The stretch of coastline from North Carolina to Maine supports communities of temperate freshwater, estuarine, and marine plants subject to regional and global stressors. We have found that there is a resounding need for regionally-focused efforts to advance SAV science, monitoring, management, and advocacy. The goal for this collaborative is to bring together experts in SAV research and management from each of the U.S. East Coast states from NC to ME to share ideas and information, provide training and resources, and collaborate on efforts that bring actionable science to the forefront of our SAV management strategies.