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 () 0 aspects of life in our region. These marshlands serve as a nursery )> 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 Ul ~ helping to control and even eliminate pollutants. r t-t~Lf-M~LL~OV\, Acyes of 6Stl-{~Y~es Coll\,t~~V\,~11\,g: ~ 350,000 Ac.Yes of S~Lt M~YSVt () -1 3,400 M~Les of Tic:t~L SVtoYeL~V\,e Ul 1.00 M~Les of s~ 11\,c:t 'B-e~ clttes 1.4 "B-~YY~ey lsL~V\,c:tS fl 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 '' 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 N w E 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. 3 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. 5 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 -- r 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. ~~ 11 /t::~- ~ ~:r;. . . "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. 7 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 -e - 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