Seagrasses are flowering plants that provide coastal zone, mangrove, coral reef and continental shelf communities with a number of systemic benefits, such as living space and protection from predation for large populations of commercially and ecologically significant species of invertebrates and fishes, and the stabilization of coastal substrates and improvement of water quality. The economic and environmental significance of seagrasses is widely recognized today, yet dredging and filling activities, hull and prop damage by boating, water quality degradation, nutrient loading and other factors are resulting in large-scale declines in vital seagrass coverage. To prevent net habitat loss of seagrasses, habitat restoration and compensatory mitigation are essential for projects that result in impact to seagrass meadows and the ecological communities that exist within them.

HSA can provide our clients with responsible solutions to today’s coastal management challenges. HSA offers specialized expertise in seagrass meadow and community analysis, best management practices for protection, sustainability and restoration. 

Services provided:

• Baseline Community Studies
• Environmental Impact Studies and Assessments
• GIS Mapping and Data Analysis
• Seagrass Injury Analyses
• Ship-Grounding and Prop-Scar Evaluations
• Emergency Response, including Oil and Chemical Spill Planning and Management
• Habitat Equivalency Analysis and Modeling
• Restoration Planning, Design and Implementation
• Mitigation for Unavoidable Impacts
• Water Quality Studies
• Watershed and Coastal Management
• Underwater Corridor Studies
• Seagrass Transplantation Studies
• Johnson Seagrass Consultations
• Regulatory Assistance