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- OFF THE COAST OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
IN THE CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY,
JESSIE ALTSTATT IS BUSY DOING SOME GARDENING.
THIS, HOWEVER, ISN'T YOUR USUAL TYPE OF GARDENING.
SHE'S UNDERWATER, PLANTING EELGRASS
TO RESTORE DAMAGED HABITAT.
- EELGRASS IS ONE OF TWO TYPES OF VASCULAR PLANTS
THAT GROW UNDERWATER.
THRIVING ONLY ON SHELTERED, SANDY SEA FLOORS,
THESE MEADOWS PROVIDE BENEFICIAL HABITAT
FOR MANY UNIQUE CREATURES.
THIS LION'S MANE NUDIBRACH USES ITS LARGE ORAL HOOD
TO CAPTURE PREY THAT FLOATS NEARBY.
THE EELGRASS SERVES AS A NURSERY.
THIS TINY JUVENILE CALIFORNIA HALIBUT
HIDING IN THE SAND BENEATH THE BLADES
CAN GROW TO OVER 5 FEET IN LENGTH
WHEN IT BECOMES AN ADULT.
EELGRASS IS SENSITIVE TO WATER POLLUTION
AND NEEDS CLEAN WATER TO THRIVE.
IT IS AN INDICATOR OF A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.
IN THE PAST, OUT OF BALANCE SEA URCHIN POPULATIONS
HAVE OVERGRAZED THE SEAGRASS MEADOWS.
CURRENTLY, THE BIGGEST THREAT FOR EELGRASS
IN THE CHANNEL ISLANDS IS DAMAGE CAUSED
BY BOAT ANCHORING.
ANCHOR CHAINS CREATE LARGE, BARREN AREAS
WITHIN THE EELGRASS BEDS THAT TAKE YEARS TO REGROW.
BY BEING AWARE OF THESE HABITATS
AND ANCHORING OUTSIDE THE EELGRASS,
WE CAN AVOID SUCH DAMAGE.
AFTER YEARS OF SEEING THE DECLINE OF EELGRASS
WITH VERY LITTLE NATURAL REGROWTH,
WE DECIDED TO TAKE THINGS INTO OUR OWN HANDS
AND RESTORE SEVERAL MEADOWS AROUND THE CHANNEL ISLANDS.
THE TECHNIQUES WE USE ARE ACTUALLY AMAZINGLY SIMPLE.
IT'S GARDENING, BUT IT'S UNDERWATER,
SO WHAT WE DO IS WE TRANSPLANT HEALTHY EELGRASS
FROM A NEIGHBORING BED,
AND WE BRING IT TO OUR RESTORATION SITE,
AND WE JUST REPLANT IT.
SINCE WE STARTED THE PROGRAM, WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY GROWN
ACRES OF NEW EELGRASS MEADOWS.
THE EELGRASS IS DOING SO WELL AT THIS SITE.
WE SAW SO MANY DIFFERENT SPECIES OF FISH.
THERE'S HUGE SCHOOLS OF JACK MACKEREL,
AT LEAST 5 DIFFERENT SPECIES OF SURF PERCH,
SO MANY INVERTEBRATES.
THE PROJECT IS DOING SO WELL BECAUSE THIS IS A SANCTUARY.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE AS STEWARDS
OF THIS NATIONAL TREASURE THAT WE CALL THE CHANNEL ISLANDS
DO EVERYTHING WE CAN WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY
TO AVOID DAMAGING THESE PRECIOUS NATURAL RESOURCES.
HEALTHY EELGRASS BEDS SUPPORT A WIDE VARIETY OF CREATURES
LIKE THE TERRITORIAL SARCASTIC FRINGEHEAD
AND THIS PIKE BLENNY THAT IS GIVING A MATING DISPLAY.
THESE EELGRASS BEDS ARE PART OF A MARINE PROTECTED AREA
THAT EXISTS WITHIN
THE CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY
AND THE CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK.
SAFE HAVENS LIKE THIS HELP REPLENISH LIFE
IN SURROUNDING AREAS.
WITH CONTINUED RESTORATION EFFORTS
AND PROTECTION, WE WILL BE ABLE TO
ENJOY, LEARN, AND APPRECIATE
ALL OF THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE THAT LIVES
WITHIN THE EELGRASS GARDENS.
IN THE MEANTIME, I'LL BE BACK UNDERWATER,
WATCHING MY GRASS GROW.