It is important to note that elkhorn populations have undergone a regional decline over the last two decades(Gladfelter 1982; Bythell and Sheppard 1993). Large scale catastrophic losses have been associated with physical disturbance from hurricanes, but a widespread,white-band disease (WBD) epizootic is a contributing factor that has certainly accelerated the decline and continues to affect elkhorn colonies throughout the region (Gladfelter 1991; Aronson and Precht 2001).Chronic partial mortality from natural stressors like WBD, predation, and other factors not associated with the restoration may be largely responsible for the in-ability of fragments to successfully fuse to their attachment sites. For instance, the undersides of branches on intact colonies such as those previously affected by WBD often lack live tissue. Should they become fragmented, they may be unable to reattach without tissue indirect contact with the substrate (Bruckner, unpublished data)