DERM observations on Little Madiera seagrass die-off

• Die off of  Thalassia testudinum begins in the North West corner of  Little Madeira Bay in August of 1999.  Abundance values for Thalassia testudinum drop from 5 in July 1999 to 0 in August 1999.  Halodule wrightii populations in this area have been historically low but were also affected.
• Spotty die off of Thalassia testudinum spreads to the South West corner of Little Madeira Bay by December of 1999.  The die off does not appear to have traveled any further to the east after this time.
• As of November 2000 abundance values for Thalassia testudinum remain very low in the affected subregions.  Halodule wrightii and Ruppia maritima have shown signs of spotty re-colonization  in some subregions
• Funding for Miami-Dade County D.E.R.M.’s seagrass and water quality monitoring program in Northeast Florida Bay is provided by the South Florida Water Management District (Contract C-8831-A1)