T&T: "Sea grass" or not

[LRZeitlin at aol.com]

In a message dated 12/31/07 12:00:57 AM, Rich writes:


>
> Some of you may boat in areas where there is so much grass that boaters'
> anchors and props cannot significantly harm the huge bio-mass.  Some may
> boat in areas where there is no option but to anchor in grass.  Such is not
> the case in Florida.
>

When I talked about using a sharpened anchor in "sea grass" I was using the
term as a generic reference to any dense bottom growing greenery. Rich is
quite
right about the delicate and vanishing sea grass in Florida. But other
popular boating areas on the East coast have major foliage problems.

Some portions of the Hudson River and Chesapeake Bay have dense bottom
growing weed cover. Water lilly invasion has clogged may feeder streams to the
point
where boating is a chore rather than a pleasure. Think "African Queen" type
weed growth. The NYS Dept. of Env. Conservation regularly uses underwater
mowing machines to clear harbors. Local sporting goods stores sell a goodly
number
of weed shedding outboard props.

Warmer climate and fertilizer run off have led to the increasing
eutrophication of smaller lakes, streams and reservoirs to the point where
local aquatic
managers have resorted to stocking impacted waterways with weed eating carp.
Eutrophication is nature's way of changing the landscape except I wish nature
would be more considerate of my favorite boating areas. While I won't attempt
to anchor in Florida's grassy areas, I have no choice in the upper Hudson.

Larry Z


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