Coastal current : a newsletter of the Georgia Coastal Management Program, 2019 November 13

Coastal Current
A newsletter of the Georgia Coastal Management Program
Vol. I, Iss. II - Nov. 13, 2019

CoDaesptaratlmeRnetsoof Nuartucreasl RDesiovuirscieos n

GIS specialist joins coastal staff

Ryan Harrel, above left, a marine biologist with the Coastal Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, helps a youngster get a better view of a stingray during CoastFest 2019, held Oct. 5 in Brunswick. At right, Jim Sawgrass, a Native American performer, speaks to a crowd during one of three demonstration shows during CoastFest. This year's CoastFest drew more than 12,500 people and was the most well-attended CoastFest in its 25 years of existence. More than 50 exhibitors also took part in educating the public about the coast's socio-cultural, recreational and natural resources. Photos by Bobby Haven for CRD.

STAFF REPORT

Colby Peffer started as the Natural

Resources Geographic Information

Systems (GIS) Specialist for the Coastal

Zone Management

Program in August

2019, shortly after

completing her masters

of science in marine

sciences from the

University of Georgia

Peffer

and Skidaway Institute

of Oceanography.

For her master's thesis, she studied

shoreline change at Fort Pulaski

National Monument in Savannah using

unmanned aerial vehicles and GIS. Colby

completed her B.S. in Oceanography

from Humboldt State University in 2017,

with minors in Geospatial Analysis and

Scientific Diving. She originates from

Calabasas, California, where she grew

up scuba diving the Channel Islands and

riding horses along the California coast.

Staff, committee take aim at nonpoint source pollution

By KELLY HILL GCMP staff have been implementing
an GA DNR Environmental Protection Division Section 319(h) grant to to update information related to coastal nonpoint source pollution in the 2019 Georgia Statewide Nonpoint Source Management Plan Update (2019 NPS Plan). GCMP staff worked with UGA's Carl Vinson Institute of Government to convene a Coastal Nonpoint Source Advisory Committee to provide content for the Coastal section of the

Bioretentian workshop attendees view a bioretention constructed on Jekyll Island.
2019 NPS Plan. The Committee consisted of 33
unique individuals representing a broad range of coastal interests and expertise.

The Committee members contributed their time through in person meetings, conference calls and time spent reviewing documents outside of meetings. The Goals and Activities submitted by the Committee have been integrated into the 2019 NPS Plan which was approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency in October 2019. This Plan will focus on implementation activities that will be given priority for EPD Section 319(h) grants.
See NONPOINT, Page 2

Coastal Current

The M/V Golden Ray capsized Sept. 8 in the St. Simons Sound. All crewmembers were rescued.

Staff responds

to Golden Ray

STAFF REPORT Unified Command response crews
strategically placed rocks next to the hull of the M/V Golden Ray to slow down erosion around the vessel starting October 28, 2019.
Strong area tidal currents in the sound have been causing erosion and transporting sediment. Once the vessel is completely dismantled, the rocks will be removed.
Meanwhile, crews including members of the GCMP staff have been assessing wetlands and marshes for potential damage from pollutants leaked from the ship. More than 116 miles of shoreline have been assessed. Of that, 85 miles had no oil observed and no areas are currently reported as heavily oiled.
From NONPOINT GCMP staff also hosted two additional
Bioretention Training Workshops in August and October. The first focused on Bioretention Design and included a tour on Jekyll Island. The second one focused on Bioretention Construction and included a walking tour of a city of St. Marys Section 319(h) funded project including permeable pavement and bioretention installation along St. Marys Street.
Coastal Current is published by the Georgia Coastal Management Program of the Coastal Resources Division (CRD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

CRD served as a sponsor of the 2019 Georgia Climate Conference held in Atlanta. Kelly Hill, Jennifer Kline and Jan Mackinnon presented on state efforts to address sea-level rise (SLR), Alternative flood mitigation through Green Growth and Adaptation to SLR through Nature-Based Infrastructure. The next Climate Conference will be hosted by DNR in November 2020 on the coast. Report by Jennifer Kline.

NOAA evaluates coastal program

By JAN MACKINNON GCMP staff hosted a three person
team from the NOAA Office for Coastal Management the week of August 26-29. The purpose of the evaluation was for NOAA to meet with stakeholders from the coast and discuss projects, practices and policies related to the federally approved Coastal Management Program. Prior to the visit, NOAA and GCMP staff used a coastal stakeholder survey to determine focus areas for the week. Three focus areas were determined: Enhancing Shoreline Resilience, Communication and Stakeholder Engagement, and Community Capacity Building.
The week began with a field trip to Tybee to meet with the City of Tybee Island to discuss shoreline restoration, local permitting and to discuss beneficial use of dredged material with the Army Corps of Engineers. The rest of the week was spent at the Brunswick Coastal Regional Headquarters meeting with local government officials, researchers,

NOAA evaluators and GCMP staff visit Tybee Island as part of the program's Section 312 evaluation.
and state partners to discuss projects that have been implemented since 2011.
NOAA also met with DNR leadership to discuss the Program and to provide initial feedback from stakeholder engagement. Highlighted were the Program's ability to tackle complicated projects in a partnership manner, meaningfully engaging local governments and partners, leveraging the work of others for better coastal management, and being collaborative and competent.
NOAA will follow up with a full report on the GCMP in early 2020.