Eelgrass Surveys
Working with United Utilities, Natural England and the Environment Agency, we have carried out annual aerial surveys to determine the extent and change of eelgrass and ephemeral algae distribution across a number of coastal bays. These are conducted at low water to ensure the intertidal zone is exposed. Analysing the colour and infrared photos allows us to map within a GIS the extent of eelgrass which can determine exact GPS coordinates supporting subsequent ground-based surveys. We can also map soft sediment areas inaccessible for ground-based fieldwork and generate a permanent record against which year on year changes are being assessed.
