Georgia sound, Vol. 14, no. 4 (Fall 2008

Fall 2008

Vol.14, No.4

Tybee's Shifting Sands
The beach on Tybee Island, like most other barrier island beaches in Georgia, has been shifting since time began. The northern tip has both accretional and erosional sections, while the southern end tends to accrete and grow. The Atlantic beach erodes, moving landward toward the community's developed area of hotels, condos, homes, and shops. Winter Nor'easters and tropical storms can erode a beach along its entire length by 50 feet or more in a single day. Typical erosion rates for Tybee average between five and ten feet per year. Beaches are the place where we like to go to enjoy the sunshine. Beaches also buffer waterfront structures from storm damage and provide habitat for nesting sea turtles, shore birds and dozens of other types of wildlife.

Tybee has struggled to keep sand on its beaches since the late 1800's. The US Army Corps of Engineers placed rock groins or jetties along the north end of the island to reduce erosion. In the early 1900's the Corps tried surrounding most of the island with a concrete seawall. A variety of other timber, rock, concrete rubble, and even steel sheet pile structures were erected along the shore over the next seventy-five years in an effort to hold the precious sand on Tybee's beach. Most efforts did not work as well as everyone had hoped and the dry-sand beach continued to become narrower and narrower in most places.

In the early 1970's Congress authorized a sand placement or beach renourishment program along Tybee's beaches that would pump millions of yards of sand from the bottom of the ocean onto the beach face every seven years, restoring the beach's ability to provide protection from storm surges and widening the beach for wildlife habitat and human recreation. The placement of sand from the ocean or inland sources has been the preferred method of beach stabilization in Georgia since the adoption of the Shore Protection Act in 1980.

Tybee Island is a 3.5-mile long barrier island, located 17 miles east of Savanah, Ga. at the mouth of the Savannah River and the Atlantic Ocean.

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Tybee Beach Renourishment (cont'd)
The latest round of beach renourishment began in October when a 320-foot long dredge dropped anchor a mile offshore and started pumping the first of 1.2 million cubic yards of sand onto the beach through a 30" pipe that will continue 24-hours-a-day for the next few months. The sand will be pumped onto a two and a half mile stretch of beach and fan out to nearly 1,000 feet wide in some areas, most of which will be under water at high tide. Areas of the island that do not currently have any drysand beach at high tide will have up to a 300 foot wide beach when renourishment is completed.

In the distance, the barge pumps sand from offshore. When complete, this beach should last for up to nine years before renourishment is needed.

Federal, state and local partners came up with over 12 million dollars to fund this project. The coastal use and resource benefits of this project far outweigh the cost of construction and are valued at nearly $8 million each year in storm damage reduction and recreational benefits, which is in addition to actual revenue generated by increased tourism.

Tybee Island is the only barrier island in Georgia that receives public funding for beach renourishment. Sea Island, which began a renourishment program in the mid 1980's,
is supported entirely with private funds. St Simons Island explored the possibility of pumping sand onto the beach in the early 1990's and actually obtained environmental permits to place sand in 2002, which have since expired. Jekyll Island, the last of the barrier islands with road access, is now in the early stages of investigating whether a beach renourishment program would be beneficial.

New beach in front of the DeSoto Hotel was one of the worst erosional areas and is now nearly 300 feet wider at high tide.
Typical erosion rates for Tybee average between five and ten feet per year.

The City of Tybee has a website dedicated to the renourishment project http://www.cityoftybee.org/BeachRenourishment.aspx

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HB68 Amends Coastal Marshlands Protection Act
During the most recent legislative session, House Bill 68 was passed by the House and Senate, and then later signed by the Governor. This Bill revises a paragraph in the Coastal Marshlands Protection Act (CMPA).

The bill contains two revisions. The first revision provides clarification regarding maintenance of recreational docks. Recreational docks are generally exempt from the Act. The Bill reinforces this exempt status by specifically stating that lot owners are allowed to perform minor repairs to existing docks within the same footprint without requesting permission.

The second revision provides an exemption from the CMPA for multi-family recreational docks under certain circumstances. The revision allows for up to four riparian lot owners, who each would otherwise qualify for the exemption for a recreational dock, to have one shared recreational dock without requesting a permit.

Though private single family recreational docks and now shared recreational docks are exempt from the CMPA, both still must acquire a revocable license to use the State's waterbottoms as well as obtain authorization from the United States Corps of Engineers.

These revisions are positive changes to the CMPA

offering a balanced approach by minimizing impact

to coastal marshlands and providing reasonable

access to the resources for the purpose of water related activities. The CMPA exemptions are found in O.C.G.A 12-5-295. House Bill 68 is

HB68 is an alternative that could result in less impact to coastal marshlands. (Betz Creek, Chatham County)

a revision to paragraph (7) of this section.

(To read the CMPA, please visit our website at CoastalGaDNR.org).

The Coastal Marshlands Protection Act (CMPA) The CMPA was originally passed in 1970 and amended in 1992. The Act lays out the General Assembly's findings regarding the importance of the vital resources found in the State's marshlands and the importance of conserving such resources for present and future use as well as for the enjoyment of all citizens and visitors. The Act identifies coastal marshlands and is both a regulatory and enforcement statute.
The Coastal Marshlands Protection Committee is the issuing authority for activities within the jurisdiction of the statute. The Coastal Resources Division's Habitat Management Program is staff to the Committee.

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CZM News & Notes

The 10 year old Georgia Coastal Zone Management Program has experienced significant growth and impact in its first 10 years. The CZM Program has regulatory responsibility to implement laws managing our coast, its uses, and its resources. The Program manages shellfish to achieve a sustained, high quality, consumable product and measures water quality in coastal waters including beaches. We reach out through workshops, educational events and publications to the community, its citizens, user groups, interest groups, and elected officials. We provide technical and financial assistance and otherwise help guide the balanced and sustainable use and management of our bountiful coastal resources. There is a lot going on!

Great News! Tybee Island's beaches are being nourished as we speak. The dredge is placing beach quality sand on the beach. Federal, state, county, and Tybee governments, our elected officials, and a group of dedicated and spirited Tybee residents, have brought on-line the next round of beach nourishment for the island. The beach/ocean interface will be moved seaward hundreds of feet to provide greater and more valuable recreation opportunity, to mitigate damages that would occur from serious storms, and to create wildlife habitat enhancements. Beach nourishment is a huge benefit for Tybee's citizens, the State, and the region.

Beach management is everyone's issue. Our beaches are economic engines, recreation magnets, excellent and diverse habitats and wonderful places that so many locals and visitors enjoy. Our developed beaches include Tybee, Sea Island, St. Simons Island, and Jekyll Island. Visitors to Georgia's beaches arrive, depart and return with a favorable impression and typically, a desire to see them open, clean, and healthy. We can ensure these
Healthy oyster beds in McIntosh County
important festures for our future through a best-fit combination of beach nourishment using federal, state, and local resources, state regulatory management of beaches and their adjacent lands through the Shore Protection Act, and local ordinances to manage beaches and adjacent lands.

Beach Nourishment We mentioned Tybee at the start of this column. (See the cover story for more info on that successful project). Tybee is heavily reliant on the federal government for beach nourishment and has initiated a planning process to conduct locally funded nourishment in the future. Good idea, because the federal government has been getting out of the business of beach nourishment for decades. To fully rely on the federal coffers is dangerous, and the beach will be due for nourishment again in about 8 years. Tybee has also conducted a limited local nourishment program on its north shoreline. Sea Island has its own permit for beach nourishment and periodically, at its own cost, very effectively recycles beach sand between terminal groins in the north and south. Glynn County planned to nourish St. Simons beaches through a non-federal project, but the permit was withdrawn following litigation. Beach nourishment on St. Simons Island is not proposed today. Jekyll Island and the US Army Corps of Engineers are considering an

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message (cont'd)...

agreement to study the impact of the Brunswick Ship Channel on the island and its beaches, with particular interest in the heavily eroded north end.

Shore Protection Act (SPA) Beach nourishment doesn't stop erosion, it just moves the line of erosion seaward so that for a period of years the beach is there to provide the benefits we mentioned above. The SPA was passed decades ago and is one mechanism the State uses to manage beaches in Georgia. It states that beach restoration and nourishment techniques are preferable to the construction of shoreline stabilization structures. It also manages activities on the beach and the placement of structures on properties fronting the beach. It has undeniably helped to shape the character of our beaches today, and the location and density of development fronting the beach. Approximately 18 to 20 permit actions are taken annually under the SPA authority. But the SPA does have its limitations. It is not as protective of beaches that are eroding.

Local Government Activities Today, the beach is a big part of why the community is there. To protect community character, protect the beach. Beach communities need to actively manage their beaches through active ordinance development, consistent implementation, and day-to-day management. The goal of a beach community should be to build sand volume, beach width and height. Then maintain it by preventing encroachments such as allowing building too close, preventing the diversion of stormwater to it or across it, avoiding hardened structures where possible, and preventing poorly designed or conducted uses. The CZM Program supports community involvement in their beach management activities and has supported the development and implementation of beach management plans and protection ordinances by providing technical, financial, and regulatory assistance.

Quality beaches and their management and maintenance are big priorities for DNR. Staff work with all levels of government, our elected officials, citizens, interest groups, and the regulated community because it's all about better recreation opportunity, storm protection, and wildlife habitat enhancements.

Brad Gane, Assistant Director Ecological Services

Intended to stablize the shore line at the south end of St Simons Island, the Johnson Rocks were placed by a Federal Emergency Order after Hurricane Dora in 1964.
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Water-Bottoms Lease Renewal

Since May 2008, Ecological Services staff have been conducting compliance inspections of marina facilities that have existing water-bottom leases that will expire in February 2009. The Coastal Marshlands Protection Act (CMPA) of 1970 allows the Coastal Marshlands Protection Committee to grant use of state owned marshlands, water-bottoms or a portion of the bank of a waterway or waters of the State of Georgia under certain conditions for the purpose of operating a marina providing slips for more that 500 linear feet of dock space. These water-bottom leases include structures that pre-date the CMPA and CMPA permitted structures. The purpose of the inspections is to document the structures as they exist and verify what has been constructed. The structures are photographed, measured by the use of a tape measure, measuring wheel and a map grade global positioning system.

Letters were sent to the last known mailing address for each of the facilities in preparation to being inspected. Prior to finalizing the new lease, ownership of the upland component is verified and confirmed. All subleases or assignments of the water-bottoms are required to be disclosed to the Department prior to completion of the new water-bottoms lease.

If ownership has changed since the original lease was issued, new owners are required to provide a copy of the deed and/or other legal documentation. Permits can be transferred if the ownership has changed or there has been an assignment.

Since May 2008, Ecological Services staff have been conducting compliance inspections of marina facilities that have existing waterbottom leases that will expire in February 2009.

Each leaseholder has been encouraged to provide the Department with up-to-date information, such as surveys or detailed drawings of their respective facility. The marina lease area is determined by drawing an envelope 10 feet away from all components in the marsh and open water, beginning at the marsh-upland boundary, and including components such as hoists and ramps. Irregularly shaped marina facilities, such as those with finger piers, may follow a more generalized area by drawing a straight line 10 feet away from the extremities on either end.

Nutrient Inputs to the Altamaha River Watershed
The Altamaha River (formed by the confluence of the Oconee and Ocmulgee Rivers) has been the subject of much water quality research. The watershed is one of the largest in the southeastern U.S. it drains roughly a quarter of the state, including parts of metro Atlanta. The river is unaffected by dams and provides habitat for a wealth of animals and plants including a number of endemic species. In a recent study, Schaefer and Alber (2007) compiled information on nutrient sources (nitrogen and phosphorus) to the Altamaha River watershed for six time points between 1954 and 2002. Each type of nutrient input has the potential to enter the waterway itself by various means fertilizer, for example, will largely be subject to runoff (non-point pollution), whereas nitrogen from human food inputs may ultimately be discharged to a stream through a waste-water treatment plant (point source pollution). Consistent with general U.S. trends, Schaefer and Alber found that inputs of nitrogen to the watershed
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have increased during the last half century. In the early part of the study period, fertilizer tended to be the most important input of nitrogen (with peak use around 1977). Since the 1970s, as some agriculture in the area shifted from crops to animal production, fertilizer use declined and the number of animals increased. Human population increased as well, doubling between 1970 and 1990. By 2002, the dominant source of nitrogen added to the watershed was in the form of the food brought in to feed the increased numbers of animals and people (labeled "net food and feed import" in Figure 1).
When considered on a sub-watershed basis, the highest inputs of both nitrogen and phosphorus were in the Upper Oconee subwatershed (Figure 2). The Lower Oconee and Little Ocmulgee sub-watersheds had moderately high inputs of nitrogen whereas phosphorus inputs were moderately high in the Ohoopee, Lower Ocmulgee and Lower Altamaha. The different patterns and sources of nutrients has implications for which types of management actions would be most appropriate for reducing nutrient input from different sub-basins. The authors also note that, although the overall trend in recent years has been towards decreases in both nitrogen and phosphorus inputs, these trends may be offset by continuing increases in animal and human populations throughout the watershed.
Figure 1. Nitrogen Sources in the Altamaha River Watershed

kg N km-2 yr-1

4,000 3,500 3,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000
500 0
-500 1954 1964 1974 1982 1992 2002

Figure 2. Nutrient Inputs to the Altamaha River by Sub-Watershed, 2002. All values in kg km-2 yr-1

Nitrogen >2000 2000-2500 2500-3000 3000-3500 33550000--44000000 >4000

Phosphorus <200 200-300 300-400 400-500 500-600
>600

Source: Schaefer, S.C. and M. Alber, 2007. Temporal and spatial trends in nitrogen and phosphorus inputs to the watershed of the Altamaha River, Georgia, USA. Biogeochemistry 86:231-239.
Funding was provided by the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Project (NSF Award OCE 99-82133) and the Environmental Protection Agency (STAR Grant #R830882).
This research summary was prepared by the staff of the Georgia Coastal Research Council (GCRC), which receives support from the Georgia Coastal Management Program, Georgia Sea Grant, and the GCE-LTER (National Science Foundation). Visitors to the GCRC website, http://www.gcrc.uga.edu/ can find summaries of many other research projects and short biographies of affiliated scientists and managers.

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CRD Supports Area Rivers Alive Cleanup.

In October, staff volunteers from CRD and WRD/DNR Law Enforcement spent the morning pulling trash and debris from the marsh along Highway 17 in Brunswick as part of the Statewide Rivers Alive Water Cleanup campaign.

Marine debris is a tremendous problem around the globe that poses threats to both human health and the environment. Armed with gloves, trash bags and all-terrain vehicles, the group collected cigarette butts, light bulbs, glass containers, tires, coffee makers, golf bags, microwaves, TV's, pieces of a floating dock and even a boat fuel tank from a three-mile section of marsh that stretches from near the F.J. Torras Causeway to the Sidney Lanier Bridge. More than 4.96 tons of trash was removed.

Staff volunteers collected more than four tons of trash from the marsh along Highway 17 in Brunswick during a four hour cleanup.

However, " the work doesn't stop with a successful event," says Marci De Sart, CRD coordinator for the Rivers Alive Cleanup in Brunswick. "Even after the trash is out of the waterway, we need to prevent the cycle from starting again."

In September, CRD partnered with the Environmental Protection Division, WRD/DNR Law Enforcement, the Satilla Riverkeepers and the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay to host the 2nd Annual Satilla Rivers Alive Cleanup. State Representatives Mark Williams and Jerry Keen joined with over 75 participants to
pickup trash and clean the Satilla River at three locations in the Glynn, Brantley and Pierce counties. "A total of 6.1 tons of trash was collected in five hours", says Jennifer Kline, CRD coordinatior for the Satilla Rivers Alive Cleanup campaign.

Volunteers removed tires, recliners, toilets, carpet, lumber and tv's from the Satilla River during the Rivers Alive Cleanup.

Rivers Alive is Georgia's annual volunteer waterway cleanup event that targets all waterways in the State including streams, rivers, lakes, beaches and wetlands. The mission of Rivers Alive is to create awareness of and involvement in the preservation of Georgia's water resources. Rivers Alive is held annually each October and is sponsored by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division's Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Program and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs Keep Georgia Beautiful Program, in cooperation with Help the Hooch.

Georgia's 70,150 miles of streams and rivers need your help. Georgia's waterways provide fresh drinking water, great recreational opportunities like canoeing and fishing. Rivers Alive is your opportunity to help protect one of our most precious resources. Help us clean our rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands by joining in support of Rivers Alive. Join a Cleanup near you. Call 404.675.6240 or email: riversalive@dnr.state.ga.us
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CRD Staff Georgia Public Service Recognition Awards
Shawn Jordan Approximately five years ago the Coastal Resources Division (CRD) purchased a state-of-the-art Klein side scan sonar to support its artificial reef and boating access projects. At the time no one realized how important this equipment would become to search and rescue operations throughout the region.
Despite its many advanced features, this device is only as capable as its operator and there is no better operator than CRD Marine Biologist 2, Shawn Jordan. Through a combination of training, interaction with side scan technology experts and experience, he developed exceptional expertise. Shawn is now recognized as an expert with this technology, and as a result he is frequently called upon to assist other state, federal and local agencies in emergency search and recovery operations. He selflessly commits this time and effort because in his own words, "the families need to know that everything possible is being done."
Shawn is working with DNR Law Enforcement to expand their skills and expertise in the use of side scan sonar technology for water related search and recovery. He and Capt. Eddie Henderson are collaborating to establish a statewide network of conservation rangers who will be proficient in the use of this technology.
In his position with CRD, Shawn is responsible for public boating and access projects throughout the Georgia coast.
Elizabeth Cheney Elizabeth Cheney focuses her volunteer efforts for the betterment of area children. As a Girl Scout Leader she guides a troop of local girls to ensure they get the most of their Girl Scout experience by taking them on field trips, exposing them to new opportunities and expanding their horizons. Elizabeth also participates in a variety of ways on the local Marshes of Glynn Glynn Girl Scout Service Unit. Elizabeth works diligently to identify ways in which the Girl Scouts can help others within their community.
Elizabeth also serves on the Glynn County 4-H Advisory Council and Executive Committee. She lends her time and energy to the environmental program of the "Sea Monkeys" Senior 4-H Club and helped with their local, state, national and international winning marsh water study, the "Orange Tide" project.
The CB Greer Elementary School library also gets a helping hand from Elizabeth. She regularly helps the librarian/media specialist before school with tasks and projects. She also assists the school media specialist with motivational book reading activities and programs.
Elizabeth is Coastal Resources BEACH (Beaches Environmental and Coastal Health Act) EPA Grant administrator and is responsible for monitoring the waters of Coastal Georgia to ensure EPA's recommended water quality criteria are met.

"The State of Georgia's Public Employee Recognition Award honors the achievements and dedication of government employees and is announced annually during Public Employee Recognition Week."

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From the Director's Desk... Ship to Shore
By Susan Shipman Director, Coastal Resources Division
Litter... .Unsightly, Deadly, Downright Maddening!
People glance at trash alongside our roadways, marshes, and waterways, but litter doesn't really register with you until you find yourself picking up someone else's careless discards. I don't know about you, but I'm becoming increasingly irritated and downright mad about litter.
Litter is not only a nuisance; it's costly. It costs us taxpayers millions to clean up, it decreases our property values, and it destroys the natural resources that belong to all of us. Litter affects tourism, economic development, and even our health and safety. It clogs storm drains and washes directly into our streams, rivers and tidewaters, where it becomes marine debris. Not only is marine debris an eyesore along our shorelines, degrading water quality, marshes, and beaches, but it can be deadly. Marine animals can become entangled in debris, and suffer injury, illness, suffocation, starvation, and even death. Marine debris is mistaken for food and digested by sea turtles, shore birds, and marine mammals. Ingestion can cause internal injury, intestinal blockage, starvation and even death.
Litter catapulted to a whole new level for me many years back (close to 20??) when a friend roped me into collecting beverage cans for recycling at the Jekyll Island Beach Music festival. I recall my awe at the staggering number of cans generated at that gathering. One might naturally ask: Why pick up someone else's cans reeking of stale beer? For my friend, the motive was to generate revenue from the recyclables for her non-profit. For me, it was to keep the litter from washing out with the tide and becoming marine debris.
Not long after, Keep Brunswick-Golden Isles Clean and Beautiful launched Adopt-A - Highway in Glynn County. In our idealistic zeal that we could stem the tide of trash, DNR adopted a stretch of U.S. Highway 17 in the vicinity of our office, then headquartered at the current site of Spanky's Marshside in Brunswick. Through time our adopted stretch has shifted southward on Hwy 17 along with our offices, and regularly you will spy DNR Coastal Regional Headquarters colleagues dutifully cleaning Hwy 17 in our orange vests. Why our continued commitment? Besides hating to see the nearby beautiful marshfront vista despoiled, we are trying our best to prevent roadside litter from becoming marine debris.
DNR's marine debris crusaders have branched out in recent years, into the Rivers Alive Program. The past two years, we've co-hosted a Satilla Rivers Alive Cleanup in September. This year's collaboration between EPD, CRD, and Law Enforcement, as well as the Satilla Riverkeeper, Kings Bay Naval Submarine base, local governments and citizens from City of Woodbine and Brantley, Ware and Pierce Counties, removed 6.1 tons of trash from the Satilla River. By anybody's metrics, that's a heap of trash.
We received a "gift" from Mother Nature when the extraordinary high tides associated with Tropical Storm Fay left debris-littered marsh wrack, within our reach along our adopted section of Hwy 17. Thirteen DNR colleagues pulled an array of bottles, crab floats, Styrofoam of every configuration, plastic bait cups, and everything imaginable from the wrack --- 4.9 tons of it ----in roughly three hours! Admittedly, a lot of this debris had probably been "at large" in the waterways and marshes for some time, but still, that's a lot of trash.
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If you've been doing the math while reading, in just four clean-ups this fall, DNR and our friends have picked up 11 TONS of trash. Litter speaks volumes about the disposable nature of our Society. Plastic ice bags, food wrappers, Styrofoam ----- look around; it's everywhere. It also speaks to our Society's diminished sense of responsibility. Rather than do the responsible thing by dropping that fast food trash in a covered trash container, it gets tossed into the back of a pick-up truck. Before long, that trash becomes someone else's problem.

Speaking of responsibility, I was appalled by the lack of it demonstrated on my island home over GA-FL weekend. Thousands of revelers left piles of trash on St. Simons that weekend. Not only was the amount of trash in the Winn-Dixie parking lot unbelieveable, the beach garbage was particularly disturbing to those of us responsible for marine life. According to Glynn County police, there was a 50 foot swath of beach where your feet could not touch the sand because of trash. Thankfully county staff and 42 community beach-sweep volunteers were there to pick up after the revelers. Glynn County Public Works hauled off 10.4 TONs of Styrofoam, beer cans, bottles, liquor bottles, and who knows what else to their disposal site. And still there was much Styrofoam that went uncollected because the pellets were impossible to effectively pick-up.

In the interest of full disclosure, I am a UGA graduate, and the GA-FL weekend is a tremendous boost to our coast's economy ---- even more so in this economic downturn. Regardless, it is imperative that students and other young adults who assemble on the public's beach, clean up after themselves. Let's have the same commitment to personal responsibility that they have to their football team.

Sad to say, in the 20 years DNR has been picking up trash in our various cleanups, I am not sure we are making any progress toward a cleaner world. Given that DNR's Rivers Alive cleanups yielded 11 tons of litter and garbage, and Glynn County aided by community volunteers hauled 10 tons off St. Simons Beach, I am inclined to conclude a tsunami of litter is overtaking us. Frankly, I am downright discouraged.

Governor Perdue has recognized the problem and is trying to do something about it through his statewide anti-litter campaign launched in 2006 --- "Litter. It Costs You." We're two years into the campaign, and it's clear we have a ways to go. Clearly, government alone can't solve this problem. It's time for this State's citizenry to take back our roadways, waterways and marshes, and for our communities to tackle the trash epidemic through public awareness and involvement. Above all, it's time for citizens of all ages to exercise personal responsibility and stash our trash.

For more information on marine debris, visit these websites: www.litteritcostsyou.org www.marinedebris.noaa.gov

www.CoastalGaDNR.org

Fall 2008
NEW YORK CITY SUBWAY CARS BECOME FISH HABITAT
A barge load of retired New York City Transit subway cars is the latest addition to one of Georgia's oldest artificial reefs, "HLHA", located 23 miles east of Little Cumberland Island. The 44 subway cars transported by barge from New York City were deployed recently under the watchful eye of CRD staff and a crew on assignment from NBC's, The Today Show. Georgia fishing license funds and Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration paid for the purchase and deployment of the subway cars.
"This is the second time we've deployed subways cars on Georgia's offshore artificial reefs," explained Tony Blount, marine technician responsible for coordinating the subway car project. "In 2005, we put subway cars at reefs CCA-JL and L off the northern end of the coast. Thanks to the partnership with New York City Transit and Assistant Chief Operations Officer Michael Zacchea we were able to purchase another load of larger cars, and we have plans for more subway cars in 2009.
HLHA Reef, formerly known as G Reef, is one of the original artificial reefs developed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) during the early 1970s. Over the past three decades, HLHA has been the destination for materials including eleven vessels and several surplus Army tanks. The subway cars, each measuring 55-ft in length and weighing 11,000 pounds, had been in service with New York City Transit since the 1960s. Each car was thoroughly cleaned and inspected before being loaded on a barge for the five day trip to coastal Georgia.
CRD staff aboard the R/V Marguerite rendezvoused with the barge at the reef site to ensure the subway cars were deployed in an area on the northwest side of the reef site where there was no natural live bottom or existing manmade material. The sight of subway cars slipping into the calm blue waters provided a unique backdrop as the NBC reporter interviewed Michael Zacchea and Spud Woodward, CRD assistant director for marine fisheries as part of a recent story on oceans.
Anglers and divers can find the subway cars by going to 3058.865N/8058.601W and proceeding on a heading of 333 degrees. The cars are scattered in a line over a distance of approximately one half mile. Next spring and summer, this area should be a good trolling alley for king mackerel, barracuda, and other pelagic game fish.
Man-made materials like the subway cars provide a hard substrate, which attracts a diverse assemblage of encrusting organisms like corals and sponges. These organisms combine with the submerged material creating habitat that attracts bait and game fish such as black sea bass, amberjack, and grouper. Each year, thousands of anglers and divers visit the 22 artificial reefs found offshore Georgia. Although spring and summer are the busiest times for artificial reef visitation, these areas are populated by sea life throughout the year.

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Short Strikes
By Spud Woodward Assistant Director for Marine Fisheries

Haymans Appointed Supervisor of Constituent Services Program

Doug Haymans was recently appointed supervisor of the Marine Fisheries Section Constituent

Services Program. Haymans, a native of Richmond

Hill and graduate of the University of Georgia, has

been with the Coastal Resources Division since

2000. Prior to that, Doug worked with the Florida

Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission where

he studied snook population dynamics and later

coordinated the agency's statewide youth angler

education project. Under Haymans' direction, the

Constituent Services Program is responsible for a

wide diversity of activities including aquatic

education, boating and fishing access, artificial

reefs, fish habitat restoration, and conservation

policy. The Peach State Reds Initiative is a special project under Haymans' oversight. He will also represent Georgia on several state and interstate

During CoastFest `08, Doug teaches visitors about marine life in the CRD Touch Tanks

committees. Doug lives in Brunswick with his wife, Tonia and children Sarah and Jacob. Contact

Doug Haymans at (912) 264-7218 for more information about the Constituent Services Program.

Former CRD Director Elected Chair of Regional Fishery Council
Duane Harris of St. Simons Island was elected to serve as Chairman of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. He was appointed to the council in June 2003 to serve as an obligatory member for the state of Georgia. Harris served as a marine biologist and manager with the Coastal Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources from 1977 to 2002 when he retired from the position of director. He previously served as Georgia's state representative on the council from 1983 to 1986. Harris ascends to the chairmanship at a time when the council is facing the challenges of implementing recent revisions to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Act.

Shrimp Trawling Effort Continues to Decline

A shrimp boat trawling in the Atlantic Ocean off a barrier island is among the iconic scenes of

the Georgia coast. That scene is becoming more the exception than the rule these days as fewer

trawlers take to the water. The high cost of diesel fuel, an aging fleet, low

ex-vessel prices for shrimp, and conversion of commercial docks to other

uses are all having an adverse impact on shrimp trawling in Georgia and

throughout the Southeast United States. This year, 273 trawlers were

licensed to fish in Georgia waters compared to 278 last year and 307 the

year before. In 1998, the number of trawlers licensed to fish in Georgia

was 530. Of the trawlers licensed to fish in the current year, 106 have

reported catching 824,023 pounds valued at $3.2 million. These numbers

will likely increase some, but it's doubtful the 2008 harvest will be as high

as last year's reported harvest of 1,730,161 pounds valued at $5.8 million

dollars. For more information about seafood harvest contact Julie Califf at

(912) 264-7218.

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Sharks Exciting Catch in DNR Surveys

Two shark surveys -- one offshore and one in the estuaries -- conducted by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources are helping scientists better understand the importance of the Georgia coast as shark birthing and nursery grounds.

"Fishermen have always known that sharks are in our coastal waters during the warmer months, and some areas, like the St. Andrew estuary, have become famous as shark breeding grounds in local lore, although there's not much detailed science-based information to support this claim," said Carolyn Belcher, the DNR marine biologist responsible for the shark surveys.

Coastal Georgia with its twice-a-day tides of 6 to 9 feet can be a difficult place to conduct marine-life surveys. For sharks, the most effective survey method is modified hook-and-line gear similar to that used by commercial fishermen around the world. Even newborn sharks will aggressively respond to a baited hook. "We use a fishing gear called a long line to put several baited hooks in the water at the same time. It's like the fishing gear used by the swordfish boats in the movie, The Perfect Storm," explained Belcher. "In the estuary, we set a 1,000-foot section of mainline fitted with 50 short lines and tipped with circle hooks baited with cut squid. Offshore, we use a half-mile-long mainline with 60 short lines tipped with larger circle hooks. In both surveys, we only set the longline for 30 minutes to decrease the chances of losing a fish to stress or injury."

A day of shark fishing for science starts early and ends late. The longline crew typically puts in 10 hours under the broiling summer sun. Manual labor is the order of the day as each short line must be connected to the mainline as it's deployed and removed as the mainline is retrieved. In
between sets, the hooks have to be checked and baited. Belcher relies on a mix of DNR employees and volunteers including students from Savannah State University.

The handling of sharks ranging in size from 12-inch newborns to adults in excess of 6 feet, weighing more than 100 pounds, tests nerves and dexterity. Each shark is identified as to species and gender, measured, and fitted with a brightly colored external tag before being released.

"We caught 13 species of sharks in our surveys. Atlantic sharpnose, bonnethead and blacktip are the most common, but we've seen tigers, lemons, and bull sharks also" Belcher said. The surveys also produced catches of newborns and juveniles of several species including the sandbar shark, showing that the Georgia coast may be important habitat for this species of concern. The sandbar is highly valued by commercial fishers for its fins and flesh. Overfishing has reduced the population to dangerous levels, prompting federal officials to add this species to the no-take list.

The DNR shark surveys are an important part of state and federal shark conservation efforts. "We're finally able to document which shark species occur in Georgia waters, their relative abundance and which ones are reproducing in the area. We're also learning more about their habitat preferences. Hopefully this information will help us do a better job of protecting shark populations," Belcher said.

www.CoastalGaDNR.org

Fall 2008

Page 15

CRD Intern Gains Field Experience Participating in Shark Research
Since he was a boy in south Florida fishing with his dad, Intern Devin Dumont has been involved with the marine ecosystem. "I grew up watching Jacques Cousteau and was fascinated by the wonders of the ocean," says Devin.
After receiving his Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology, Devin was eager to continue his education through a graduate degree that focused on Georgia's ecosystems, marine biology and conservation. In doing work for his thesis, Devin began working with Dr. Carolyn Belcher of CRD who was conducting a research project on sharks.
"I have gained invaluable boat time and field experience with Dr. Belcher while researching sharks. "Through her guidance, my thesis research has developed into investigating the relative abundance, distribution and nursery areas of shark species along the coast of Georgia," says Devin.
"Everyday that I went out on the boat was so much fun it felt like a rocket ride to the moon!" - Devin Dumont
Devin is currently working on his graduate thesis, "Relative Abundance & Distribution of Sharks From the Southern Coast of Georgia" and hopes to receive his Masters Degree from Savannah State University in 2009.

Volunteers Create Saltwater-Fish Habitat

What do oak limbs, bamboo sticks, plastic pipes, recycled monofilament fishing line and granite rocks have in common? Not much unless you put them in the hands of enthusiastic volunteers interested in providing a new home for marine life, especially those species popular with saltwater anglers. This summer an ensemble cast of volunteers using these materials created new fish habitat at Jekyll Island State Park and a newly renovated public boat ramp in McIntosh County.

The projects were made possible by a $20,000 grant from the Fish America Foundation to the Georgia chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA GA). The foundation is the conservation arm of the Alexandria, Virginia-based American Sportfishing Association. The Georgia
(cont'd next page)

Working without the aid of heavy equipment, volunteers placed 3-foot-diameter by 4-foot-long bundles of oak limbs wrapped in fence wire along the shoreline of the Sapelo River.

www.CoastalGaDNR.org

Fall 2008
Fish America (cont'd)

Page 16

Department of Natural Resources, working with CCA GA, coordinated the projects, ensuring compliance with local, state and federal laws.

In September, several CCA GA volunteers, a dozen seniors from Appling County High School and representatives from the University of Georgia Marine Extension Service joined DNR employees at the Bellville public boat ramp in McIntosh County to build new marine habitat. The shoreline surrounding the boat ramp had been disturbed by construction activities and by years of human use, presenting an opportunity to both restore and enhance fish habitat.

"The goal of the Bellville project is to stabilize the shoreline with materials suitable for larval oyster settlement. As more and more oysters settle and grow, the materials will eventually come to look like the natural oyster reefs found scattered along the shoreline of our estuaries," explained Gabe Gaddis, DNR marine biologist. "These oyster reefs will help prevent shoreline erosion from waves and boat wakes while also providing great fish habitat. Hopefully, the area between the oyster reefs and the marsh will fill with sediment and eventually marsh grass."

The goal of the Bellville project is to stabilize the shoreline with materials suitable for larval oyster settlement.

Working without the aid of heavy equipment, volunteers placed 3-foot-diameter by 4-foot-long bundles of oak limbs wrapped in fence wire along the shoreline of the Sapelo River near the boat ramp. Lengths of bamboo coated with a fiberglass and cement mixture were driven through the bundles into the bottom, anchoring the materials and providing areas for oyster attachment. The spaces between the oak-limb bundles were filled with more bamboo sticks and mesh bags of oyster shell.

By the end of the workday, 100 limb bundles, 80 bags of oyster shell and 400 bamboo sticks covered an area of shoreline approximately 100 yards long and 10 yards wide. DNR biologists will monitor the condition of the material and oyster growth over the next several years.

In July, more than 30 volunteers from CCA GA and Glynn County 4-H joined DNR employees to install 78 fish habitat units, three tons of granite rocks and a compressed air aeration system in the Ski Rixen Pond, a 23 acre saltwater impoundment open to public fishing on Jekyll Island. Jekyll Island Authority staff provided invaluable support by moving materials and providing electricity for the aeration system.

"CCA GA has a long history of supporting fish habitat projects. We've lobbied for offshore artificial reef funding for years, knowing that we won't have fish if we don't have habitat," said Harry Lowe, CCA GA state chairman and habitat project volunteer. "Long after all the volunteers are gone, the habitat we created will still be here providing fishing opportunities for the next generation."

According to Erica George, grants manager for Fish America Foundation, "This is the first year we've partnered with the Coastal Conservation Association to direct a portion of our annual funding to saltwater fish habitat projects. We're pleased the flagship projects took place in coastal Georgia. Our focus is on the ground volunteer-supported projects that help enhance sport-fishing opportunities while showing that anglers are good stewards of natural resources."

www.CoastalGaDNR.org

Fall 2008

Page 17

CoastFest 2008
Near perfect weather brought more than 6,000 visitors to the 13th annual CoastFest at GA DNR/Coastal Resources Division Headquarters along the South Brunswick River on Saturday, October 4, 2008.
With more than 80 environmental, educational research and resource exhibitors from throughout the southeast providing interactive exhibits and displays, CoastFest visitors of all ages participated in activities from recycling to coastal weather... native plants to sea turtles ... water conservation to archeology... herpetology to geology!! New additions to the 2008 event included a professional sand sculpture that was created on-site throughout the day from 15 tons of sand, Steve Hein from the Georgia Southern Center for Wildlife Education flew raptors from the 'Birds of Prey Program' under the entertainment tent, a group of teachers from area schools were treated to a demo trawl aboard the R/V Anna to learn how CRD marine biologists monitor Georgia's shrimp fishery and the CRD exhibit added a shark pool for viewing only to the touch tank displays!
Since 1995, CRD in support of the three-week national 'CoastWeeks' event held in all 50 states to celebrate the nation's waters and shorelines has hosted CoastFest on the first Saturday in October.
The 2008 CoastFest Art Contest received a record number of entries for the '08 theme `It's a Shore Thing'. From the more than 1200 paintings, sculptures and 3-D art submitted by area students, CRD has selected one
image for the CoastFest 2009 logo that will appear in all promotional materials beginning summer `09 and on the CoastFest 2009 T-shirt.

CoastFest Photography by Debbie Curran Photography

Visit the CRD web site for more CoastFest 2008 photos.

The Georgia Sound is produced by the Georgia DNR/Coastal Resources Division. If you would like more information please visit our web site at: www.CoastalGaDNR.org or contact Coastal Resources Division at (912)264-7218.

This publication is made possible through the efforts of the Ga DNR/Coastal Resources Staff and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Grant Award # NA07NOS4190182

Editor: Nancy Butler nancy.butler@dnr.state.ga.us

CoastFest 2009 - Saturday, October 3rd

www.CoastalGaDNR.org

This issue of the Georgia Sound is dedicated to the memory of our CRD friend and colleague,
Captain Joe Vickery
who worked for the Coastal Resources Division from 1977 to 2008 as First Mate and Captain of the R/V Cobia
and Captain of the R/V Marguerite.