The purpose of this assistance agreement is to develop the capacity for monitoring and assessing the condition of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), eelgrass, among the state and local agencies in…

The purpose of this assistance agreement is to develop the capacity for monitoring and assessing the condition of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), eelgrass, among the state and local agencies in southern california. This agreement provides partial funding in the amount of $177,202. Preaward costs have been approved back to january 1, 2022. See terms and conditions. Activities: the project will produce the following tasks: assemble an advisory committee of reps from all relevant management agencies; develop a sample frame and probabilistic sample scheme; work with stakeholders to conduct regional-scale SAV survey and develop and open access database; build a condition assessment tool to interpret the ecological functioning of the SAV; validate the functioning of SAV beds as habitat for nekton. Outcomes: these tasks will allow applicant to conduct future surveys while also providing scientifically robust data interpretation and communication tools. The stated goal of the 2017-2022 california wetlands protection plan is to 'increase the abundance, condition and diversity of california's wetlands riparian areas, and sustain and enhance the delivery of ecosystem services'. The beneficiaries of this project would be the CA agencies responsible for eelgrass wetlands; they currently lack the tools to assess condition and evaluate ecosystem function. Subrecipient: the primary role of the subcontractors will be performing the scuba-based data collection on the SAV beds. They will be a mix of sccwrp's CO-PIS from CAL state long beach and local consultants who regularly work in the region & rsquo; S SAV beds.