Coastal current : a newsletter of the Georgia Coastal Management Program, 2021 April 30

Coastal Current
A newsletter of the Georgia Coastal Management Program
Vol. I, Iss. 5 - April 30, 2021

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Flood literacy project moving
forward
Partners aim to increase public awareness

This screen shot shows a sample of the new StoryMap created to show Coastal Incentive Grant awards.

StoryMaps highlight CIG awards

By COLBY PEFFER CRD GIS specialist
The Coastal Management Program has spent the last few months working on a project that will better educate the Coastal Advisory Council and future Coastal Incentive Grant (CIG) award hopefuls.
Two StoryMaps, one highlighting awards for 2018-2019 and one for awards in 2019-2020, will display each award categorized by one

of the five CIG Themes: Disaster Resiliency and Coastal Hazards; Oceans and Wetlands; Public Access and Land Conservations; Nonpoint Source Pollution; and Sustainable Communities.
The StoryMaps will also highlight each award's objectives and their results once completed. ESRI StoryMaps are a great way to present material visually online by combining the use of slides, text boxes, maps,
See STORYMAPS, Page 2

By MEGHAN ANGELINA SeaGrant Fellow
The goals of the Georgia Flood Literacy Project are to unite professionals of various sectors of the field, investigate the scope of flood terms being used, and promote efficient communication of coastal flood hazards between groups and with the public. The Flood Literacy Taskforce recently met to determine the various ways in which more than 70 flood terms are used in the field. These discussions, as well as the 49 responses from a stakeholder survey, provided guidance to draft definitions for both professional and
See FLOODS, Page 2

CRD biologists to participate in national EPA wetlands survey
By JORDAN DODSON CRD Wetlands Biologist

Since 2011, CRD has participated in the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Wetland Condition Assessment (NWCA). NWCA is an ecological assessment of wetlands across the United States. This collaborative survey is conducted using a set of commonly used and widely accepted indicators that examine the chemical,
See SURVEY, Page 2

CRD will sample 10 sites this summer as part of a national EPA wetlands survey.

Coastal Current

From STORYMAPS graphics, and even embedded website previews. This unique platform is a fitting way to display the wide variety of information that can be included in a CIG award.
These StoryMaps will be presented to the Coastal Advisory Council during a quarterly meeting to refresh members' knowledge of recently awarded projects, and to help in assessing the relevancy of the current year's themes, which are approved by the Council each year. It will also be linked on the GCMP's CIG application webpage and assist potential CIG applicants in assessing the types of projects which have successfully received funding, potentially inspire new projects with appropriate objectives, and help them decide which theme best fits their own application. Each CIG award within the StoryMap will be summarized and additional information on each award can be sought through the GCMP's Grants Coordinator, Beth Tasciotti.
From FLOODS public versions of a Glossary of Flood Terms. We are in the final review stages, and these documents, as well as other resources resulting from the project, will be linked on GCMP's Flood Literacy webpage, https://coastalgadnr. org/FloodLiteracy. Current plans include creating a Public Engagement Survey, a Flood Literacy Story Map, and Flood Literacy educational videos. A major gap exists in public knowledge of coastal hazards and survey results will guide professionals' efforts to increase understanding. The Coastal Regional Commission (CRC) will assist in creating a Flood Literacy Story Map beginning this summer. We began working on video content internally and in partnership with the Faces of Resiliency project by interviewing the public to gage their knowledge about "storm surge" and other terms, as well as their experience with storm surge on the Georgia coast.

GCMP welcomes new wetlands biologist

STAFF REPORT

Jaynie L. Gaskin joined the

Coastal Resources Division's Coastal

Management section in January 2021

as a wetlands biologist. Jaynie will be

developing and managing

wetland research,

surveys, restoration and

enhancement projects

to evaluate and improve

wetland habitats for

living organisms along

the coast. Jaynie is extremely excited

Gaskin

to join the Coastal

Resources Division's efforts to protect

wetland species and habitats.

Jaynie is a life-long resident of the

Georgia coastal who grew up swimming,

kayaking and boating everywhere from

the Herb River in Savannah to East Beach

St. Simons Island.

Intrigued by the complexities of

ecosystems, she has always enjoyed

learning about the plants, animals, lands

and waters that make up the natural

environment. Jaynie completed her Bachelors degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with a minor in Public Health at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia. She studied epidemiology, biostatistics and environmental health at Georgia Southern University's Jiann PingHsu College of Public Health, earning a Masters of Public Health (MPH) degree.
Jaynie has used her expertise in research study design, data management, and advanced statistical analyses to develop and manage conservation projects contributing to the evaluation and improvement of coastal habitats. Prior to joining CRD, Jaynie worked with the Georgia Southern University Sea Turtle Program at St. Catherines Island for nine years. She designed and implemented habitat surveys and environmental monitoring protocols to identify and track threats to protected species. During her time leading programs with the university, she developed a strong knowledge of the natural histories and diverse ecosystems unique to coastal Georgia.

From SURVEY physical and biological integrity of wetlands (https://www.epa.gov/nationalaquatic-resource-surveys/nwca). The NWCA survey occurs every five (5) years and 2021 is CRD's third time participating in the survey.
A total of 904 wetland sites nationwide were selected for sampling in 2021. CRD will sample both freshwater and estuarine sites within Georgia's eleven (11) coastal counties.
The primary focus of the survey is to record observations about plant species, soil, hydrology, and water chemistry to

assess the health of wetlands nationally. Sample points within the wetlands are generated at random, and there are strict criteria that each site must meet to be consider sampleable.
This summer CRD will be sampling 10 sites in total; two of which will be resampled for a total of 12 sampling events.
CRD is excited to bring aboard interns to gain hands on experience in Georgia's wetlands as a part of this intensive survey. Based on years past, CRD staff are guaranteed to have another productive and memorable experience conducting the NWCA in the coastal counties of Georgia.

Coastal Current is published by the Georgia Coastal Management Program
of the Coastal Resources Division (CRD) of the Georgia Department of
Natural Resources.

Coastal Current

Staff presents county risks
By KELLY HILL CRD Green Growth Specialist

8 CIG applications approved for Cycle 24
By BETH TASCIOTTI Grants Coordinator

As GCMP moved into years 4 and 5 of our current 309 Strategy Enhancing Coastal Resilience with Green Infrastructure, the focus shifted to online training and outreach. Staff hosted a one-hour webinar to present results and findings with research partners at the Polis Center at Indiana University and the Space, Science and Engineering Center at the University of Wisconsin. They presented the results of their full risk assessment in Liberty County/ Hinesville area and on Tybee Island in Chatham County. Project partners also provided an additional in depth training to coastal stakeholders and decision makers through a two day workshop as well as a technical GIS training on the data and tools developed to model flood damage utilizing software such as Hazus. Staff have also scheduled community

specific presentations for our two pilot communities in Liberty County/Hinesville and Tybee Island that will be held this spring and summer. Staff will continue to work with coastal communities on communicating the results and findings and discussing implementation steps and policy options. All of the project related reports as well as a recording of the one hour webinar can be found at coastalgadnr. org/ResiliencewithGreenInfrastructure.

EPD grant reduces runoff at farm
GCMP has recently finished implementing an EPD Section 319(h) grant to provide funding for agricultural producers to construct Best Management Practices to reduce nonpoint source runoff from their property. This project funded the installation of several gutters and downspouts on two barns to reduce erosion caused from rooftop runoff as well as the installation of a heavy use feeding pad to reduce erosion and sedimentation caused from equipment use in a non-stabilized area.

The GCMP recently solicited proposals for its 24th year of funding. Nineteen pre-applications were submitted for Cycle 24, of which 14 were invited to submit a full application. Twelve Cycle-24-CIG full applications were submitted and reviewed by the CIG Technical Review Committee, of which 8 were recommended for funding.
The following eight proposals were elevated to NOAA for approval: Canal District Wetlands Preserve:
Nick Deffley, City of Savannah East Brunswick Tide Control:
Garrow Alberson, City of Brunswick Spatial & temporal patterns of disease in Georgia oyster reef habitat: James Byers, UGARF Production of Smooth Cordgrass for Restoration and Erosion Control on the Georgia Coast: Heather Joestering, GSU Enhancing Floodplain Management in the City of Kingsland through Entry into the CRS Program: Scott Kimball, City of Kingsland Improving oyster habitat restoration opportunities and success rate in Georgia: Thomas Bliss, UGARF Stormwater Master Plan: Eric Larson, Effingham County Board of Commissioners.

MINIM FUTURE

S RISK MAXIMI

Don't forget!

The Georgia Climate Conference "Minimizing Georgia's Risk, Maximizing Georgia's Future will be held August 12-13, 2021 at the Jekyll Island Convention Center. This is the second time that DNR has hosted this event along with many other partners. Registration for the event opens May 1, 2021. For more information visit GeorgiaClimateConference.org.

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