Ground surveys were accomplished by cooperative efforts from a number of agencies
and individuals. Although not all areas of Chesapeake Bay were ground surveyed, the data did provide valuable supplemental
information. The ground surveys confirmed the existence of some SAV beds mapped
from the 2007 1:24,000 scale aerial photography, as well as SAV beds that were too small to be visible
on the 1:24,000 scale photography. The surveys also provided species data for many of
the SAV beds. Ground survey information supplied to VIMS researchers is included on
the SAV distribution and abundance digital maps and included
in the VIMS SAV GIS Database. The group that performed each survey is designated by a unique symbol to
identify the different methods of sampling. In many cases the symbols on the SAV maps
have been offset from the actual sampling point to avoid
confusion with the mapped SAV bed. Where species information was available, it is
included on the map. Because of space limitations on the maps, occasionally one or more survey points are combined where the information was duplicated. All ground survey data supplied to VIMS are tabulated in the ground survey table.
Ground survey data were obtained in 2007 by:
Peter Bergstrom of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for Magothy, Patapsco, Severn, South, and Patuxent rivers
Gary Costanzo of Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VA-DGIF) for the Potomac River
Candace Croswell of Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management (BCDEPRM) for the Middle, Gunpowder, Back, and Patapsco rivers
Rebecca Golden and Lee Karrh of Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MD-DNR) for the Sassafras, Elk, Bush, Gunpowder, Magothy, Severn, South, Chester, Patuxent, St. Marys, Big Annemessex, and Little Annemessex rivers
Debbie Hinkle and Evamaria Koch of University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science - Horn Point Laboratory (HPEL) for Broad Creek and Choptank and Little Choptank rivers
Nancy Rybicki of the United States Geological Survey Water Resources Division (USGS) for the Potomac River
Brian Sturgis of National Park Service (NPS) for Chincoteague and Sinepuxent bays
Terry Willis of Chester River Association (CRA) for the Chester River
Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) for areas of the Chesapeake that include the Rappahannock, Mattaponi, Pamunkey, Piankatank, Chickahominy, Back, York, and James rivers; Pocomoke and Tangier sounds; Mobjack bays; and South, Cobb, Spider Crab and Hog Island bays along the seaside bays of the Delmarva Peninsula.
VIMS researchers made observations principally from small boats and by
diving in areas identified from the aerial photographs.
