SOIL PROPERTIES 



Mostly cohesive (silts and clays) 

 Combination of cohesive and granular 

 Mostly granular (sand) 



Tidal elevations in most cases should be determined by elevational 

 surveys. 



Tidal currents are only limiting in some areas of the Atlantic 

 coast where tidal flow is restricted, e.g., the inlets along the Rhode 

 Island coast, and along the Pacific coast where the tidal range between 

 two successive tides commonly exceeds 8 feet (2.4 meters). Tidal current 

 velocities can be found in tide tables published by the National Ocean 

 Survey (NOS) . 



Salinity regimes for local waters are available from State depart- 

 ments of natural resources, academic institutions, the National Oceanic 

 and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) , and local U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

 Service Refuges, bait houses, or boat marinas. If unavailable, salinity 

 should be measured. 



Wave energy can limit or prevent seagrass growth. Where wave energy 

 is high, sediments tend to be coarse and seagrasses are sparse or absent. 

 Where wave energy is low, sediments tend to be cohesive and seagrasses 

 are abundant and dense. In the following planting keys (Figs. 1,2, and 

 3) substrate types indicate protection from adverse wave action. 



STEP TWO : Turn to the planting decision key (Fig. 1 if site is located 

 on the Atlantic coast north of Beaufort, North Carolina; Fig. 2 if site 

 is south of Beaufort, North Carolina, to Florida and along the gulf 

 coast; Fig. 3 if on the Pacific coast). Using the appropriate planting 

 decision key and the site description compiled in Step One, begin at the 

 top of the key and move downward following the appropriate path. The 

 path will terminate in a block which either designates suitable plant 

 species and planting methods or indicates the site is not appropriate for 

 planting. 



III. OBTAINING PLANT MATERIALS 



No nursery techniques have been developed for growing and distribut- 

 ing seagrasses for revegetation projects. Seagrasses are obtained from 

 nearby native stands of the desired species on the date of intended use. 

 Material can be transported in containers covered with wet canvas or bur- 

 lap. Plants must be kept moist, cool, and shaded until planting. 



Vegetative and reproductive stages of the various species of sea- 

 grasses used in transplanting are illustrated in Figure 4 (eelgrass, 

 Zostera marina). Figure 5 (shoalgrass, Halodule wrighti-i) , Figure 6 

 (turtle grass, Thalassia testudinvxn) , Figure 7 (manatee grass, 

 Syringodivm fili forme) , and Figure 8 (ditch grass, Ruppia maritima) . 



