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Eelgrass virtually gone from Westcott Bay

posted 09/19/03
In 2000 approximately 45 acres of eelgrass (Z. marina) grew in Westcott Bay on San Juan Island. In 2003 it was virtually eliminated. Eelgrass is also gone from Garrison Bay. The areas include documented herring spawn sites. According to a recently released report: This sequence strongly suggests that the Z. marina population in Westcott Bay ceased to be self-sustaining at some point between 1998 and 2000, began to thin, and then crashed in 2003.

Washington State has a no net loss policy regarding eelgrass. Under state law when an unexplained loss occurs, an inquiry must take place. It must be determined if human action contributed to the loss and if the site can again support healthy stands of eelgrass. The responsible party can be held accountable. The cost to restore one acre of eelgrass is $91,000.

A task force met in July, 2003 to discuss possible causes of the loss of the eelgrass. A report, written by S. Wyllie-Echeverria of the University of Washington; T. E. Mumford, Jr. of Washington State Department of Natural Resources; J. K. Gaydos of University of California, Davis; and S. Buffum of the Friends of the San Juans, states:

While loss of valuable habitat results when Z. marina cover is reduced, conditions at Westcott and Garrison Bays are particularly troubling because known Pacific herring spawning sites are also lost (Lemberg et al 1997). On a larger scale, preliminary information from WDFW suggests that loss of Z. marina habitat may also be occurring at other documented herring spawn sites in San Juan County such as Blind Bay on the northern side of Shaw Island (Pentilla pers. com. 2003; Figure 5). It is also difficult to predict other impacts due to the cascade of changes in an ecosystem that could follow this rapid loss of Z. marina cover.

Gaydos said, " It is hoped that this report will catalyze a science-based program to identify the potential causes of this eelgrass decline to ensure that similar losses, if preventable, do not occur throughout the region."

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