Programs, Events, & Volunteers
2025 SAV Community Survey
Underwater grasses, or submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), play a vital role in maintaining a healthy aquatic ecosystem. These grasses provide food and habitat for wildlife, improve water clarity, increase oxygen levels, absorb excess nutrients, and help reduce shoreline erosion.
Join us for a special one-day volunteer event where we'll survey SAV within Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary to help assess the overall health of the ecosystem and SAV's relationship to the famous Ghost Fleet. This effort is supported by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and led in partnership with Chesapeake Bay SAV Watchers—a community science program that trains volunteers to monitor and report on SAV across the Bay.
Participants will receive hands-on training in the morning to learn how to identify SAV species and coverage. After a shared lunch on the lawn, volunteers will head out in tandem kayaks to collect real-world data on SAV growth and abundance.
No prior scientific experience is needed—just an interest in SAV and a willingness to learn! Prior kayaking experience is helpful but not required. Tandem kayaks and personal flotation devices (PFDs) will be provided. Registration is required, ages 14 and older. All minors MUST be accompanied by an adult.
Date and time: Saturday, September 6th, 10am - 3pm
Location: Mallows Bay Park (1440 Wilson Landing Rd, Nanjemoy, MD 20662)
Registration is limited to the first 20 sign-ups. Additional registrants will be placed on a waiting list and notified if a spot becomes available.
Agenda:
- 9:45 am: Participants arrive and check in
- 10:00 am: Training with Chesapeake Bay SAV Watcher's Brooke Landry
- 11:00 am: Eat lunch on the lawn
- 11:45 am: Kayaking debrief and paddle into Mallows Bay
- 2:45 pm: Wrap up
Things to bring:
- A packed lunch
- Reusable water bottle (no glass bottles) and snacks
- Wear proper footwear. No flip-flops. Old gym shoes, sandals with a strap, and water shoes work great.
- Dry Bag or Waterproof Container (if you bring a phone or a non-waterproof camera, you need a way to protect it)
- Sunscreen and hat
- Sunglasses
- Towel or foldable chair (to sit on during training and lunch)
- Change of clothes
Contact mallows.bay@noaa.gov for questions or concerns.
Become a Citizen Scientist!
Come join the Potomac Riverkeeper to achieve the goal of a swimmable Potomac River. Although swimming in the river is currently prohibited, all users who come in contact with the water should be aware of bacterial levels and the potential for health concerns. The Potomac Riverkeeper is part of an international network of scientists and volunteers who sample and report the status through Swim Guide.
A new partnership between the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and the Potomac Riverkeeper Network will develop a citizen science monitoring program at Mallows Bay focused on bacteria levels. This work will add to the body of weather and water data already available on the Mallows Bay water quality buoy that supports science and education as well as recreational and commercial uses. Potomac Riverkeeper will process the water quality samples aboard their floating laboratory Sea Dog. The monitoring results will be posted to Swim Guide and will help fill gaps in Potomac Riverkeeper's existing network along the river and contribute to a larger data set for more than 7000 beaches and waterways.
COVID-19 Update: Due to precautions associated with COVID-19, Potomac Riverkeeper is not able to host in-person training sessions for new volunteers. However, they are working to develop an online training module. In the interim, they will be asking their network of trained volunteers to conduct sampling at Mallows Bay this season with the hopes of adding new volunteers later in the year. Please continue to check this page for updates.
Be a Volunteer
All national marine sanctuaries rely on the energy and passion of volunteers. There are so many ways to be involved. Please consider adding your name to those who make it happen at Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary by contacting Sammy Orlando, Chesapeake Bay Regional Coordinator, at paul.orlando@noaa.gov.
Force Blue
Force Blue is a volunteer organization that unites two worlds by helping veterans and helping the environment. A team from Force Blue volunteered to conduct an initial survey of the subaquatic vegetation in Mallows Bay – Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary. The data that they collected provides much needed information on the various species and the health of the sanctuary.
National Marine Sanctuary Foundation
The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation enhances national marine sanctuaries in their goal to protect essential U.S. marine areas and to ensure a healthy ocean.