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That Essential Eelgrass

AN UNDERWATER GRASS IS AN UNSUNG HERO OF MARINE ECOSYSTEMS, AND SOME YOUNG, UNSUNG HEROES ARE HELPING TO SAVE IT – LEARN HOW ON TODAY'S ENVIRONMINUTE.

THE HEALTH OF NEW ENGLAND'S SALT WATERS DEPENDS ON EELGRASS. IT PROVIDES FOOD AND SHELTER FOR FISH, SIFTS OUT POLLUTANTS, AND CURBS SHORELINE EROSION.

BUT IN THE THIRTIES, DISEASE DESTROYED MUCH OF THE AREA’S EELGRASS – AND SCIENTISTS HAVE HAD A HARD TIME RESTORING IT BECAUSE OF MARINE POLLUTION. NOW THEY’VE TURNED TO AN UNLIKELY SOURCE TO HELP BRING IT BACK.

BOSTON-AREA PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE ATTEMPTING TO GROW EELGRASS IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. AND WHILE EDUCATIONAL, IT’S MORE THAN JUST A SCIENCE-CLASS SIMULATION, SAYS BRANDY WILBUR OF M-I-T’S SEA GRANT PROGRAM.

WILBUR: IF WE CAN FIND A WAY TO GROW EELGRASS IN AN ARTIFICIAL ENVIRONMENT, WE CAN PRODUCE GRASSES TO BE USED IN FUTURE RESTORATION EFFORTS. 

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM.      

For more information regarding restoration and restoring eelgrass, visit the Sea Grant web site.

Find out how you can help in the San Francisco area at Save the SF Bay.

To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org