Georgia sound, Vol. 5, no. 3 (July - Sept. 1999

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GEORGIA

COASTAL
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MANAGEMENT

PROGRAM

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Soun

JULY - SEPTEMBER, 1999

YOL.,5, NO.3

C6oast'Fest '99 Saturday, October 2 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Join in the FUN at CoastFest '99 - Georgia's largest celebration of our state's coastal natural resources! Held annually on the first Saturday in October at the DNR Coastal Resources Division headquarters in Brunswick, Georgia, this interactive and educational festival spotlighting Georgia's coast has something for the entire family... and it's FREE!!!
Come explore the Earth Day Nature Trail; tour the DNR Research Vessel, the ANNA, as well as other DNR and Coast Guard vessels; get "up close and personal" with live sea critters at the touch tank area; crawl inside Weebee, DNR's 70 foot long plastic whale; learn about electric vehicles; have free family photos made; and much, much more! Join in the flurry of activity with over 50 environmental and educational exhibitors with interesting and interactive booths.
And in the CoastFest tradition ....exciting programs! Georgia Southern University is back again this year with the Birds of Prey and Reptile programs...each program presented twice. New to the festival will be a Creek Indian encampment along with Creek Indian Jim Sawgrass. And Mr. & Mrs. Fish....a nationally known marine education dynamic duo appearing live for three performances. Learn about the mysteries of the sea and the critters which call it home through Mr. & Mrs. Fish's comic and educational performances.
So make plans to attend the 5th Annual CoastFest and celebrate Georgia's rich coastal natural resources...and have fun and learn at the same time! For information or directions call CRD at (912) 264-7218.~

CoastFest attracted over 3,600 visitors in 1998!

Inside This Issue:
CoastFest '99
Marine Fisheries
Parent-Child Fishing Derby

Habitat Management
Beachfront Buildings and Georgia's Shore Protection Act
Illegal Driving in Marshlands
Program Update
Partnerships

From the Director Storm Drain Stenciling Colonial. Coast Birding Trail

Local Government & GCMP
Coastallncentive Grants Altamaha RiverWorkshop Calendar of Upcoming Events
Manatees Among Us

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THE GEORGIA SOUND

Georg,.a's Coa
Natura

Join in the c .bration of Georgi

natural resources at CoastFest '99! Vi

environmental, educational and resou

enjoy entertaining, energetic programs

advantage 0

n-site tours!

SUMMER,1999
'99

Based at Southern Ma

hnical College

in South Portland, M

r. & Mrs. Fish

(husband and wife J .d Deb Sandler)

are extremely dynami cators who teach

marine science by co ing themselves as

humorous sea creatures and acting out life

as it is in the sea. Their creative dramatic

shows have audiences roaring with laugher,

all the while gaining a wealth of solid

ocean learning. With Mr. & Mrs. Fish,

it's "laugh as you learn!"

"Hap rab" the official CoastFest '99

logo

esigned by Christian Renewal

Acad sixth-grader Chris Beers. For

the s nd year in a row the CoastFest

logo has been designed by a local

school student. Happy Crab will appear

on CoastFest '99 t-shirts and publicity

materials. Great job Chris!

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Marine Fisheries

By: Nancy Butler

BIG SMILES AND WINNING FISH WERE THE CATCH OF THE DAY AT NINTH ANNUAL FISHING DERBY

Over 260 children from cities and counties throughout coastal Georgia joined in the activities of the ninth annual Golden Isles Parent-Child Fishing Derby at the West Mackay River Fishing Pier in Brunswick, Georgia on Saturday, June 5, 1999. With a light breeze and some much-welcomed clouds overhead, derby-day weather conditions were near-perfect for the area's celebration of National Fishing Week.

"We try to make the event a family experience," said John Pafford, coordinator of this year's Fishing Derby and a marine biologist for the DNR. "And by the size of the crowd and the number of families we have here, I'd say we succeeded!" Pafford organized the first Parent-Child Derby nine years ago as an opportunity for children to spend time with their parents fishing. "I think the first year we had about 80 children show up," recalls Pafford. "This year the Derby has reached the maximum number of children the MackayFishing Pier can handle," continues Pafford, "so parents need to make sure that they register their children early for next year's Derby on Saturday, June 3,2000. We will be limited to the first 250 children that register."
The annual catch-and-release derby is open to children ages 6 to 12. Winners of the 1999 Derby in the 6-8 age group were: first place - Leah Batten; second place Courtney Martin; third place - Ashley Cain. In the 9 & 10 year old group the winners were: first place - Megan Fried; second place - Jared Rayhan; third place - Ryan Cleavenbek. Winners in the 11 & 12 year old group were: first place - Jacob Graverson; second place - Josh Beard; third place Rob Jenkins. The winner of the First Fish Caught Award was Rob Jenkins. ~

Participants jnspect a catch at the Derby.

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THE GEORGIA SOUND

Habitat Mal1aqel11ent
By: Terry West
Beachfront Buildings and Georgia's Shore Protection Act

SUMMER,1999

The most misunderstood legal mandate administered by the Habitat

Management Program is the jurisdictional area of Georgia's Shore

Protection Act, and the activities which may be permitted within this

jurisdictional area. The 19 miles of beach-front property on Georgia's

four barrier islands accessible by automobile is some of the most

expensive real estate in the United States. Since the Shore Protection

An aerial vjew ofthe beaches

Act was enacted in 1979, the Shore Protection Committee has issued

near the pjer area on St. Sjmons Island

289 permits for projects within the jurisdictional area, an average of

about 15 permits issued annually. All but five of these permits were issued for projects on the 19 miles of beaches on Tybee,

Sea, St. Simons, and Jekyll islands. Approximately 30% of the total permits issued over the past 20 years have authorized

buildings (homes, motels, condos, etc.) within jurisdictional areas of the Shore Protection Act (84 of 289). About 30% of the

total permits issued are for shoreline stabilization projects (beach renourishment, rock revetments) to protect ocean front

property (87 of 289). The remaining permits (about 40%) have been issued for beach access structures, pools, decks,

landscaping, etc.

Replacing, or modifying, existing beachfront buildings is becoming a more common practice as available vacant beachfront property has dwindled. The Shore Protection Act does regulate beachfront construction which occurs within the legally mandated jurisdictional areas. Common misunderstandings are related to determining the jurisdictional area, and the construction activities permissible by law within the jurisdictional area.

Shore Protection Act Jurisdiction

The General Assembly enacted the Shore Protection Act in 1979 with the primary purpose of protecting and managing the sand-sharing system of our barrier islands. This sand-sharing system, which includes the ocean front sand dunes, ocean front beaches, and offshore sandbars and shoals, was declared a vital area of our state by the legislators, and the management of this vital sand-sharing system was declared to be of importance to all citizens of the state and a matter for regulation under the police powers of the state. The very first issue facing the legislators was to define a jurisdictional area which would encompass the most vital areas of the sand-sharing system. The resulting jurisdictional area of the Shore Protection Act established by the General Assembly in 1979 can be broken down into two distinct areas: (1) submerged lands and (2) the Dynamic Dune Field, as defined in the law.

The submerged lands portion of the Shore Protection Act is easy to understand. The submerged lands area starts at the position on the shore of the ordinary high tide mark (i.e. The mean monthly spring high tide reached during the most recent tidal epoch; not the same as mean high water mark), and extends seaward to the three mile boundary of Georgia's territorial seas. The submerged lands area is considered public trust property, held in trust by the State for all citizens. The wet sand beaches, offshore sand bars, and offshore shoals are within the submerged lands portion of the Shore Protection Act.

The Dynamic Dune Field portion of the jurisdictional area is more difficult to describe, and very often misunderstood. The Dynamic Dune Field's ocean boundary is the ordinary high tide mark. The landward boundary of the Dynamic Dune Field is established by law as the first occurrence of either (1) live native trees 20 feet in height or greater, or (2) a structure existing on July 1, 1979. The Dynamic Dune Field is an area, as its name implies, in a state of constant, and sometimes drastic, change. The General Assembly in 1979 decided against attempting to establish an arbitrary "set-back" distance from the ocean as the landward limit of the Shore Protection Act. Instead, our lawmakers took a common sense approach to the issue. First, all existing buildings on the ocean front were considered "grandfathered", and the ocean front facade of any such building existing on July 1, 1979, was established as the landward jurisdiction line of the Shore Protection Act. Remember that only four of our 13 major barrier islands will ever utilize an existing building as the Shore Protection Act jurisdiction monument. Also, the Shore Protection Act provides that existing grandfathered buildings which are voluntarily removed, or more that 80% destroyed by storm driven water or erosion, cease to represent the landward boundary of the jurisdictional area. The General Assembly then reasoned that any tree that could take sprout and grow to a height of 20 feet had to be on reasonably stable ground, and was thus selected as a landward monument for the Shore Protection Act jurisdiction.

Thus, the landward boundary of the Shore Protection Act is the seaward most line connecting any such tree or structure described above. The Dynamic Dune Field area is not public trust property, and is owned by either private entities or governmental entities. As such, the Dynamic Dune Field is the only jurisdictional area within the Habitat Management Program's sphere of responsibility that is privately owned property.

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The following illustrations provide two examples of the Shore Protection Act jurisdictional area. Note the example which utilizes the existing structure as the landward limit monument of the jurisdictional area. The "Dynamic Dune Field" is actually a maintained lawn between a rock revetment and the existing structure, void of any dunes. This example is the most common scenario encountered by the Habitat Management Program staff in administering the Shore Protection Act on the four developed barrier islands.

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Misunderstood Provisions of the Act
Construction ofbuildings, and other structures, within the Shore Protection Actjurisdiction is notprohibited.
The Shore Protection Act jurisdiction is not a "no build" zone. The construction of any structure, or the alteration of the topography or vegetation, within the jurisdictional area requires a permit issued by the Shore Protection Committee. The Shore Protection Committee is composed of three persons, the Commissioner of DNR and two other members who must reside in one of the six coastal counties. The law does contain restrictions and guidelines for activities within the jurisdiction which must be considered by the committee in their decision regarding permit applications. Some examples include: proposed buildings must occupy the landward portion of the parcel and, if feasible, the area landward of the dunes; at least one-third of the area within the jurisdiction of the Shore Protection Act must be left completely undisturbed; buildings must be constructed to current hurricane resistant standards; private, recreational dock facilities are prohibited on ocean beaches; and to address shoreline erosion, only beach renourishment projects or sloping, porous rock revetments are permitted.
The Shore Protection Ac!jurisdiction line can, and will, change.
If a 20 foot high tree is the landward boundary of the Shore Protection Act, the natural or intentional death of the tree will alter the jurisdictional line. This most commonly happens in erosional areas where salt water impacts eventually kill the monument trees. Transplanted trees do not change the jurisdictional area. The actual planting of a tree within the jurisdictional area requires a permit from the committee.
The landward boundary of the Shore Protection Act will also change if trees seaward of the existing boundary reach a height of 20 feet or greater. This change most commonly occurs in areas experiencing long term accretion.
The landward boundary will also change if an ocean front building existing on July 1,1979, and used as the Shore Protection Act boundary, is more than 80% destroyed by storm driven water or erosion.
Allsand dunes are notprotected under the Shore Protection Act Provisions.
In some areas, sand dunes are not even within the jurisdictional area of the law. Sand dunes are not public trust property and are part of privately, or governmental, owned property. Sand dunes which remain landward of a tree attaining the height of 20 feet are, in absence of local government laws or regulations, not protected from alterations.
Ocean front property owners may take measures, with a permit from the committee, to protect their property from tidal erosion.
The Shore Protection Act states that beach restoration and renourishment techniques are preferable to the construction of shoreline stabilization structures. Vertical seawalls or bulkheads are not permitted by the committee due to the detrimental scouring effect on the beaches caused by waves crashing into a vertical wall. Upon demonstration by an applicant that no viable or reasonable alternative exists, the Shore Protection Committee does issue permits for construction and maintenance of low-sloping, porous rock revetments which will dissipate wave energy and minimize the scouring effects of waves returning to the ocean..~

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Habitat Manaqel11ent

Illegal Driving in Marshlands

SUMMER,1999
By: Terry West

The operation of any motorized vehicle in the tidal marshlands is a violation of the Coastal Marshlands Protection Act of 1970. The number of reports received by the Habitat Management Program staff of tidal marshlands damaged by vehicle use has increased over the last three months. The staff, through routine patrols and aerial reconnaissance, has also discovered several tidal marshland areas throughout coastal Georgia damaged by vehicle traffic. Persons apprehended for this violation are subject to criminal prosecution, civil penalties, and required restoration of damaged marshlands habitat.

The motor vehicle of choice for illegal joy rides in tidal marshlands appears to be the popular all

Signs now mark tidal marshland areas impacted by vehicular traffic.

terrain vehicle (ATV), or "four-wheeler". However,

the HMP staff has discovered tidal marshland sites damaged by common automobiles and/or trucks as well.

It is the "high marsh" zone of the tidal salt marsh that is being damaged in areas impacted by illegal vehicle operation. The high marsh zone, adjacent to upland property or roadways, is at a slightly higher elevation than the low marsh zone which is flooded by rising tides for several hours each day. The low marsh zone is covered almost exclusively by smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), and is too soft for operation of most motorized vehicles. The high marsh zone is inundated by tidal water for only an hour or so each day resulting in longer periods of air exposure which allows more time for evaporation of the tidal moisture. This results in a higher salinity content of the high marsh zone soil which severely limits the number of plant species able to survive in this area. Salt tolerant plant species such as glasswort, saltwort, salt grass, and marsh lavender grow in the high marsh zone, free from competition of less salt resistant species. Bare sandy areas, called "salt pans" or "sand flats", are formed in the high marsh zone where the salt concentration reaches a level that will inhibit all plant life. The sand fiddler crab has adapted to the salt pan habitat and depends on these areas for survival. The sand fiddlers are recognized by the purple color on their backs and their large white claws.

The hard packed sand of the salt pans is inviting to folks wishing to explore the tidal marshes. However, motorized vehicle tires destroy the unique plant and animal life that have adapted to these areas. Ruts left by tires disrupt the normal tidal flow over these areas, and leave depressions which hold water and become prime mosquito breeding habitat. The salt pans and high marsh zones are very unique and provide diversity within the tidal marshlands environment. The proportion of salt pan areas to the total tidal marshlands habitat is very small, therefore the protection of these areas is important.

The Habitat Management Program has obtained signs to be posted in tidal marshland areas impacted by vehicular traffic. Local law enforcement agencies will provide assistance in patrolling areas where violations have occurred, and individuals apprehended for operating motorized vehicles in tidal marshlands will be prosecuted to the fullest extent provided by law. ~

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Program Update
Partnerships
By: Dr. Stuart Stevens

Nearly seven years ago when the Coastal Management Program (CMP) was just a twinkle in our eyes, we began to implement various aspects of the program even though it wasn't officially approved. We believed some aspects of the program were too important to wait for official approval. One of the most important was the development and nurturing of partnerships with other agencies doing business on the coast. This is a time-consuming effort and the public is often surprised to hear that the Department of Natural Resources is interested in helping by providing technical assistance, logistical support, and funding.
One of our partners, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), is a first responder during natural disasters. The DNR works closely with GEMA on natural disasters as evidenced by our efforts during floods in Albany. Through the CMp, the Department acts as a sponsor of the Governor's Severe Weather Conference. The Conference recently hosted nearly 600 local government officials, Emergency Management Association directors, and interested citizens. The CMP also participates as an exhibitor providing education materials through the CoastalArk and the mobile CMP display. Through Coastal Incentive Grants, the CMP also honored requests from two of our most populated coastal counties, Bryan and Chatham, for money to update storm surge/evacuation models. Other cooperative activities include funding and development of a video on hurricane mitigation, completion of a Hurricane Guideline for marinas, and participation in task forces dealing with mitigation and evacuation.
The DNR is committed to working with GEMA and other agencies to plan a response to natural disasters and to evaluate responses following such events. Impacts of natural disasters go well beyond human impacts and regulatory agencies must consider natural resource. impacts as well. Those include ecological impacts to wildlife, impacts to the sand sharing system, damage to cultural and historical resources, and potential cleanup impacts to marshes and other open areas. To accomplish this, Georgia is leading an effort to organize a response by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) to help states respond to natural disasters. Georgia will be part of a NOAA pilot effort this year to provide aerial photography and other services to emergency management agencies and other responders.
Developing and nurturing partnerships such as these are critical to the success of the CMP. They are also challenging. Many agencies are overwhelmed with responsibilities and taking the time to coordinate and plan activities with a nontraditional agency is difficult. As the CMP moves forward to the next millennia, one of our top priorities will be partnerships.~

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From the Director
I was recently invHed to participate in a panel discussion at a meeting ofLeadership Georgia on Jekyll Island. Each panelist was invHed to make a few remarks before the interaction with the audience began.
At the urging ofseveral associates at CRD, I have decided to reprint these remarks in the Georgia Sound this quarter. I hope you will receive these remarks in the same way the Leadership Georgia folks received them.

Recently, Carol and I were invited to spend the weekend on Cumberland Island with our hosts, Sam and Betsy Candler, and another couple, Jerry McCollum, president of the Georgia Wildlife Federation, and his wife Terry, an accomplished arborist from Madison, Georgia.
We delighted in the sights and sounds of nature on Cumberland and relished in the history that defined Cumberland Island in earlier times. We saw freshly laid loggerhead turtle nests, watched least terns try to entice us away from their nesting area in the sand dunes, observed mullet jumping in Christmas Creek, and were thrilled at the sight of pelicans soaring overhead as we walked along the beach.
CumberiandJsland is a national seashore to be enjoyed by anyone who wants to visit. The Candlers, Fergusons, Fosters, and Warrens -- these are some ofthe people who foll9ht Charles Frazier's plans to turn Cumberland into anotherHiiton Head Island -- who testified at Congressional hearings -- andwho gave up their land on Cumberland Island to protect it for all of us to enjoy. After Congress desigp.ated Cumberland a national seashore, the National Park Service put forth a plan to take 10,000 people a day to Cumberland. Had that plan been put into effect, Cumberland Island would have been loved to death.
I love the Georgia coast, and I bet most of you love it too. Unfortunately, Ym afraidweCire about to do what
almost happened to Cumberland -- we are on the verge of loving coastal Georgia to death. Twenty-nine years ago -- when I began mycCireerhere as a marin~ biologist -- the most difficult challenge I faced was the decision to open the sounds to shrimping.
Now, our coastal population is exploding and land values in some areas have ipcreased to the degree that entrepreneurs are looking to develop every square inch of avaHable land -- including marsh hammocks that are accessible only by constructing costly bridges acro~s the marsh. We're faced with saltwater intrusion in the Floridan Aquifer, our principal source of drinking water. Coastal tourism is at anal1 time high -- valued at over two billion dollars annually -- and growing. Fishing pressure on our coastal and marine fisheries resources has grown by 27 percent in the last five years.
Chris Sawyer, chairman of the national board of directors of the Trust for Public Land, and a fellow classmate in Leadership Georgia, recently said, "One of our challenges is to better understand how we can have real economic opportunity that does not come at the expense of the quality of our air, water, and land." We are truly fortunate that Georgia has places like Cumberland Island, and Sapelo Island, and Ossabaw Island -- that are protected and preserved for us to enjoy in their natural setting.
We are fortunate that Georgia passed a law to protect our coastal marshlands almost 30 years ago.....what was then only the second wetlands protection law in the nation. We are fortunate that organizations like the Nature Conservancy organized a major effort several years ago to identify the rich natural resources of the Altamaha River, the third largest watershed on the East coast of the United States, and has been working since that time with landowners along the river to identify ways they can help protect this irreplaceable resource.

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We have much to be thankful for, but we have many challenges ahead. My staff recently participated in a meeting in Glynn County where the question was asked: "How do you place an economic value on quality of life?" Listen closely to a statement made in response to this question by one local official. "The people who come to the coast today are looking for a certain quality of life. As that quality of life degrades, a new group will move in and accept that quality of life. As that quality of life degrades, another group will move in and accept that quality--cmdsoon, and so on."
This, my friends, is a sobering thought. It begs the question, -- just what do we owe those folks who are already here -- especially those who have lived here all their lives? Do we accept the concept that quality of life is all relative and that we owe nothing to our present generation?? I hear so many people say, "I hate what they've done to Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head, and most of the coast of Florida." Friends, it's happening here.
At this point you might be thinking I'm just another tree-hugging environmentalist. I assure you I am not. But, when I see a land speculator cut down every tree on a five acre lot and then put up a "for sale" sign, it makes my blood boil. Economic prosperity does not have to come at the expense of our environment. Once more -- economic prosperity does not have to come at the expense of our environment.
In addition to the question: How do you place an economic value on the quality of life -- let me offer some other questions for you to consider:
- how much growth is too much? - how much environmental degradation will we allow in support of additional growth? - would not development be more desirable if it was linked together by green spaces? - what changes in coastal Georgia, if they occur, would you, personally, find objectionable?
Let me make a couple of observations as you consider these questions: Fortune Magazine recently named
Austin, Texas as the number one city in the countryiJ1 whichtodobusiness. Here's what government leaders in
Austin had to say about this distinction:.."The selection was based in part on our expanding high-tech industry, but other major elements were our quality of life -- our livability, and our urban natural beauty -- this is what all the experts tell us is attracting business folks."
In New Jersey (not a state I would considerto be a leader in environmental friendliness), voters recently approved, by a vote of two to one, a billion dollar bond issue to preserve one million acres of farms and other open space during the next 30 years. This represents half the remaining developable land in New Jersey. Did it just get so bad in New Jersey that the citizenry felt compelled to make a dramatic change? Thus, here's another question for you to consider -- how long do wewait before we make dramatic changes in the way we look at developing our coast?
Carol and I were Leadership Georgia's program chairs for the 1990 program on the environment. At registration we gave everyone a button imprinted with the words "God is Watching Us" to wear throughout the program. At the conclusion of program on Saturday morning, we turned out all the lights in the room except one spotlight highlighting a flag of the earth inscribed with some very thought-provoking words written long ago by Chief Seattle. With all the lights out and everyone's focus on the earth, we played Bette Midler's popular song, "From a Distance," the chorus of which includes the words, "God is Watching Us".
As you ponder the questions I asked you to consider, please remember the words of Chief Seattle, and also remember -- "God is Watching Us." ~

THE

GEORGIA COASTAL

Duane Harris, Director Coastal Resources Division

MANAGEMENT

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nO~~ll tIle nraill to \~llere?By:JanetEvans

Have you ever wondered where the water goes once it enters the storm drains along our streets? Libette Pritchard's 9th grade Citizenship class at Glynn Academy did a little research and were surprised by their discovery. Contrary to popular belief, most storm drains are not connected to water treatment systems. The students talked to the folks at the City Sewer and Water Department and learned that all Brunswick storm drains, those grated openings in the street, collect rain water and empty directly into the Brunswick River. When this rain water becomes polluted with trash, road dirt or oil, it pollutes our rivers and harms our fish.

One of our most pervasive problems in urban watersheds is the careless dumping of used motor oil, antifreeze, paints and other pollutants down storm drains. The accumulated pollution of many individual actions is often greater than industrial pollution. Rhonda Hunter from Earthwater Stencils states, "Unknown to most people, most of these drains go directly to their nearest river, lake or ocean, not to sewer treatment. Storm drain stenciling is a great way you help make the community aware of this fact."

With stencils provided by DNR- Coastal Resources Division, students from Glynn Academy and Glynn Middle School are stenciling messages on the storm drains around the school in Brunswick to raise public awareness. They hope to remind citizens that water quality and aquatic life are directly affected by waste going down storm drains. Clean water is everyone's business. You can help too.

What can you do to help:

Do not use the storm drain for disposal of oil, paints, pesticides, grass clippings or other materials.
Wash your car on the lawn - not the driveway. Sweep, don't hose down your driveway. Avoid over watering your lawns to prevent excess runoff. Minimize or eliminate use of fertilizers and pesticides. Recycle used motor oil by taking it to any oil changing
station. Maintain your car to prevent oil leaks.

For more information on volunteering for the Storm Drain Stenciling Program or how you can prevent water pollution, call Janet Evans at CRD at (912) 264-7218. ~

Glynn Academy students busily stencil area storm drains.

SI0'111 O,ain Stenciling i~,ound G1inn i~cadel11i

Where do the storm drains in your neighborhood lead?

By: Brittany Davis, Glynn Academy

In most communities around Georgia, rain washes down the street gathering dirt, oil and many other pollutants before finally entering the storm drains on the side of the road. Often p~ople wash their cars, change their oil or use various types of insecticides and fertilizers on their lawn. A portion of these products being used ends up on the side of the road and is washed along with the rain, down one of the many storm drains. What people do not realize is that the storm drains lead to the ocean, rivers, and streams in our area. On Tuesday, May 25, Glynn Academy Citizenship students reminded people to protect our water by stenciling messages such as: "Dump No Wastes Drains to River" on the storm drains around the community. This will be an on-going project that will continue into the summer. ~~

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The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has established the Colonial Coast Birding Trail by selecting 18 superior bird watching sites along Georgia's coast, the Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) announced recently. Birding trail destinations along the 1-95 corridor include sites where wildlife enthusiasts can see resident and migratory bird species. The designated birding sites are located in seven counties and include public lands, state and federal holdings, state parks and historic areas as well as private recreation areas.

,

* Birding Trail Site

fri\ Interstate Highway
~ Exit

"Georgia's coastline offers excellent opportunities to watch birds. By establishing an official birding trail, we hope to encourage amateur and expert birders alike to explore our state's coast," said Terry Johnson, manager of the Nongame-Endangered Wildlife Program, Wildlife Resources Division.

The first phase of the Colonial Coast Birding Trail includes sites at Richmond Hill City Recreational Area and Fort McAllister State Park in Bryan County; Crooked River State Park and Cumberland Island National Seashore in Camden County; Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Charlton County; Fort Pulaski National Monument, Savannah-Ogeechee Canal, Skidaway Island State Park and Tybee Island in Chatham County; Altamaha Waterfowl Management Area, St. Simons Island, Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation State Historic Site and Jekyll Island in Glynn County; Fort Morris Historic Site and Melon Bluff Nature Preserve in Liberty County; and Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge in McIntosh County. The birding trail meanders through beautiful natural areas bordering fresh water marshes to sites at the ocean, offering opportunities to see a variety of wading birds, shorebirds and songbirds.

More than 200 bird species may be seen along the Colonial Coast Birding Trail. Depending on the time of day and season, birders may see rare and endangered species including wood storks, bald eagles, peregrine falcons and red-cockaded woodpeckers.
Trends show that nature-based tourists such as bird watchers have low impacts on the environment and high impacts on local economies. DNR will work in partnership with the tourism industry, local municipalities and other agencies to promote nature-based tourism and to determine the economic potential for coastal communities.
Watch for official Colonial Coast Birding Trail signs to appear in coastal Georgia this summer. For more information about the Trail, contact the WRD's NongameEndangered Wildlife Program at (912) 994-1438.

eCQ"Qnt,cDc"cl,ts
trQntC"'Q",,,'CQ,,stDirdi"y TraU
According to the U.S. Fish andWildlifeService,Americans spent $29.2 billion in 1996 to observe, feed, and photograph wildlife.. The overall economic impactor "ripple. effect" was $85.4 billion,. including elVer a million jobs and $323.5 million in state income taxes. This information.demonstrates clearly the economic benefit to states and local communities that actively seek to preserve and even create wildlife habitats. Also, it provides a significant rationale for controlling excessive development. Residents .and visitors to Georgia's Atlantic coast will be delighted with the development of the ColonialCoast Birding Trail by the Department of Natural Resources.It gives the PL!blica way and pnincentiveJo experience the best coastaLGeorgiahas to offer, and will lead to an increase in ecotourism throughout the. area.

The Colonial Coastal Birding Trail is partially funded by monies raised through sales of Wildlife License Plates. With projects such as the Birding Trail, DNR is putting tag dollars to work for wildlife! ~

John Johnson, owner Wild Birds Unlimited Sf.Simons Island, Georgia

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The Coastal Management Program is recommending to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that 19 Coastal Incentive Grant Projects be funded for the funding cycle beginning Oc ober 1, 1999. Applications were submitted by December 1, 1998 and scored by a review panel. Beginning with the top-scoring project, funding was then allocated to as many projects as possible by Coastal Management Program associates. Our goal is to fund projects that will help us answer the natural resource questions we're facing today and help make a difference in the lives of coastal area residents.
This year's funding theme, chosen by the Coastal Advisory Committe,e, was "Water-Related Resources," with a strong emphasis on non-point source pollution control, as well as education. Applicant projects received more points if they followed this theme. In addition to theme projects, the Coastal Management Program was also able to fund several "Critical Local Need Projects," designed to help municipalities or counties deal with pressing resource problems that may not be as closely related to the funding theme.
Below is a summary of the projects recommended for funding, including the applicant's name and a brief description of the project. For more information please contact Dr. Stuart Stevens, (912) 264-7218.
Title: A Public Housing Plumbing Retrofit Water Conservation Project Applicant: Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission Description: This project will install low-flow plumbing fixtures in 376 public housing units in Savannah, saving over 3 million gallons of water and over $5,000 annually for the Savannah Housing Authority.
Title: A Program to Heighten Citizen Awareness of and Participation in Water Quality Issues through an "Adopt-A-River" Program for Georgia's Coastal Rivers Applicant: University of Georgia's Marine Extension Service Description: Five citizen action committees will be developed to foster volunteer assistance with water quality monitoring, data analysis and data presentation. (Year 1 of a 3-Year Project)
Title: Altamaha Riverkeeper Project Applicant: Mcintosh County Board of Commissioners Description: This project will develop an assessment of the river's condition and trends and identify issues of concern. It will also implement a plan to organize and educate stakeholders and increase public involvement in management issues.
Title: Assessment of the Satilla River's Biological Quality and Primary Productivity Applicant: University of Georgia's Marine Extension Service Description: This project will monitor the biological quality of the Satilla River at seven sampling sites for one year and develop a model of the river. Project conclusions will be presented to stakeholders at water quality workshops in Brunswick and Atlanta.
Title: Beach Access and Park Enhancement Project for Massingale Park Applicant: Glynn County Board of Commissioners Description: This project will partially redesign, renovate and enhance public access at this beach-front park. (Year 2 of a 2.:vear Project)
Title: Coastal Region Training Center for Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Program Applicant: Savannah State University Description: This project will aIlow the continuation of a regional training center that will raise public awareness about water quality and enlist public support for monitoring and protecting water resources. (Year 1 of a 3-Year Project)
Title: Develop and Sponsor a Water Supply Planning Coordination Conference Applicant: Chatham County Board of Commissioners Description: A conference will be planned and held to coordinate planning efforts of communities depending on the upper Floridan aquifer.
Title: Development of a County-Wide Master Drainage Plan Applicant: Liberty County Board of Commissioners Description: This plan will evaluate the quantity and quality of county storm water resources, evaluate the capacity of the existing storm water system and make recommendations for future improvements. (Year 1 of a 2-Year Project)
Title: Development of the Cay Creek Wetland Interpretive Center Applicant: City of Midway Description: This project will develop and construct a public viewing area of natural wetlands, including a self-guided nature trail, boardwalk and parking area. (Year 2 of a 2-Year Project)

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Title: Soil and Water Conservation Education Programs for Coastal Counties Applicant: Coastal Soil and Water Conservation District Description: This project will provide three Best Management Practice workshops, educational materials and scholarships for personnel involved in land-disturbing activities in five coastal counties.
Title: Soil and Water Conservation Education Programs for Coastal Georgia's Lower Tier Counties Applicant: Satilla River Soil and Water Conservation District Description: This project will provide three Best Management Practice workshops, educational materials and scholarships for personnel involved in land-disturbing activities in five coastal counties. It will also purchase classroom improvements and demonstration equipment.
Title: Study of Changes in Contaminant Marker Compound Concentrations and Genotoxic Biomarkers During Phases of Development Planned for the Altamaha River Basin Applicant: Skidaway Institute of Oceanography Description: This project will track changes in contaminant marker compounds in canals, creeks, lakes and storm drains at a several-thousand acre site being developed in the Altamaha River Basin. (Year 1 of a 2.:vear Project)
Title: Study of Human Impacts on the Salinity Regimes of Coastal Georgia Estuaries Applicant: University of Georgia Description: This project will investigate the historic changes in patterns of land use and the withdrawal of riverine surface water in the lower Coastal Plain. It will also investigate how these changes have affected the salinity regimes in Georgia's estuary system. (Year 3 of a 3-Year Project)
Title: Study of Saltwater Intrusion in the Upper Floridan Aquifer Beneath Savannah Applicant: University of Georgia Description: This project will define the boundary and rate of saltwater intrusion into the aquifer. A model will be developed to analyze the intrusion mechanism and predict intrusion change under different water use scenarios. (Year 2 of a 2-Year Project)
Title: The Coastal Georgia Game Applicant: The Coastal Georgia Regional Development Center Description: This project will develop and publish a Coastal Georgia Game travel booklet to increase awareness of Coastal Georgia's natural and historic resources and promote ecology and heritage based tourism. The 20-page booklet will be distributed at Welcome Centers along [-95.
Title: The Impact of Land Use Changes on the Salt Regimes of Georgia Estuaries Applicant: University of Georgia Description: This project will build on a previous project and will evaluate changes in land use over time, couple them to freshwater runoff and evaluate the response of the salinity regime of the Satilla River estuary to fluctuations in river discharge. (Year 1 of a 3-Year Project)
Title: Upper River Landing Stabilization and Revitalization Project Applicant: Wayne County Board of Commissioners Description: This project will provide for expanded recreational and tourism use of the site while preserving its natural and ecological value. A barrier wall, new boat ramp, stairs and picnic area will be constructed.
Title: Water Quality Monitoring for Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve Applicant: Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve Description: This project will systematically monitor various chemical and biological parameters of Sapelo Island's estuarine watershed.
Title: Watershed Radio Documentary Applicant: Georgia Sea Grant College Program Description: This project will produce an integrated multi-media educational program examining issues surrounding the maintenance of the state's rivers and estuaries to insure the health of its coastal water resources. Components include a one-hour radio documentary and a watershed education web site, including a streaming audio version of the radio program accessible at any time. ~

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The Altamaha River - its flow, its water quality, its associated ecosystems and its plant and animal specie - was the focal point of a Research and Management Workshop held by the Coastal Management Program in Jesup June 1 and 2.

On June 1 a technical meeting provided a rare opportunity for researchers from around the state to talk and exchange information with each other, and with managers who are actively managing the resources being studied. Researchers shared study data and results, and managers reported on management projects, as well as their needs for scientific data and information on which to base important regulatory decisions. Approximately 78 people attended this portion of the workshop.

The A1tamaha River was the focus ofdiscussion at the recent River Workshop sponsored by the Georgia Coastal Management Program.

A stakeholder meeting on June 2 attracted approximately 90 interested citizens, local government officials, industry leaders, fishermen and conservationists. Panel presentations and discussions at this meeting focused on several broad themes. The water resources panel discussed groundwater/surface water interactions, water quality, planning initiatives and water use. Seabirds, shorebirds, fresh and saltwater fish were the highlights of the ecosystem panel. Finally, several conservation organizations discussed their Altamaha ecosystem initiatives during the conservation initiatives panel session.

Workshop participants enjoyed the wide variety of speakers and topics and the open forum for discussion the meetings provided. They also voiced a desire to move beyond mere description of natural resource problems to a search for practical solutions to those problems. All those in attendance agreed the meeting was a success and that more such interactive workshops should be developed.

The Altamaha River Research and Management Workshop is the second in a series of five workshops the Coastal Management Program will sponsor to highlight the conditions and trends of our coastal rivers, as well as research and management projects that target them. The first River Workshop, hosted by the City of Woodbine, featured the Satilla River. Watch for the next workshop sometime next spring. ~

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Some of you may be surprised to find out that coastal Georgia boasts a significant number of visitors in the spring and summer months. The visitors to wi)ich I refer are the endangered Florida manatee, Trichechus manatus latirostris. Our Florida manatees are members of the order Sirenia, meaning their closest relatives are dugongs, and other manatees, even the Stellar's Sea Cow which was hunted to extinction within 30 years of its discovery in 1741. It is widely thought that manatees are close cousins to elephants and hyraxes. You may see a vague resemblance if you encounter a manatee up close.
Manatees are large, slow-moving aquatic mammals found in both fresh and salt water. Mammals are warmblooded animals that nurse their young and have hair on their bodies. Female manatees nurse their young from teats located just behind the pectoral flippers, much like elephants. Manatees are round, streamlined animals with great, spoon-shaped tails that are flattened top to bottom. They have gray or brownish looking skin. The average adult manatee is about 10 feet long, weighing 800-1000 pounds. Individuals have been known to reach 13 feet in length and weigh as much as 3500 pounds: Females are generally larger than males. Manatees are vegetarians, eating 4 to 9 percent of their body weight a day; this means that an 800 pound animal eats at least 32 pounds of vegetation daily. The manatee's preferred food along the Georgia coast is Smooth Cord Grass, Spartina aItemiOora. You may see manatees feeding at high tide along the grassy edges of tidal creeks and rivers. Manatees are commonly found near marinas or docks where they graze on algae that grow on pilings and docks. Be watchful; manatees spend most of their time at or near the surface of the water and therefore are extremely vulnerable to boat strikes. Boat strikes are the leading cause of human related deaths of manatees. To complicate the scenario, manatees are difficult to see, particularly from a fast moving vessel. Gray noses, backs, or tail edges are often the only parts of a manatee that can be seen above the waterline. To reduce your chances of collision with manatees - wear polarized sunglasses to cut the glare when boating, avoid running very close to grassy banks at high water, and observe NO WAKE areas near docks, bridges and marinas. Keep watch for surface disturbances on the water as this may indicate the presence of manatees. A sure sign of manatee presence is a line of round boils at the water's surface. Manatees generate these boils as they travel underwater; when the strong tail thrusts upwards and downwards. You can track a manatee's progress underwater by noting the sequence in which these boils appear.
In the event that you encounter an injured or dead manatee CALL: 1-800-2 SAVE ME from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM or 1-800-241-4113 after hours. Be prepared to give time and specific location of the animal/s in question. DO NOT touch a stranded manatee or attempt to push it back into the water, you stand a good chance of getting injured yourself and causing further stress to the animal. It is not uncommon for perfectly healthy manatees to get stranded on a mud bank or sand bar on an outgoing tide. Left alone, these animals find their way safely when the tide returns. One of the best sources of information about manatee activity in the state comes from public sightings. Please call us with your sightings at the two numbers listed. Enjoy manatees in Georgia and help protect their safety along our coast. ~

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Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division One Conservation Way, Suite 300 Brunswick, GA 31520-8687

Tbe Georgia SOUl1~ is produced by the Georgia Coastal Management Program. If you would like more information on
the Georgia Coastal Management Program, please contact the Coastal Resources Division at (912) 264-7218.
Layout & Design by: Lea King For address corrections or to be added or deleted from the mailing list, please contact
Lea King at (912) 264-7218. lea@ecology.dnr.state.ga.us
Contributors to this issue: Nancy Butler, Brittany Davis, Janet Evans, Duane Harris,
John Johnson, Lea King, Robin Phyliky, Stuart Stevens, Beth Turner and Terry West.
This publication is made possible through efforts by the Georgia Department of Natural
Resources and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Deadline for the Fall 1999 edition is September 1, 1999. We welcome
contributions of articles and photography.