O.C. Coastkeeper plants record amount of eelgrass in Upper Newport Bay

NEWPORT BEACH — The waters of Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve in Newport Beach continue to be filled with blades each summer. Blades of eelgrass, that is. Orange County Coastkeeper spent five weeks in June and July planting new eelgrass beds in Upper Newport Bay, harvesting the long-bladed flowering plant in nearby Newport Harbor. Teams of aquatic and land-based volunteers started the planting process on June 29 and continued work in batches through July 23. When all was said and done O.C. Coastkeeper planted almost 1,300 square meters of eelgrass in Upper Newport Bay. Volunteer divers first harvested eelgrass from Newport Harbor during the morning hours and brought them to Back Bay Science Center. Once brought ashore a group of land-based volunteers untangled blades and organized them in slates. Parimal M. Rohit photo Divers then took the slates to a select portion of Upper Newport Bay and planted a bed of eelgrass underwater. Each planting session was completed within 90 minutes. At the time of planting each blade of eelgrass is about the length of one’s forearm. Over time the blades would grow to be much larger. Eelgrass is a valuable underwater commodity, providing shelter for marine life and enhancing seafloor stability, according...