Explore coastal Georgia [Oct. 2010]

GA N200.G2 Ml 2010 C6

MARSHES BEACHES MARINE WATERS

"WHERE THE PINEY WOODS OF THE LOWER COASTAL PLAIN MEETTHE ATLANTIC OCEAN -THIS IS COASTAL GEORGIA"
EXPLORE OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.KNOWTHECONNECTION .COM

TREK : ONE MARSH AND SHORE

TREK : TWO SOUTHATLANTICBIGHTANDTIDALRANGE
TREK:THREE BARRIER ISLANDS I SALT MARSH AND ESTUARIES

2 3 4-5

TREK : FOUR FIELDNOTES

6-7

TREK:FIVE FIELDSTUDIES

8 - 15

The PubLic Trust
The pubLic-trust doctri~ estabLishes the right ofthe pubLic to fuLLy ePtjoy certain Lands, waters and Living resources for a wide variety of uses. These if/t,CLude commerce, navigatioJ~t:, fishing, swimming and other reLated purposes. In coastaL c;eorgia, pubLic-trust resources if/t,CLude f/t,t/VigabLe waters, Lands under the f/t,t/VigabLe waters to the high-tide mark, and the pLants and animaLs inhabiting these Lands and waters.

G eorgia's coastal marshlands and shoreline provide natural recreational resources that are vitally linked to many

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aspects of life in our region. These marshlands serve as a nursery

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for many species that are important for the ecology, recreation and economy of the area. In addition, natural marshlands and shorelines provide a buffer against flooding and erosion while

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helping to control and even eliminate pollutants.

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t-t~Lf-M~LL~OV\, Acyes of 6Stl-{~Y~es Coll\,t~~V\,~11\,g:

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350,000 Ac.Yes of S~Lt M~YSVt

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3,400 M~Les of Tic:t~L SVtoYeL~V\,e

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1.00 M~Les of s~ 11\,c:t 'B-e~ clttes

1.4 "B-~YY~ey lsL~V\,c:tS

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1.3 St~te W~Lc:tL~fe M~V\,~ge~ell\,t AYe~s

::2. N~t~OV\,~L MOV\,l-{~ell\,tS

5 FevteY~L w~Lc:tL~fe Reft,{ges

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TREK TWO:
vin thtst m'!JI)r Cjtl)rqin wnttrshtds_ ntt tftht strtn~ ertdes n/IWI rivtrs ti)JUt tl)qtthtr bri""f}t""f} fresh wnttr tl) tht tMst

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w

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5

~ CjutfS trtnm
Tht rivtrtfwnttr kMWJ-1, ns tht Cjutfstrtnm mnrles tht I)Uttrttiqt tftht S l)uth Attnff,tie 'Bight

SOUTH ATLANTIC BIGHT Georgia's coast is at the center of a long, gradual bend in the eastern U.S. coastline that forms a large open bay known as the South Atlantic Bight. The remaining submerged portion of the lower coastal plain is called the continental shelf. Flowing along the eastern edge of the continental shelf is the river of water known as the Gulf Stream, which also marks the boundary of the South Atlantic Bight.

COA STALG A DNR .ORG

2

SOUTH ATLANTIC BIGHT AND TIDAL RANGE

TIDAL RANGE Georgia's curving coastline is at the center and most western point of the South Atlantic Bight, creating the largest tidal range south of Canada's Bay of Fundy. Georgia has a tidal range of six to nine feet, with a twice-daily tidal cycle.

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COASTALGADNR . ORG

TREK THREE:

BARRIER ISLANDS Separating the Atlantic Ocean from the coast of mainland Georgia is a series of 14 barrier islands. These islands are several miles offshore and are connected to the mainland through a vast series of marshlands, tidal creeks, rivers and sounds. Wind, waves and currents are constantly reshaping this dynamic landscape.

COASTALGADNR.ORG

4

I BARRIER ISLANDS SALT MARSH AND ESTUARIES

SALT MARSH AND ESTUARIES Behind the barrier islands-and protected from the forces of the Atlantic Ocean-estuaries are formed where fresh water from rivers mixes with the salt water of the sea. Salt marshes lie along the edges of the nutrient-rich estuaries. These naturally occurring ecosystems provide important nursery grounds for Georgia's oysters, shrimp, crabs and fish.

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COASTALGADNR .ORG

OVERLOOK

TREK:FOUR FIELD NOTES

The term Living Shoreline describes an innovative management technique that uses native vegetation, oysters and other natural shoreline features to restore or enhance tidal-creek shoreline habitats that are affected by man-made and natural erosion .

COASTALGADNR .ORG

6

Live onk with

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v

spnnfsh Moss

Dtjster- stew

4 Servings
'-!=> cu:p butte..'-/_,. tsp s~ Lt u~ tsp wltt~te peppe..1. '-!=> cup 11A..~LR. u~ tsp ceLe..-1:1 s~Lt 1. pt. slttucR.ed Ol::jste..-s, uV~.dY~~V~-ed

Melt butter in saucepan over medium

heat; stir in salt, celery salt and pepper.

Slowly add milk to pan, stirring constantly.

Continue cooking until steaming -do not

boil. Add oysters and liquid to mixture.

Cook until edge of oysters curl. Remove

from heat.

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11 /t::~- ~

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.

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"B.o~Leol SVtr-~v~tt:p r(~JVt1-~b1'~rl"f'P? -

::2. ti:Jsp . SVtY~11A..p se~SOVI-~V\-g '-!=> cup V~V~-eg~..-

'-1=> cup w~te..1. L"S sltt..-~11A..p ~VI- sltteLLs, Vle~ds off

Mix seasoning, vinegar and water in saucepan. Bring to boil. Turn off heat and add shrimp. Cover and steam just 'til shrimp turns pink. Drain and peel.

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COASTALGADNR .ORG

OVERLOOK

TREK: FIVE FIELD STUDIES

Cttuv LslttoveL~ll'v s
T"Vte U\/~11\-g sl-tor-eL~Ii\-e ~~11\,~ge~eli\-t tecl111\-~qu.e ~s ~11\- ~1!\-1!\-0\/~t~\/e ~-p-pr-o~cl-1 to st~b~L~Z~II\-g OUY 11\-~tu.y~L
sl1or-eL~Ii\-es. rt t~R.es ~c{\1~11\-t~ge of 11\-~tu.r-~L fe~tur-es

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T"Vte go~L ~s to -pr-esewe ~11\-c{ bu.~Lc{ co~st~L 1-t~b~t~ts ~11\-c{ to -pr-otect tl1e sl1or-eL~Ii\-e fr-o~ er-os~oli\-. ALoll\-g ~ U\/~11\-g sl1or-eL~Ii\-e, ~~r-sl-1 gr-~sses, tr-ees ~11\,c{ si-t r-ubs -pr-ov~c{e 1-t~b~t~t for- -f1-s11, b~r-c{s ~11\-c{ otl1er- w~Lc{L~fe s-pec~es. H-e~Ltl1~ sl1or-eL~Ii\-es c~ll\- ~Lso -pr-ov~c{e ~ s~fe 11~\/eli\for- ~ ouli\-g ~ 11\-c{ s-p~WI/\-~11\-g f1-s11, cr-~ bs ~ 11\-c{ si-t eLLf1-s11
~11\, sl1~LLow w~ter-.

9

wndfng Birds

C{Yeett 6gyet AY~ec.! c.~lbc.~ - "Witl~te HUOV'v"

Sl::j~boL of tltte NC!t~OV'vt:lL Fee~s OV'v fl..sltt, ~V'vVertebr-t:lte.s,

Au~uboV'v Soc~etl:1

t:lVI-\:pltt~b~C!V'v.S CIV'v~ r-ept~Les

Utr-ge e~LL-wltt~te V!e r-oV'v

LoV'vg bLe~c~ Legs CIV'v~ feet

yeLLow, .str-oV'vg, .stout b~LL

N e.st.s ~V\, "r-oo~er-~es "

H-uV'vt.s t:l LoV've u.s~V'vg C! .stC! L~~V'vg

beVtt:lV~OY"

MljcteY~Cl c.~ w.ey~cc.~ V'vc.l

Ulr-ge LoV'vg Legge~ wt:l~~V\,g b~r-~.s . (t:lbout 50 ~V'vCV!es te~LL w~tltt C! bO+ ~V'vCVt w~~ .spt:lV'v)
L~.ste~ OV'v tltte re~er-e~L SV'v~t:lV'vger-e~ spec~e.s L~.st .s~V'vce 1..._3g4
OV'vLl::j br-ee~ ~f tltter-e ~.s C!V'v ee~.s~Ll::j C!cce.s.s~bLe foo~ .suppLl::j - ee~t ~t:l~V'vLl::j .s~C!LL fl..sltt
c;r-ee~t ~V'v~~cC!tor- of wetLt:lV'v~ lttee~Ltltt

ts!nd Rdetdnr
Stough rtrtfnry
Dunt.>

snLtMnrsh
Pttln~ nndAnimn!.s
SV\A-ootV\ Cor-otg ...-~s.s.
SpC!rt~V'vC! C!LtUV'v~ftor-C! K-ef::jsto"'-t -plt:ll"-t s-pec~es ~""the
c;eor-g~t:l ~M-ar-shes

UttOY~V\.tl ~YYOYc:lttl

c;r-t:ll:::j~sh -wh~te to l:::jellow~sh -tt:ll"-

H-erb~vor-e fee~~"'-0 O"'- the t:llgt:le t:ll"-~

Left r-es~~ue of-plt:ll"-t ~etr-~tL.<.S

beh~""~

fr-o~M- the t~~es

Ribbeot MusseL

c;euR.eli\.s~tl ~evu,~sstl

F~lter fee~er- th t:lt fee~s O"'-ll:::j t:lt h~gh t~~e, clos~"'-0 the shell t~ghtll:::j t:lt low t~~e to col"-ser-ve wt:lter-. S-pt:lw"'-~"'-0 occur-s

~ur~"'-0 the su~M-~M-er-.

Fl.ototLeY CYCI b
pug~LC!tor-

Mt:lles ht:lVe O"'-e e""lar-ge~ clt:lw use~
for- f.."'-~~"'-0 t:l ~M-t:lte

PrtVnfLiV!fJ wfds S hPft mtLil'l-t

TrPYLSttitJn Hfgh
Z,f)Jott MPtsh

BLutCrnb
cnLLineotts StlfJtdU$
HCt?Li" =bt~~utifUL + '~ctts " =swimrutr

6titstev-V\. Dtjstev- litll\.ol
Dtjstev-ctAtclttev-
s~ster-11\, Dtj.ster-
cre~ssostree~ v~rg ~11\..~ce~ "li1~c~ .sneLLe~ e~~bLe 11\!!.,oLLu.s~" KetJs.to~ s.-pec.Les. L., the c;eoygLC~ 1'\.<.CI ys.n Li.ve L., bYCic.R-Ls.n to s.C~Ltl::J wC~teys. ~CIY the oc.eCI"" Ol::Js.teys. CIYe fl.Ltey fee~eys, fl.LteYL"'-g u-p
to 1..5 gC~LLOV\-S. of WCitey -pey nouy
.sneLL wC~s. use~ L., nLs.toYLc. tC~bbtJ co.,s.tYL<.ctLo.,
,
A~er-l-C~V\, Dtj.ster-c~tcV\er-
t-te~ eii\II.,Citopu.s pe~ LL~e~tu.s
"Dresse~ ~11\.. e~ bLoo~ coLore~ 11\!!.,Cfll\..teL"
U!Yge s.noYebLn;;l wLtn Cl bLCic.R- neCI~, Ye~ bLLL, bYOWV\- bCic.R,, CIV\-~ wnLte UV\-~eYs.L~e .s-pec.L~LLzed bLLL CILLows. fee~L.,g O"'- Ol::Js.teYs., c.LCI~ Cl"'-~ otney bLvC~Lves.

Oil\. ctve~ctge OII\..Lt)

i out of eve~t) Vl.A.~LL~oll\.. eggs .suw~ve to be

MCILe -J~""'-""'-!:1 TVIe 1'\.<.~Le cy~b, oy

FemCILe - sooR, A 1'\.<.~tuye fei'\.I.~Le,

Clll\.. ctduLt

jLI'\.<.1'\.<.l::), n~s. bLue c.L~ws.

OY s.ooJ.<,, nCIS. Cl

6ctt.s botltl pLall\..t.s Clll\..d CIII\..~Vl.A.CI L.s

~""~ ~"" u""~eys.L~e
"~'f'YO"'-" wnLcn Loo~ LLicu ~"" u-ps.L~e-~ow""

wL~e~~ Cl-pYo"'- wLtn Cl .Sei'\.I.Lc.LycuLCI Y beLL s.nC~-pe tnC~t Loo~ LLR,e

TOY the "W~s.nL.,gto"'- the (,{. .S. CCI-pLtoL

MOV\-UI'\.I.e"'-t."

buLL~L.,g.

,,

snitMnrsh .__ __

oysttrRU(

Sf!tll'ttl'lll AtLtiMic tMrtlconstnL wnttrwny

~olfl..sV\ OY R.eol DYU
Sct-Cf e""o-ps oceLLCftus "drum with tiY1- tyt-Liletspot"
st~te M~Y!.II\,e spo~V!
Redd!.sV!-bYoll\,ze to coppeY coloY L!.ves Lll\, excess of 40 lje~Ys, ~~U.~tuY!. II\,g ~t
4 OY5lje~YS
youll\,g fisV! ~Ye c~lled "pupp!j dYu~~U."
SptJtttd SttltrtJut
Ctj ""osc~o"" ""ebuLosus "dog-tootheddnrle sJIU(}ky-MLortdstnfish''
COIIU.IIU.OII\,l!j foull\,d ~YOUII\,d OljStey Yeefs oftell\, c~ugV!t us!.ll\,g svlY!.~~U.p ~s b~ l.t but
l~yger- tr-out feed Oil\, s~~U.~ll fisV!
OtVter- I~~U.port~ll\,t III\,-SVtor-e sportfisV! Lll\, c;eoYg!.~ "B.lC! ci<G c;j Y"IA.VIA.. FlO!A."'-c;jey-
S~ee-ps~eC!c;j
TC!Y"j'O"'TY"~l'lttC! ~ l w~~t~"'-0 (So~A.t~er"" K~""0f.s~)
v!.s!.t wvvw. M~r-l.~Fl.sV!esofc;eor-gl.~ . or-g

Fl.r-st spec!.es to beco~~U.e co~~U.~~U.er-cl.~ll!j !.~~U.port~ll\,t Lll\, tV!e L-tS

Aver-~ge L!.fe sp~ll\, !.s i~ IIU. 11\,trs (IIU.~)(LIIU.UIIU. ~4 IIU.OII\,tVtS)

SV!Yl.~~U.p gyow ~II\, ~vey~ge o i ~ 11\,CVt per- ~~U.OII\,tV! dur-!.11\,g

wo .....en><o~ts

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MtlntiJ.Ut Fortst FrtshwtlttrSwtlmp

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TREK SIX: LIVINC: IN NATURE

f ' Located in the center of the South Atlantic Bight, coastal Georgia is a region rich in history, beauty, mystery and natural wonders. Cultures have mixed here for ages, just as the rivers mix with the sea. With its large tidal range, vast salt marshes and picturesque barrier islands, coastal Georgia has drawn people throughout its history.
This region's rich mosaic of nutrient-rich estuaries, cultural heritage, productive salt marshes and historic sites provides the backdrop for coastal residents and visitors alike. Some come for the breathtaking vistas and uncrowded beaches;
others come to experience the legacy and traditions of an original U.S. colony.
In this richly diversified land-and seascape, activities such as saltwater fishing, sailing, kayaking and bird watching continue to grow in popularity, contributing to the vibrant coastal economy.
As the coastal population and tourism continue to increase, we are charged with striking a balance between human use and the protection of our natural resources. Healthy coastal ecosystems provide many sustainable benefits, from coastal tourism to the harvesting of fresh seafood . It is only through the wise stewardship of our richly endowed environment that the special beauty and life of coastal Georgia will be preserved for generations to come.

COASTALGADNR .ORG

Kayaking Coastal Georgia Salt Marshes and Estuaries 16

A LAND OF BEAUTY, LEGEND AND WONDER
Fly Fishing for Puppy Drum
TA-SSy R.6CIP6 The bu[Ldii/L{J mnterint ki'L-Own ns tnbby wns used i~~t- the constnL .southenst from the sixtee~~t-th century to the mid-:t.E?oos. tt wns ensity mnde from Locnt mnterints nnd
provided n i'Ui!C/YI.S ofcoY~.Strnctii/L{J durnbte homes, fortifientioY~.S nnd other buitdii/L{Js. /VInk1/L{J tnbby ~quires n mixtu~ ofequnt pnrts sn!Mi_ Lim4 wnter nnd oystersheLLs.
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fit GEORGIA DlrA.krMfNTOf" NAT\JkALIU50UIIClS

COASTAlllfSOURC5 D IVISION

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