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Distribution of eelgrass (Zostera marina) in coastal waters adjacent to Togiak National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska

September 23, 2022

Declines in the distribution and abundance of seagrasses worldwide have prompted a need for baseline distribution maps of eelgrass (Zostera marina) in Alaska. We used high-resolution digital-color aerial photography and multi-spectral satellite imagery to map the distribution and spatial extent of eelgrass at 21 sites in coastal waters adjacent to Togiak National Wildlife Refuge (TNWR) in northwestern Bristol Bay and southern Kuskokwim Bay. The total spatial extent of eelgrass meadows was estimated to be 6,489 hectare (ha) almost equally divided between Bristol Bay (3,001 ha) and Kuskokwim Bay (3,488 ha). The four largest eelgrass beds occurred in Chagvan Bay (1,933 ha), the north side of Hagemeister Island (1,168 ha), Goodnews Bay (874 ha), and Nanvak Bay (599 ha). This report provides key baseline data useful for establishing a monitoring plan to assess trends in eelgrass along the coast of TNWR.

Publication Year 2022
Title Distribution of eelgrass (Zostera marina) in coastal waters adjacent to Togiak National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska
DOI 10.3133/ofr20201080
Authors David H. Ward, Kyle R. Hogrefe, Tyronne F. Donnelly, Michael A. Swaim
Publication Type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Series Title Open-File Report
Series Number 2020-1080
Index ID ofr20201080
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Alaska Science Center Biology WTEB