Low salinity habitats were identified by the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of the Tampa Bay National Estuary Program (TBNEP) as poorly understood yet potentially critical fishery hahitat in Tampa Bay. Therefore, TBNEP contracted with King Engineering Associates, Inc. (KEA) to survey the current and historic extent of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in the low salinity portions of the tributaries to Tampa Bay. A three step approach was used to assess this habitat. First, a literature search was performed to document any published findings concerning submerged aquatic vegetation in Tampa Bay's tributaries. Second, agencies and local experts were surveyed by mail to document any unpublished 'common knowledge' of SAV in the tributaries. Third, a field survey of the oligohaline and mesohaline portions of the four rivers which discharge to Tampa Bay was performed to detect the current type and areal extent of low salinty SAV habitat in Tampa Bay.