Where does eelgrass grow?

Eelgrass grows in estuaries, bays, lagoons, and other marine environments where water is clear and light is plentiful. Eelgrass grows in shallow estuarine and marine waters with muddy or sandy bottoms. While eelgrass prefers calms waters, it can also grow in waters with swift currents.

The depth distribution of eelgrass depends on water clarity. Eelgrass may be found growing just a few inches underwater or at depths up to 100 feet or more if the water is unusually clear (e.g. some areas along the California coast). In Massachusetts, eelgrass is observed up to 40 feet below the surface. How deep eelgrass grows depends on the amount of light available and on the clarity of the water. Temperature and salinity also affect eelgrass growth, along with anthropogenic stresses (e.g., eutrophication).

The morphology of plants growing in shallow wave swept bottoms tend to have short narrow leaves with dense root masses, whereas plants growing in deeper water have broader longer leaves with a greater proportion of biomass above ground. Water quality also influences the morphology of the plant, with fatter leaves observed in stressed waters (e.g., cloudy water).

Eelgrass habitat is found around the world, from Alaska to Australia, North Carolina, Chesapeake Bay, off the coasts of Florida, California, New England, and coastal areas of Europe and Asia. Eelgrass is the most abundant seagrass in Massachusetts.

Balance Between Humans and Nature: Eelgrass