growing areas.

This is a high profile project with an aggressive time line. We will provide early video results to the MRC by June 30th.

Jan Holmes '90, Neal Clark '07