Eelgrass in upper Frenchman Bay has been in decline in recent years. Efforts to restore eelgrass at Hadley Point in Bar Harbor have proved successful; the percent coverage of the sub tidal area with eelgrass has increased every year. In addition, new eelgrass patches have arisen in the area surrounding the restoration site and across the bay in Lamoine. Genetic analysis of the donor population of eelgrass in the Jordan River reveals a high degree of polymorphism, making it difficult to track transplants using genetic markers. However, genetic diversity in limited eelgrass populations means there is considerable sexual reproduction occurring, which bodes well for the future success of eelgrass transplants in Frenchman Bay.
