New Report Finds Increase in Chesapeake Bay Underwater Grass

Chesapeake Bay underwater grasses see acreage increase in 2025, nearing 2030 goal

Officials say underwater grasses increased in 2025 to an estimated 89,385 acres across the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries. This marks a 7% increase from 2024 and places the

New Report Finds Increase in Chesapeake Bay Underwater Grass

Image Courtesy of Will Parson via Chesapeake Bay Program CHESAPEAKE BAY, Md. – A new study shows that, in 2025, there were an estimated 89,385 acres of underwater grasses across the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries, marking a seven percent increase from 2024. The Chesapeake Bay Program says the growth places the Bay’s underwater grass abundance just 615 acres...

Bay Grasses Hit Decade High, But Potomac Falls

Underwater grasses across the Chesapeake Bay reached their highest acreage since 2018 last year, according to the annual survey released this week — but the news was decidedly mixed for Southern Maryland’s two major rivers, with the Patuxent posting some of the Bay’s sharpest gains while the Potomac was singled out as one of its […]

Chesapeake Bay underwater grasses increase 7%, buoyed by gains in salty waters

Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), one of the Chesapeake Bay's most important indicators of ecosystem health, increased by 7% in 2025, according to researchers at William & Mary's VIMS & Batten School.

Chesapeake Bay grasses notch best numbers since 2018

Aerial surveys show that underwater grasses in the Chesapeake Bay had a strong year in 2025, covering 89,385 acres, the most since 2018 and a 7% improvement over 2024. Despite the gains, some advocates said the results are a mixed bag.

Chesapeake Bay underwater grasses reach highest level since 2018

Seagrass such as this eelgrass meadow provides foundational habitat supporting many species in the Chesapeake Bay. Photo by Alyson Hall. Underwater grasses in the Chesapeake Bay increased 7% last year, reaching their highest Bay-wide level since 2018 and approaching an important regional restoration goal. Researchers at William & Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science and Batten School of Coastal & ...