What we do as waterfront property owners and boaters can make a big impact on the health of our shorelines. Docks Can Block Light Docks can reduce the amount of light that reaches important aquatic life such as eelgrass meadows. Eelgrass provides critical habitat for developing salmon, Dungeness crab, and Pacific herring.
Several studies show that when light is blocked, eelgrass declines or dies.
Both docks and moored boats can cause eelgrass decline by blocking light, studies suggest. Docks along Bainbridge Island. While each dock and boat may be small, the combined effect of many overwater structures can add up. Pilings can also create depressions in sediments that discourages eelgrass growth. Alternative building materials for docks such as metal grating may let more light into the water and allow more eelgrass to survive.