2012 Chesapeake Bay SAV Coverage

Abstract: The 2012 Chesapeake Bay SAV Coverage was mapped from 1:24,000 black and white aerial photography to assess water quality in the Bay. Each area of SAV was interpreted from the rectified photography and classified into one of four density classes by the percentage of cover. The SAV beds were entered into an SDE GIS fetaure class using the quality control procedures documented below. The dataset contains all SAV areas that were identified from the areas flown. Some areas that are presumed to contain no SAV were not flown. Some small beds, particularly along narrow tributaries may not have been distinguishable on the aerial photography. Purpose: The annual SAV aerial photographic monitoring program provides a comprehensive and accurate measure of change in SAV relative abundance that has been used to link improving water quality to increases in bay living resources. Dataset credit: SAV Ecology, Monitoring, & Restoration Program, Virginia Institute of Marine Scienc