Program on the Environment

Eelgrass meadows, often described as underwater forests, are vital coastal ecosystems that provide essential fish habitat, buffer against ocean acidification, and sequester carbon at rates far surpassing terrestrial forests. Despite their ecological importance and value to human well-being—supporting global fisheries, coastal protection, and climate resilience—eelgrass ecosystems are rapidly declining due to human activity such as urban development, pollution, and dredging. This paper examines the ecological significance and restoration challenges of eelgrass meadows along the U.S. West Coast. Based on internship experience with NOAA’s West Coast Region Mitigation Team and qualitative research methods, the study analyzes varying success rates of eelgrass restoration projects and the factors influencing these outcomes. Despite alarming global decline rates—with 30% of seagrass lost since the 1870s and continuous losses of two football fields’ worth of habitat hourly—findings indicate that eelgrass responds favorably to well-executed restoration efforts. The research identifies several critical factors for successful restoration: formal policy frameworks like the California Eelgrass Mitigation Policy (CEMP), early interagency coordination, site-specific assessment protocols, and long-term monitoring. Analysis of the San Diego Bay Navy Mitigation Bank demonstrates how policy-driven approaches produce measurable positive outcomes, while case studies across the region reveal a “latitudinal gradient” of success influenced by environmental conditions. The study highlights current gaps in practice, particularly the absence of standardized monitoring protocols and limited cross-agency data sharing. The paper recommends expanded standardized protocols, strengthened knowledge-sharing mechanisms, increased institutional support, and regionally-adaptive restoration methods.