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 2012 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 2012 by:
Peter Bergstrom of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for Shallow Creek, and Magothy and Severn rivers.
Rebecca Golden, Lee Karrh, Mitch Tarnowski, Catherine Wazniak, and Angel Willey of Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MD-DNR) for Swan Creek; Bohemia, East, Elk, Gunpowder, Honga, Northeast, Potomac, Rappahannock, Sassafras, Severn, St. Marys, and Ware rivers; and Assawoman, Chesapeake, Chincoteague, Isle of Wight, Sinepuxent, and Mobjack bays
Roman Jesien of Maryland Coastal Bays Program (MCBP) for Isle of Wight and Sinepuxent Bays
Brian Sturgis of National Park Service (NPS) for Assawoman, Chincoteague, Isle of Wight, and Sinepuxent bays
Evamaria Koch and Cassie Gurbisz of University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science - Horn Point Laboratory (UMCES) for Susquehanna Flats and Isle of Wight Bay
Todd Beser of Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) for Susquehanna Flats
Nancy Rybicki of the U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) for Mill Creek, Susquehanna Flats, and Spesutie Narrows
Jessica Alexander, Carolyn Blakeney, Rachel Griner, Lauren Leese, Amanda Penafiel of Maryland Environmental Service (MES) for Hart-Miller Island, Mill Creek, Susquehanna Flats, and Spesutie Narrows
Bo Lusk of the Nature Conservancy (TNC) for Hog Island Bay
Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) for areas of the Chesapeake that include Back, Chickahominy, James, Mattaponi, Pamunkey, Rappahannock, Severn, and York rivers; Hungars Creek; and Chesapeake, Chincoteague, Cobb, Mobjack, and South bays
