chi harbour water quality

[Mark Taylor]

You receive coms from me on the above subject.  One of the major impacts of deteriorating water quality,  is the loss of sea grass.  The attached image shows the sea grass as it was in the 1950s or 60s in an area we all know very well.


https://images.app.goo.gl/73y6TUo4414dnXUNA

[Pete Reed]

That's a major difference Mark. Thanks for sharing.
Do you know of any initiatives to try to re-establish the seagrass?
I've seen there are many others around the world.
Pete

[Mark Taylor]

Peter, The harbour conservancy are running an initiative called CHAPRON to protect and recover nature.  Not sure how successful it will be,  but there is plenty of info on the conservancy Web site.


As I look at the photo again,  I note how much more in tact the wrecked barge is outside the mill.  Also the mature elm trees along the shore towards Warblington.

[James Griffin]

The picture shown of the shore seaward of the Royal Oak is of Salt Marsh.
Salt march is the spiky stuff that we see when rowing particularly between Emsworth and the boat park
Sight of it indicates its too shallow and your about to run aground
Never the less salt marsh is important in preventing erosion and trapping CO2 and for the crustaceans that live in the mud around its roots which provides food for wading birds  

This is not the same as Seagrass which lives under the sea Not in areas that dry out with an ebb tide.it likes a sandy bottom
The most famous area locally being at Studland bay, Dorset Where there has been a long standing research project to determine how to encourage it to grow
Yachts are not allowed to anchor there for fear of damage and disturbance of Seahorses which live in the Sea grass

[Mark Taylor]

Indeed James,  I may have used the wrong terminology,  but the fact is that the environment near Langstone village has changed considerably since this photo was taken.