Prototype index scoring tool successfully used to assess regional health of eelgrass beds

SCCWRP and its partners have developed and applied a prototype bioassessment-based index scoring tool to evaluate the health of Southern California eelgrass beds based on their ecological functioning – a proof-of-concept study that paves the way for ongoing monitoring of eelgrass health through programs like the Southern California Bight Regional Monitoring Program.

The pilot study, completed in December, used a newly developed eelgrass condition assessment index to evaluate the aquatic plants’ ability to provide refugia to fish and other animals, as well as other ecosystem services, including attenuating ocean waves and sequestering carbon.

Eelgrass beds, which are scattered across shallow, soft-bottom coastal areas of Southern California, are the dominant type of seagrass found in California’s coastal embayments. In recent years, California has invested significant resources into restoring and protecting seagrass beds, which have been degraded by a range of human activities.

The prototype index scoring tool will be refined and then applied to assess regional eelgrass health through the Southern California Bight 2023 Regional Monitoring Program’s ongoing Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) study element.