Hannah Claggett
Current Job: Ph.D. Student at University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Current Project: Studying the ecological and evolutionary characteristics of SAV restoration in the Chesapeake Bay in hopes to improve conservation outcomes
State(s) working in: Virginia, Maryland
Where are you from: Kent Island, MD
What do you think is the main reason we should protect SAV?
SAV is the foundation of a healthy, resilient Chesapeake Bay. It provides nursery grounds for organisms, sequesters carbon, protects shorelines from erosion, and improves water quality - all essential roles in keeping the Bay the treasure that it is. And also I should mention, it’s absolutely beautiful!
How do you feel your research will make a difference in the SAV community?
My research aims to better understand the ecological and evolutionary characteristics of SAV restoration, in hopes to provide more standardized, robust, and resilient conservation outcomes. I hope that my work can not only provide novel scientific information to upscale seed-based restoration, but also mobilize communities to care for and steward this important ecological resource.
What is one of your best memories working with SAV?
During my fieldwork in the Bay this summer, I was wading through an SAV bed when a little baby longnose gar swam right in front of me with a small fish in its mouth. It was such a beautiful reminder of the important nursery habitat these meadows provide, and also just… so cute!!
What keeps you motivated to keep caring about the future of SAV?
Being raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, I’ve had the privilege of interacting with SAV throughout my entire life. I’ve witnessed the role it plays for watermen, helping maintain healthy water quality to support fisheries, and I’ve seen how it supports a diverse array of fish and crabs. Most importantly, I’ve seen the excitement of community members who get to interact with these meadows and watch them grow each summer. I’m motivated to protect and restore this resource because I’ve seen the role it plays in all of our lives. Seeing the support and interest from the public fuels my passion to educate others and continue spreading the word about the importance of this critical ecosystem.
More about Hannah’s story
Hannah Claggett earned her A.S. from Anne Arundel Community College in 2022, where she worked as a biology lab assistant for Michael Norman. It was there that she was first introduced to SAV, seed harvesting, and restoration protocols. She spent a summer working with Mike to scout new locations for SAV restoration and used the famous “turbulator” to shake seeds from the stems of the plants they collected. Following her associate degree, she graduated with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy, with a concentration in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, from the University of Maryland, College Park, in 2024. During her time at UMD, she studied abroad in New Zealand, where she learned about sustainable ecosystems, agriculture, and development. This experience taught her the importance of incorporating local ecological knowledge into conservation outcomes and deepened her understanding of the interconnectedness of nature and people. She also served as a teaching assistant for Principles of Ecology alongside her now-graduate advisor, Dr. Magdalene Ngeve. This experience fueled her desire to become a professor in the future.
Following graduation, she served in the Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps, where she worked with her host organization, ShoreRivers. In this role, she worked with all four Riverkeepers to collect water quality data and assess Enterococci levels at local swimming spots throughout the summer. She also worked closely with the education team to engage K–12 students, teaching them about the Chesapeake Bay and the vital species that call it home. This experience played a huge role in shaping her perspective on the Chesapeake Bay, highlighting the importance of citizen science and the significant impacts of agricultural runoff on the Eastern Shore. Now, she is pursuing a Ph.D. in Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Science at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Horn Point Laboratory, where she studies SAV restoration in the Chesapeake Bay with Dr. Magdalene Ngeve. She is excited to give back to the community where she grew up and contribute to creating a more resilient and thriving Chesapeake Bay for all.
