SAV 2014

<div style='text-align:Left;'><div><div><p><span>Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) is an important habitat and site of primary production in many aquatic ecosystems. Prior to 1995 there was no baseline information on SAV extent or distribution in the tidal freshwater Hudson River or any information on how the extent of SAV is changing with time. The 2022 mapping project is a continuation of SAV monitoring efforts from 1997, 2002, 2007, 2014, 2016 and 2018. The current SAV mapping was conducted in order to determine the status of the resource in 2022, and to compare the extent of SAV in 2022 with that observed in 2018. </span></p><p><span>SAV mapping in the Hudson River Estuary was conducted in seven separate time periods using different sources of funding. The 1997 mapping was initiated with NOAA funds, Hudson River Foundation funds, and N.Y. State Environmental Protection Funds through the Hudson River Estuary Program. In 2002, 2007, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2022 mapping was undertaken with N.Y. State Environmental Protection Funds through the Hudson River Estuary Program (HREP). </span></p><p><span>In 1994, collaboration was initiated between the Institute of Ecosystem Studies (IES), now the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, HRNERR/NYSDEC, and the Cornell Laboratory for Environmental Applications of Remote Sensing (CLEARS), now IRIS, in partnership with HREP. These groups provided diverse expertise to enable the first broad delimitation of SAV and Water Chestnut in the Hudson River. </span></p><p><span>In 1997, SAV and Water Chestnut were mapped in the mainstem of the Hudson River. In 2002, 2007, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2022 six more SAV inventories were undertaken with expanded areas of study, which included coves and major tributaries. Nine major tributaries were identified as part of the SAV mapping area: Rondout Creek, Catskill Creek, Esopus Creek, Annsville Creek, Croton River, Stockport Creek, Moodna Creek, Fishkill Creek, and Wappingers Creek. SAV, Water Chestnut (Trapa natans) and Upland (buoys and islands that were included for georeferencing purposes) were mapped from Troy to Yonkers. </span></p><p><span>Submerged Aquatic Vegetation is represented by Vallisneria americana. Vallisneria americana is dominant in association with Myriophyllum spicatum, Ceratophyllum dermersum, Elodea muttallii, Najas sp., and Potamogeton perfoliatus. Trapa natans is dominant in association with Spriodela polyrhiza, Myriophyllum spicatum, and Nuphar advena. </span></p><p><span>The absence of mapped SAV means its presence was not discernable from the aerial photography due to water turbidity, higher than optimum tide, overhanging vegetation, shadow, sun glint, or SAV was not present. Discernible SAV may not have been mapped if the bed was smaller than the minimum mapping unit. </span></p></div></div></div>