139 



similar depth penetration, 400 ha of potential substrate on the outer 

 coast of Westport. Eelgrass is not abundant nearshore because of high 

 wave energy, but some eelgrass may grow among the boulders deeper 

 offshore. For production calculations, 10% of this area was assumed to 

 have eelgrass cover. 



Dartmouth: Aliens Pond to Round Hill (Figs. 5+6) 



This map were based on 1975 and 1981 aerial surveys and several 

 field visits in 1984 and 1985. Aliens pond was not included in this 

 study, but eelgrass was reported there by local residents. 



This area has diverse habitats in which eelgrass grows. Eelgrass 

 is abundant on the mud and sand bottom between the mouth of the Slocums 

 and Little Rivers around Potomska Ft. The water is discernibly brown 

 and turbid here during outgoing tides do to the discharge of the Slocums 

 river which carries a high load of iron oxides. The shoots growing in 

 this area are heavily epiphytized, perhaps due to the nutrient content 

 of the river water. Because of the water turbidity and epiphyte growth, 

 eelgrass grows only to 0.9 m MLW in a 4-6 m strip on either side of a 

 2.1 m MLW channel. 



Eelgrass is very sparse in the Slocums River north of Potomska 

 Point, and water transparency or nutrient loading may limit eelgrass 

 distribution there as well. New seedlings were observed in this area 

 during the summer of 1984, but they were heavily epiphytized and no 

 perennial beds were found. Eelgrass also disappears abruptly at the 50 

 m south of the bridge at Little River, but this is probably due the 



