Albemarle-Pamlico Sounds
Survey of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation of Currituck Sound and Western Albemarle-Pamlico
Estuarine System
Type: Extent of
habitat (i.e., area of habitat and whether there has been a decline) and stressors
affecting habitat (i.e., which sources have contributed to its degradation and
whether they are direct or indirect factors).
Category: Submerged
Cost: Information not provided.
Description: This project addresses the temporal and areal distribution
of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) in Lower Back Bay, Currituck Sound and
western Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds and Estuaries. The extent and/or success
of SAV is a function of fetch, depth, salinity regimes, sediment texture, concentration
of suspended sediments, degree of epiphyte encrustation, weather, climate, nutrient
availability, and the inherent adaptations of the SAV. Most of these potential
"stresses" are natural, but some are exacerbated by human activities.
Outcome: The project report discusses the Pamlico River; Neuse River;
Western Pamlico Sound; Back Bay; Currituck Sound; Kitty Hawk Bay; Perquimans,
Little, Pasquotank, and North Rivers; and other tributaries, embayments and
creeks of the Pamlico Sound system. For each area, it describes the status of,
any known trends in, and any known factors regarding SAV distribution. The report
emphasizes the "stress factors" most easily observed or deduced that may be
responsible for the current patterns of SAV distribution turbulence, turbidity,
and epiphytic growth and makes recommendations for further research and monitoring
efforts. In the Pamlico River, a virtual disappearance of SAV in 1979 was due
to unusual weather conditions that caused a dramatic turbidity increase. Some
revegetation with wild celery occurred, but not in the areas of high stress.
In the Neuse River, there are small healthy beds of wild celery. Western Pamlico
Sound demonstrated a paucity of SAV when compared with the eastern portion of
the sound. Back Bay was found to be turbid and essentially barren as was the
Pasquotank River. Currituck Sound was also fund to be somewhat turbid. The Perquimans
and Little Rivers had healthy growths of SAV.
Contact: Joan Giordano, APNEP Public Involvement Coordinator, 943 Washington
Square Mall, Washington, NC 27889; Phone: (252) 946-6481, Fax: (252) 975-3716,
Joan.Giordano@ncmail.net
Citations: · APNEP Report 89-10 and http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/nep/projectsvh.htm#A
Survey of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation of Currituck Sound and Western Albemarle-Pamlico
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