Residents Otis Beach neighborhood were excited to be visited by Jeff Gaeckle, eelgrass expert from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) this third week of April, 2023. PHI contacted him to consider the possibility of initiating conservation and restoration efforts for seagrass in Henderson Inlet.
There are sparse reports of eelgrass in the inlet, Henderson never having been fully surveyed. Eelgrass is well documented in other areas of the the South Puget Sound including Joemma Beach State Park, where Gaeckle has been hard at work cultivating the grass. Prominent beds of eelgrass are also present on nearby Anderson Island and has previously been found in Zangle Cove. Tonni Johnston has taken the lead in the effort by PHI to help Gaeckle continue his good work in the South Sound.
Jeff walked with our group of residents, pointing out many fascinating features of small living things on our beach. So many different species of algae! He was looking for just the right consistency of the beach substrate, not too rocky, not too muddy, not too steep, and he found it! When his schedule permits, he and his team will bring in approximately 150 new plants which will be tied to lengths of rebar and staked below the zero tide line. The planted area will be marked for monitoring and watched over the next year. If the planting is successful, a band of the seagrass is expected across the beach. Some of us may be involved in counting shoots of eelgrass here and in other places in the ongoing efforts to enhance the biodiversity of the Inlet through seagrass.
On the subject of fun with seagrass, take a look at this and we think you will agree that Jeff is one of our local Green Heroes.
Our beach represents a different sort of opportunity for Gaeckle, since it is privately held land. For this type of planting, permission is required, and Gaeckle is usually limited to planting in public waters. Since the residents here are keenly interested in helping the health of the Inlet, the permission is readily given. Maybe you have a beach where eelgrass would grow? Think about what you can do for the environment! Contact us if you want to be informed. We send updates to our contact group about once a month by blind cc.