Georgia sound, Vol. 16, no. 2 (Spring 2010

Spring 2010

Vol.16, No.2

Georgia First in Nation to Complete Coastal Inventory Using New National Wetlands Mapping Standard
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced that the state of Georgia is the first to complete mapping updates to the National Wetland Inventory (NWI) using the newly adopted federal standards.
"We are proud to see Georgia complete this transition in record time and lead the nation," said Dr. Bill O. Wilen, Chair of the Federal Geographic Data Committee's Wetlands Subcommittee. "Their attention to detail and willingness to apply the resources needed to complete the digital mapping project shows their level of commitment to the extremely important coastal areas."
The new standard is designed to guide current and future wetlands digital mapping projects and enhance the overall quality and consistency of wetlands data. Quality data on wetlands are considered critical for planning effective conservation strategies to benefit fish and wildlife resources now and in the future.
These updates for the six ocean facing counties along the Georgia coast, completed by Georgia's Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division, were funded by a Wetland Program Development Grant through the Environmental Protection Agency, Region IV. The state had overwhelming partner support to see
Estuarine wetland with Spartina vegetation this project through to completion from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Southeast Region National Wetlands Inventory Program.
The state of Georgia, research institutions, local governments and private organizations will now be able to use these updates in conservation planning, local ordinance development, wetland assessments, regulatory and restoration programs and other resource based needs.
"We are honored to be recognized as the first in the country to map our coastal areas," said Jan Mackinnon, biologist at Georgia's Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division. "And thanks to this federal standard, both private and public agencies will
www.CoastalGaDNR.org

Spring 2010

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get an added level of mapping detail and consistency."

Wetlands are among the nation's most biologically productive and economically important habitat types. Major emerging conservation issues, such as changing temperatures, sea-level rise, increasing storm severity, drought, energy development and species declines are making the need for contemporary geospatial resource information even more important. Wetlands cover approximately five percent of the surface of the contiguous United States and are abundant in certain states and rare in others.

Use of the standard will help to paint a more complete and accurate picture of wetland resources in the United States. Wetlands are inextricably tied to water levels and changes in climatic conditions affecting water availability will greatly influence the nature and function of specific wetlands, including the type of plant and animal species within them.

The Completed Wetlands Maps Will Help:
State wildlife agencies to integrate improved wetlands mapping for conservation and restoration efforts in their respective states and include in State Wildlife Action Plans.
Businesses and private landowners in implementing development planning and conservation actions.
Universities and non-governmental organizations in conducting wetlands research and conservation.
Federal Emergency Management Agency in providing for floodplain assessment and management.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in managing coastal zone conservation. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in planning and facilitating regulatory reviews in wetlands
conservation. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in performing quality assessment and monitoring for
clean water.

You can learn more about the National Wetlands Inventory at http://www.fws.gov/wetlands
Current digital maps and data are available for downloading at http://www.fws.gov/wetlands/data

National Wetland Inventory Map

Coastal Resources Division was awarded a grant through the Environmental Protection Agency in Region IV to update the NWI for the six coastal Georgia counties. Updates were recently completed for all wetland habitats in Chatham, Bryan, Liberty, McIntosh, Glynn and Camden counties by EcoScience, a Division of PBS&J for CRD. The updates are mapped at a 1:12,000 scale and all wetlands greater than 0.5 acres are captured.
Text and Photos By Jan Mackinnon, Ecological Services

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Georgia's First Living Shoreline Project

Coastal marshes are valuable habitats that act as critical nursery areas for many estuarine species such as crabs, shrimp and fish. Tidal creek erosion and subsequent shoreline armoring can degrade tidal creek habitats and provide little to no ecological value. Erosion is invariably persistent in high tidal creek bends, areas where buffers have been manipulated and in areas susceptible to storm energy and boat wakes.

Coastal Resources Division received grant funding through the Environmental Protection Agency's Wetland Program Development Grant to create Georgia's first Living Shoreline. Broadly defined, a living shoreline is an innovative approach that combines engineering techniques to control shoreline erosion with native vegetation and oyster plantings to create and enhance estuarine marsh habitat and upland buffers. A living shoreline is an alternative to the traditional rip-rap or bulkhead stabilization methods.

Eroding shoreline along Post Office Creek on Sapelo Island.

CRD partnered with The Nature Conservancy, DNR Wildlife Resources Division, DNR Construction and Engineering, the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve and the University of Georgia Marine Extension Service to design and implement Georgia's first Living Shoreline project. Two areas of tidal creek shoreline on Sapelo Island were stabilized using alternative stabilization techniques. One site employed approximately 15,000 oyster bags and native marsh and buffer plants - including smooth cordgrass, sea ox-eye daisy, saltgrass, muhley grass, wax myrtles, red cedars and live oaks.

The second site used gabions (boxes filled with various materials often used for erosion control) filled with three different treatments- rock only, bagged oyster shell and loose oyster shell. In addition to the gabion treatments, the site employed native plantings at the upper extent of the site. Monitoring will take place for three years and will compare the effectiveness of the gabion treatments and bagged oyster shell at recruiting oysters, monitoring the establishment of the native plants, and monitoring any erosion or accretion of the shoreline.
We are grateful to the many volunteers that have dedicated their time to the success of the Living Shoreline Project by bagging oysters, landscaping the sites or giving time to provide assistance.
Text and Photos By Jan Mackinnon, Ecological Services

New living shoreline along Post Office Creek.
Post-construction living shoreline along PO creek using native vegetation and gabions filled with rock, bagged oyster shell and loose oyster shell.

www.CoastalGaDNR.org

Spring 2010
CZM News and Notes
By Brad Gane, Assistant Director for Ecological Services

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Coastal Georgia is at risk...
Hurricanes, Tornados, Intense Coastal Flooding, Sea Level Rise and Coastal Erosion

In the March 2009 issue of the Georgia Sound, the subject of sea level rise was discussed. As I wrote then, sea level rise is "incontrovertible" according to the US Department of Commerce's National Ocean Service. Much of coastal Georgia's human and natural communities are within reach of a rising sea. The Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program is working to get out the word. The CZM Program is collaborating with others to develop a base of information so that the State, its communities, and its citizens, can address the issue and the changes that will come. I think you will find the following information to be interesting, timely, and of value to you and other citizens of Georgia.

As most local residents know, Coastal Georgia is at risk of being impacted by hurricanes, tornados and intense coastal flooding. However, most Georgians are unaware of the potential dangers and impacts of sea level rise and coastal erosion.

The Georgia CZM Program is taking a closer look at coastal hazards and the importance of planning for their effects. Recently the Georgia CZM Program partnered with NOAA's Coastal Services Center and the Savannah Chatham Metropolitan Planning Commission to hold the first "Roadmap to Coastal Hazards" workshop. The workshop was designed to assist local governments in organizing a comprehensive plan for transportation, hazard mitigation and emergency response for coastal hazards. "One of the goals of the Georgia CZM Progam is to provide this type of technical assistance to all eleven coastal counties and their municipalities," says Jennifer Kline, the Coastal Resources Division lead for coastal hazards, climate change and sea-level rise.

Hurricane Floyd

Current Coastal Hazard projects in Coastal Georgia include:

The Coastal Georgia Land Conservation Initiative, a project of the GA DNR's Wildlife Resource Division (WRD) and Coastal Resources Division (CRD), the Association of County Commission Governments, and the GA Conservancy, is mapping critical coastal habitats and developing a decision-making tool to help local governments in their planning efforts;

A Climate Change Education and Outreach Program, a project of the Georgia DNR/CRD and Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve, which will host future workshops and training on Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise for local governments, and coastal citizens.

Sea-Level Rise info for Coastal Georgia:
Based on data collected since 1935, sea levels along coastal Georgia are rising at a rate of 13 inches per century and could rise 25 inches by 2100 (Earth Institute).
www.CoastalGaDNR.org

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Coastal Georgia Storm Modeling and corresponding maps developed by the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography (SKIO) which will be provided to local governments in the form of a planning tool;

A Geographic Information System Inventory of Armored and Eroding Shorelines, a project between SKIO and Georgia DNR/CRD that provides CRD with a complete inventory and GIS layers of all armored shorelines on the Georgia Coast;

A three year project, Planning for Sea Level Rise in Coastal Georgia, currently conducted by the University of Georgia River Basin Center, will provide local governments with a planning tool for assessing impacts of sea-level rise to their communities and will be available to all six ocean-facing counties;

The Coastal Georgia Elevation Project (LiDAR), a partnership project among the Coastal Regional Commission, GA DNR/CRD, WRD, US Geological Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and coastal local governments. New LiDAR elevation data has been collected for the 11 coastal counties that will serve as a basis for determining and modeling inundation areas by giving accurate elevation data for all counties in the coastal area. The data will help update maps and provide for better planning at all government levels;

The Governor's South Atlantic Alliance, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, is writing an Action Plan to include a Disaster Resilient Communities component that will share best practices for the next emergency, increase understanding of vulnerabilities to impacts of storms and climate change, and improve prediction, observation and forecasting; and

The Georgia CZM Program is planning to conduct a Coastal Vulnerability Assessment as a basis for development of a Coastal Climate Change Adaptation Plan.

We will continue to report on the progress of all of these efforts in future issues of the Georgia Sound. The more informed we are about the effects of climate change, the better able our communities will be to take positive actions to prepare for the future.

Want to Know More About Climate Change?
`Preparing for Climate Change'

hosted by Georgia Coastal Zone Management Program Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve
Wednesday July 28, 2010
Coastal Georgia Center, Savannah, Georgia
Who should attend? Local governments, planners, engineers,
developers, NGO's, state and federal agencies, the public.
Cost: Free Seating is limited. Register Early !!
www.sapeloislandnerr-ctp.org/Workshops/Coastal-TrainingWorkshops/Preparing-for-Climate-Change/65.aspx

For more information on Coastal Georgia Hazards, Climate Change and Sea Level Rise, contact Jennifer Kline
at 912-264-7218 or jennifer.kline@dnr.state.ga.us
Text By: Susan Snyder Reeves Jennifer Kline Ecologicial Services

Spring 2010

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Beach Water Monitoring Program
After a long cold winter, beach weather has finally arrived. If a beach trip is on your agenda, be sure to check the swimming status of your favorite Georgia beaches on DNR's GaHealthyBeaches.org website.

DNR, in partnership with the Coastal Health District, monitors Georgia's beaches for the presence of harmful bacteria. Each week throughout the year, DNR samples the beach water on Tybee Island, Jekyll Island and St. Simons Island. The water samples are then delivered to Health Department Laboratory for analysis. When elevated levels of bacteria are found, the Health District issues a swimmers advisory. An advisory does not mean that the beach is closed, but that DNR and the Health Department recommend that you do not swim at that beach.

DNR updates the GAHealthyBeaches.org website whenever a swimmers advisory is issued. DNR has also installed signs at beach access crossovers on Tybee, Jekyll and St. Simons islands. These permanent metal signs are activated when an advisory is issued at a specific beach.

DNR signs at beach access crossovers on Tybee, Jekyll and St. Simons islands are activated when an advisory is issued at a specific beach.

So before you go to the beach, remember to...'go online or check the sign!' GaHealthyBeaches.org

The week before Memorial Day (May 24-30, 2010) is National Recreational Water Illness Prevention Week. Discover healthy swimming tips by visiting the Center for Disease Control's Healthy Swimming website at
www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming

Credit: William Hughes

Text By: Elizabeth Cheney Ecologicial Services

www.CoastalGaDNR.org

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Coastal Resources Division Announces Appointments to Leadership Positions

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Coastal Resources Division recently announced the promotion of two associates into leadership positions with the Division.

Effective April 16, Patrick Geer assumed the duties of Chief of Marine Fisheries after having served as Research and Surveys Program Manager since 2005. He is responsible for daily supervision and administrative oversight of the Marine Fisheries Section with its' workforce of marine scientists, vessel captains, and marine technicians. The Marine Fisheries Section is responsible for marine life/saltwater angler surveys, seafood harvest statistics collection, fish habitat construction, and boating and fishing access along the coast.

In his previous position, Pat worked hard to

Pat Geer

establish new scientific surveys so DNR has

better information on which to base conservation policy. In doing so, he has improved the

credibility of DNR and established a rapport with the fishing community. He brings that same

ingenuity and enthusiasm to his new job," said Spud

Woodward, director of Coastal Resources Division.

Doug Haymans has been appointed as Special Assistant to the Director after having served as Constituent Services Program Manager in 2008. In his new position, he is responsible for developing conservation policy, special projects, and coordinating education and outreach activities. Doug will also serve as the director's designee to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

"Doug has an exceptional talent for communicating conservation concepts and ideas to diverse audiences. He has also been very involved in policy making at the state, interstate, and federal level. Given his proven record of performance and his experience, I'm highly confident that Doug will excel in his new position," said Woodward.

Doug Haymans

Following the announcement, DNR Commissioner Chris Clark stated, "Both Pat and Doug are excellent examples of the level of commitment shared by our staff throughout the state. I am proud of the great work we do at DNR, and I am pleased that these two individuals are moving into leadership positions with Director Woodward's team."

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

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Georgia's Marsh Plants - Look Alikes Mimic Their Upland Cousins

Georgia's Coastal Marshlands Protection Act (CMPA) recognizes 14 species of marsh plants that are used to determine the Coastal Marshlands Protection Acts Jurisdictional Areas. These plants, along with other tidal indicators, are used to determine what areas constitute marsh. The plants identified in the law include a variety of types of vegetation, not just grasses as many people assume. You may never notice some of the plants due to their size, location, or habitat. Once you learn to identify these plants, they will be difficult to miss!

A plant that is often overlooked due to its size, is Coastal Dropseed. Although the species can reach over a foot tall along the beach, within the Georgia marshes, it is usually quite a bit smaller, often only a few inches. The plant can be found in back dunes at the beach and in high marsh areas, particularly around our local hammocks. Dropseed can be grazed by livestock and wildlife, and was traditionally used to relieve throat irritation. Although the plant does produce seeds, which are a good food source for wild birds, it propagates more through rhizomes, which can grow up to 18 inches deep, making it an excellent stabilizing groundcover.

Marsh Elder is another plant that is

Coastal Dropseed

often overlooked due to its location. This species is found in the high

marsh, often encroaching well into the surrounding maritime forest.

Although a marsh plant, studies show that the more tidal inundation

that the bush receives, the less quickly it grows and the shorter the life

span compared to bushes that receive less frequent tidal water. Either

in high or low tidal areas, the bush can grow up to 10 feet tall and has

pointy, almost waxy leaves supported by upright and branched woody

stems. The plant produces berries in late summer, and can sometimes

be identified by the wart like growths on the leaves which are the result

of mites burrowing in the leaves.

Important Marsh Facts:
The marsh cleans our polluted runoff from roads, houses, and farms.

The marsh protects us from storm generated waves and tides.
The marsh provides food, nurseries, and shelter to birds, fish, shellfish, and mammals.

Marsh Elder

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. Editor: Nancy Butler email:nancy.butler@dnr.state.ga.us
www.CoastalGaDNR.org

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Saltwort is a wort species that grows only about 6-12 inches from the stem, but can grow about three feet laterally. This wort, found in our Georgia marshes, is often overlooked because it can be found in sandy flats, often far into the marsh where normal foot traffic does not occur. Long runners, like above ground rhizomes, arch out with root attachments every several inches. The yellowgreen wort then grows upright from each stem. Unlike the glassworts found in the marsh, Saltwort has more definitive looking "leaves." The leaves have been used by humans in salads, but can be toxic in large quantities. Homeopaths use the plant to treat eczema and psoriasis.

The marsh plant that is

most often overlooked due

to its habitat is the Sea Lavender. The delicate,

Saltwort

low growing plant often hides among other mid-marsh plants, like

Black Needlerush, and until it flowers in the early fall, can be

overlooked. Small (2-4") oblong leaves grow from a central base. The

leaves are usually reddish at the base and dark green at their tips. In

the fall, the plant forms a one to two foot tall stalk, with many branches

that end in tiny lavender colored flowers, giving the plant it's name.

Historically the flowers were harvested and used to keep moths away

from closets and wardrobes.

Sea Lavender

The plant species that are found the Georgia salt marsh are varied in size, shape, and habitat, and can often go unnoticed by the untrained eye

but each plant fills a role in the marsh and contributes to the function of the estuarine ecosystem. All the

marsh plants that were written into Georgia's Coastal Marshlands Protection Act (CMPA) of 1970 are

used to define the marsh boundaries and are determining

factors in the protection of public trust lands. The Act

establishes what marsh is, what impacts are not allowed in the

marsh, when a permit is required for activities in the marsh,

and the procedures for obtaining a permit Visit our website at

http://crd.dnr.state.ga.us to read the CMPA.

If you intend to work or build in an area that may have marsh, contact DNR-CRD. Our local office can arrange for staff to show you exactly where the marsh line is and what permits may be required.

Text and Photos: Lisia Kowalczyk Permit Coordinator

Sea Lavender often hides among other mid-marsh plants, like Black Needlerush.

Spring 2010

UPDATE: Oyster Reef Restoration

Page 10

The staff of CRD's Fish Habitat Unit and personnel from MAREX recently completed their largest partnered oyster restoration project to date (0.4 of an acre) at Skidaway Island, Georgia.

Approximately 150 volunteers donated nearly 1,900 hours toward bagging oyster shell and then "planting" the bags in the inter-tidal zone of Skidaway Island. AmeriCorps volunteers from around the US provided much of the heavy lifting of the project. The Georgia CCA assisted with advertising public bagging and planting events as well as donating a laptop to be used in monitoring oyster reef restoration projects. Funding for this project was provided by the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership and the Fish America Foundation.

A public bagging event on Skidaway.

Oyster reefs provide food, cover, shelter, spawning sites and nursery areas for marine and estuarine fish and invertebrate species, and have been declared "essential fish habitat" by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the National Marine Fisheries Service. Oyster habitat is deemed essential to the enhancement of commercial and recreational species including oysters, shrimp, clams, fish, crabs, and other species. Oysters are also filter feeders that improve water quality by filtering large quantities of suspended particulate matter

The loss of oyster reefs along the Southeastern U. S. Coast since European settlement is documented within the historical record and confirmed through visual surveys conducted by the CRD. The Nature Conservancy recently released a comprehensive global report on the state of shellfish. According to the report "85 percent of oyster reefs have been lost worldwide and concludes that oyster reefs are the most severely impacted marine habitat on the planet."

Oyster restoration efforts are widespread along much of the U.S. East Coast and are most often conducted through programs that are funded by
state natural resources management agencies. CRD receives no state funds for oyster restoration but a 2009 grant through the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership provided funding for the oyster reef project at Skidaway.

An eleven-person team of AmeriCorps volunteers traveled to Skidaway Island to bag and plant shell.

"As oysters begin to recruit, the bagged oyster shell will come to look like the natural oyster reefs found scattered along the shoreline of our estuaries," explained Gabe Gaddis, DNR senior marine biologist. "These oyster reefs will help prevent shoreline erosion caused by waves and boat wakes while also providing great fish habitat and fishing opportunities".
Text and Photos by Gabe Gaddis Marine Biologist

New breakwater on Skidaway

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Georgia Power Partners with CRD on Project...
Artificial Reef "A" to Get New Materials

In a new project with long-time partner Georgia Power, retired and/or rejected concrete power poles, the kind that are everywhere along the highway, will be deployed at 'A' reef by mid-summer. Some of the poles measure 110 ft long and weigh in excess of 40,000 lbs. Some are as large as three ft in diameter and all of them are hollow. The plan is to deploy them like groups of `pick-up sticks', stacked at odd angles thereby creating lots of crevices and relief to attract fish.

Georgia Power, who originally brought the idea to CRD, is donating some of the poles and the delivery costs for those poles. Valmont/Numark, the Claxton GA company that builds the poles, is also donating reject poles that have been scraped. Even with these donations, each barge load will cost in excess of $25,000 after cutting, hauling, loading, towing and deployment at sea. "Our partnership with Georgia Power started more than eight years ago with the Carcass Recovery Program and this new project gives CRD the opportunity to continue the artificial reef program at a time when funding is so limited," says Jeff Mericle, CRD Artificial Reef Program Manager.

Over the past five years, due to reductions in the CRD budget, state funds are no longer available to support the reef program. Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration (monies generated through an excise tax on fishing equipment and motor boat fuels) and donated dollars will carry the program for the foreseeable future. CRD is also working with fishing clubs and civic organizations to continue the artificial reef program.

If your organization would like to help, please contact Jeff Mericle at (912) 264-7218.

Artificial reef `A', located seven nautical miles east of Little Cumberland Island is one of the states less developed reefs. The average water depth is between 30 and 45 feet. All of the existing material at the site is from a concrete wharf removed from Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay more than 20 years ago.

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Ultrasound Technology Helps Unravel Shark Mysteries

The use of ultrasound technology for human prenatal care is common practice giving expectant parents and physicians a peek into the womb. Thanks to advances in ultrasound technology, scientists studying fish reproduction can now do likewise. Beginning this spring, Dr. Carolyn Belcher will be conducting field trials of the Ibex Pro ultrasound device in conjunction with surveys of Georgia's shark populations.
Results of preliminary `on-the-water' tests of the Ibex Pro during 2009 were encouraging indicating that this device has applications for marine fisheries research. "We'll be using the ultrasound to determine the number and condition of shark embryos inside living female sharks. If the ultrasound proves feasible we may have an alternative to the traditional method of sacrificing a shark to determine its reproductive status," Dr. Belcher explained.
Little is known about the reproductive biology of many of the shark species found in Georgia's coastal waters. Two species - bonnethead and blacknose - will be the initial focus of field trials with the ultrasound device. Information collected from blacknose sharks will be included in a cooperative research project examining the regional reproductive characteristics of this species. Partners in the project include the University of North Florida, University of Florida, Florida State University, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Information collected from bonnethead sharks will be used by Matt Hinman, a Savannah State University graduate student, for his master's degree research.
"It's always exciting to be on the leading edge of research especially when it involves the transfer of new technologies. But I'm most excited that we may be able better understand the biology of sharks without having to harm the animals in the process," said Belcher.
Text by Dr. Carolyn Belcher, Marine Fisheries

Field testing the IBEX unit on a bonnethead shark. (shown left to right) Blake McCrary, Choice Medical/E.I. Medical Sales Representative, Dr. Carolyn Belcher, Eric Robillard

Using federal funds, staff with the Coastal Resources

Division recently acquired a new state-of-the-art

ultrasound machine from E.I. Medical Imaging of St.

Petersburg, Florida. The Ibex Pro is a fifth

generation ultrasound machine that is highly

portable and water resistant. Overall size and

weight have been reduced so the device can be

carried comfortably. The device is shock and impact

resistant so it is

suitable for use

aboard boats. It

also features a flip-

up monitor headset

for hands-free use

on sunny days. The

Ibex Pro has been

widely used in the

veterinary medicine

and animal

husbandry fields

but this will be the

first time it's been

used for marine

Matt Hinman checks the IBEX

fisheries research. Pro settings and connectivity

before sampling begins.

www.CoastalGaDNR.org

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Spring 2010

Coming this summer...
Beach Week 2010

Page 14

With summer in full swing, Georgia beaches from Savannah to the Golden Isles are top destinations for visitors and residents. Beginning on Monday, June 28th Jekyll, St. Simons and Tybee Island beach-goers will have the opportunity to learn more about the natural wonders of the beach when
Georgia's Coastal Ark visits these three popular beach destinations for the 5th annual "Beach Week".

Beach goers have the opportunity to learn more about the natural wonders of the beach during Beach Week 2010

Beginning June 28, staff from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources/Coastal Resources Division (CRD) and other coastal organizations will be available at beach locations on Jekyll, St. Simons and Tybee to answer questions and talk with beach goers. The Coastal Ark, CRD's 30-foot mobile educational unit, will showcase activities, information and materials covering a wide array of subjects including beach water quality, sand dollar stewardship and important marine fisheries. The highlight of Beach Week this year will be the live displays and their connection to Coastal Georgia. "Our goal is to educate people about what they will see at the beach and why good stewardship of this resource is so important," said Coastal Ark Coordinator Jennifer Kline.

CRD "Beach Week" events are scheduled for Monday, June 28 on St. Simons at the old Coast Guard Station beach access area; Tuesday, June 29th at the Parking Lot of the Tybee Island Marine Science Center on Tybee Island; Wednesday, June 30th on Jekyll Island at the Bathhouse Pavilion area near the Conference Center; and Thursday, July 1st on St. Simons at the old Coast Guard Station beach access area. Hours at all locations will be 10am 3pm.

Joining the Coastal Ark for Beach Week will be staff from Coastal Resources Division, GA DNR/Law Enforcement Division, Tidelands Nature Center, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Jekyll Island 4-H, Burton 4-H Center on Tybee, Tybee Island Marine Science Center, Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve and more.

For more information about Beach Week 2010 activities contact Jennifer Kline, Coastal Ark

Coordinator at (912) 264-7218.

"Beach Week" Events

Monday, June 28

St. Simons at the old Coast Guard Station

beach access area

Tuesday, June 29th Parking Lot of the Tybee Island Marine Science Center
on Tybee Island

Wednesday, June 30th Jekyll Island at the Bathhouse Pavilion area
near the Conference Center

Thursday, July 1st St. Simons at the old Coast Guard Station
beach access area

www.CoastalGaDNR.org

Hours at all locations will be 10am 3pm