III. PREPARING PLANTING UNITS 



Past plantings have used either whole plugs of sediment from 

 natural seagrass beds or, in a few cases, shoots that have been washed free 

 of sediment. Plugs create excessive logistical problems due to their weight 

 and size. Shoots without sediment circumvent this problem, but anchoring 

 techniques have previously proven successful only in low energy environments. 



Figures 2 to 5 illustrate the four-step procedure for preparing 

 planting units: 



(1) The eelgrass is dug up and washed free of sediment at the harvest 

 site, taking care to keep the root-rhizome system intact (Fig. 2). 



(2) Shoots are pulled in clumps from the dug-up mats and held upright 

 to make the planting units (approximately 15 shoots per planting unit) (Fig. 

 3). 



(3) One-third (about 8 inches) of a metal coathanger (pre-cut and bent 

 to form an L-shape for anchoring purposes) is added to the shoots, which are 

 then wrapped with a piece of bonded construction paper (filecards cut in 

 strips also work well) and secured with a twist-tie fastener, forming the 

 finished planting unit (Fig. 4). 



(4) The plants are transported to a planting site in small containers 

 that are filled with water (Fig. 5). The quantity of plants in the containers 

 shown in Figure 5 will plant more than 250 square yards (200 square meters) . 



IV. PLANTING METHOD 



The proper planting of the eelgrass unit is critical for its sur- 

 vival. Inserting the plants into the sediment so that the top of the L-shaped 

 anchor is covered with sediment is a stringent requirement. Plantings should 

 be made on 2.6-foot (0.79 meter) centers for the low current areas (surface 

 current velocity not exceeding 1.6 feet per second) and 2-foot (0.61 meter) 

 centers for the high current areas. Since the eelgrass tends to propa- 

 gate in the direction of the least resistance, the down-current spacing in 

 the high current areas should be shortened to 1.8-foot (0.55 meter) centers, 

 while the cross-current spacing should be lengthened to 2.2 foot (0.66 meter) 

 centers. 



The planting units are easily inserted, even into compacted sand, 

 by the creation of a lead hole (a heavy dive knife works well) . Planting 

 time is actually faster when using scuba divers rather than wading workers if 

 leadlines with interval markings are used as planting guides. Planting should 

 always be done while facing into the current flow. 



V. PLANT MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS 



Number of Units Required for a Planting . 



Number of planting units = 



planting area (square feet) x 1 (1) 



(plant spacing) ^ 



