GA Coastal Management Program's Coastal Incentive Grants

• Maintaining or improving the quality of wetlands
• Conservation and restoration of wetland habitats
• Improved understanding of ocean and wetland habitats and functions

Location: Offshore Georgia Coastal Waters

Applicant: University of Georgia Research Foundation

The purpose of this project was to enhance the understanding of essential and critical fish habitats on nearshore reefs and in estuaries through high-resolution mapping. Georgia has a long, successful history of deploying very popular artificial reefs to create shelf habitat to support fisheries and recreational fishermen. However, many of these reefs are far offshore and not easily accessible to the general boating public. This project focused on areas within 10 nm of shore – those most accessible to recreational anglers, boaters, and divers. Using underwater mapping tools, bathymetric and habitat mapping of four of Georgia’s sounds conducted over the past 6 years (Wassaw, Ossabaw, St. Catherine’s and Sapelo) has revealed deeply scoured areas where underwater cliffs are formed to create hard substrate where complex marine communities have developed. In Year 1, mapping was completed at the nearshore artificial reefs that are most accessible to the public (those less than 10 nm offshore), and in Year 2, the deep (>15 m water depth) portions of the sounds and estuaries were mapped, to identify areas of unique habitat and bathymetry. These deep regions may provide thermal refuges, groundwater influx, or aggregation sites for commercial and recreational species. Further, bathymetric surveys 1) verify the safe-transit, LLW depths and status of all features in the artificial reefs, some of which were emplaced decades ago; and 2) document depth and morphology in areas proposed for floating cage oyster aquaculture to assist aquaculture and boaters. 

Location: Little Saint Simons Island, GA

Applicant: University of Georgia Research Foundation

This project’s objectives were to evaluate the use of the Hydrogeomorphic Assessment (HGM) utilized by the US Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District in evaluating lost wetland functions during the implementation of wetland mitigation. The Savannah District was testing a coastal fringe HGM model that was developed in the Gulf Coast of the USA, but the efficacy of its use in Georgia macro-tidal marshes was poorly understood. This study sought to compare HGM results in Georgia salt marshes to a detailed field assessment on Little St. Simons Island (LSSI). Seasonal water collections taken over a full tidal cycle provided an in situ snapshot of algal community composition, water quality, and water and sediment budgets. By evaluating altered and unaltered creek-sheds, scientists, managers and regulators can determine the potential “ecological lift” possible through restoration in Georgia’s valuable salt marsh ecosystems. Detailed analyses were compared to the HGM to suggest the Gulf coast’s HGM applicability to Georgia. Completion of this project provided coastal managers with salt marsh restoration strategies to move forward with improving the Georgia coast.

Location: Oglethorpe Point Elementary School, St. Simons Island, GA

Applicant: University of Georgia Research Foundation

This CIG project focused on two goals: educating K-8 youth about freshwater wetlands and workforce training of undergraduates in science and teaching to evaluate wetland health. Freshwater wetlands in coastal ecosystems are under threat from increased development, nonpoint source pollution, and other human impacts, and are often undervalued by the general public. Because wetlands play crucial roles in maintaining connectivity and balance among ecosystems, it is important to promote understanding of freshwater wetlands through education and training in order to promote long term preservation. Faculty from the University of Georgia (UGA) and College of Coastal Georgia (CCGA) partnered with Oglethorpe Point Elementary School (OPES) on St. Simons Island to monitor a freshwater wetland on the school’s property (accessible via the Discovery Trail) and develop educational resources and activities to support the school’s new Marsh Lab program. In year one, undergraduate science students participated in independent studies under the direction of Dr. James Deemy (CCGA). Students learned wetland monitoring protocols and collected data suitable for both coastal management and the development of STEM-based educational resources for elementary and middle school students. CCGA teacher candidates pursuing a degree in education worked alongside student researchers to translate field protocols and monitoring data into lessons for use in the Marsh Lab. Science concepts were brought to life through engaging STEM activities centered on wetlands as students learned about life cycles, water and nutrient cycles, physical, chemical, and biological properties of wetlands, and the important role wetlands play in the coastal landscape. Once developed educational resources were shared with other schools in Georgia. In year two, teacher candidates adapted lessons and activities for middle grades (6-8) with appropriate STEM components. The interconnected efforts among elementary to college-level students established a framework to increase knowledge and skills among Georgia’s future scientists and educators. Finally, outdoor interpretive signs, maps, and kiosks were produced to enhance education and public engagement along the OPES Discovery Trail and foster appreciation for wetlands among site visitors.

Location: Fortson Pond, Jekyll Island, GA

Applicant: Jekyll Island Authority

This project’s objectives were in support of engineering and construction work that began restoration within the First Creek tidal system on Jekyll Island. The first year was focused on construction with a pre-, during, and post-construction monitoring regime, and the second year focused primarily on monitoring the success of restoration post construction and evaluating the success of a small-scale pilot living shoreline. The primary goal of the restoration project was to efficiently and effectively maximize the average daily tidal amplitude within the area known as Fortson Pond which persisted in a chronically impaired state adjacent to Ben Fortson Parkway – the entryway of Jekyll Island. The goals of this project were the recommended next steps following the data collection, analysis, and modeling efforts from the two previous CIG grants, and included addressing several flow constrictions throughout the former First Creek system. First, an existing 24” concrete culvert was replaced with a 39” equivalent ellipsoid concrete reinforced culvert. The ellipse shape and the increase in size allow more water conveyance at low elevation flow allowing more flushing within the system. The second part of this project was the addition of a living shoreline and channel cleanout under an existing bridge in the system. Once the debris was removed, a small-scale pilot living shoreline was added, approximately 45ft on both sides of the channel, using a new product from Filtrexx to stabilize the shoreline allowing for a naturally appearing vegetated shoreline.

Monitoring the activities outlined above used a multi-faceted approach for both physical and biological factors with the system pre-construction, during construction, and post construction at intervals of 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, using a combination of UAV (Drone) flights, water level loggers, water sample collection, as well as in-situ observance of vegetation and invertebrate community density and diversity to assess the success of the restoration. A technical report was produced showing the effects of restoration throughout construction on the former First Creek system with a method for monitoring the small-scale pilot living shoreline. 

Location: Georgia coastal beaches

Applicant: Georgia Southern University

This project’s goal was to assess potential problems and provide site-specific solutions for using the polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method of monitoring fecal contamination at Georgia beaches. The USEPA recommends detection of Enterococci group bacteria as an indicator for microbiological pollution in marine recreational waters. In Georgia, this indicator has been used for beach monitoring since 2004 by using an EPA approved culture-based method. One of the major drawbacks of this method is the time lag between when a sample is collected and when actual results are available. Currently, local beach managers issue beach advisories based on laboratory results that take at least 18 to 24 hours to generate. With the 2012 Recreational Water Quality Criteria (USEPA, 2012), states are given the option by the USEPA to use alternative rapid methods for beach monitoring. One well-established method for rapid detection of fecal indicator bacteria at beaches is qPCR. Adopting a qPCR based method for a state means that results for microbiological monitoring can be obtained in less than 4 hours. Given that qPCR can provide same-day results and, once established, can also be used to trace sources of microbial pollution, adopting this method will likely be a beneficial choice for many US states in the near future. Therefore, there was a need for an exploratory study to understand whether this method will be appropriate for use in Coastal Georgia. This study provided advances in rapid water quality monitoring, fulfilling a major need for the Coastal Georgia economy which is heavily dependent on tourism. The outcomes of this project have been immediately useful to coastal management and local communities. The data obtained at the end of this project will be the basis for capacity building to meet future routine beach monitoring requirements and to have the appropriate tools to assess the sources of fecal contamination to recreational beaches.

• Improvements to existing urban runoff control structures in coastal watersheds
• Projects that address stormwater quantity and quality improvements utilizing BMPs recommended by the Georgia Coastal Stormwater Supplement

Location: Spanish Creek Watershed, Charlton County, GA

Applicant: Charlton County

Charlton County’s goal for this project was to evaluate and update the 2002 total maximum daily load (TMDL) Implementation Plan for Spanish Creek to a Nine-Element EPA Watershed Management Plan (WMP). The Spanish Creek Watershed is in the St. Marys River Basin in Charlton County. The creek, which drains the populated central part of the County, was determined to be impaired for fecal coliform (FC) and low dissolved oxygen (DO) in 1998. It is currently classified as not supporting its designated use of fishing. Updating the WMP will allow Charlton County and the participating municipalities to identify and target potential sources of impairment, prioritize implementation actions, engage local citizens and become eligible for EPA Section 319(h) grant funding to implement watershed improvement actions identified through this process. The project also includes a water quality monitoring component to involve Charlton County students. Monitoring is being performed by Adopt-A-Stream (AAS) trained volunteers from the local high school. A Citizen’s Advisory Committee (CAC), with representatives from the County and from the Cities of Folkston and Homeland, met on a bi-monthly basis to review the existing data, analyze and fill information gaps, and work with consultants from engineering firm Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood to design community-based actions and policies aimed at removing the impairments. This project included multiple avenues for citizen involvement, including the formation of the CAC, volunteer monitoring, and a River Clean-Up.

Location: Chatham County, GA

Applicant: Chatham County - Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission

The Coastal Georgia Adopt-A-Drain Stormwater Volunteer Program is a pilot program focused on stormwater education through civic engagement by interested volunteers. Volunteers are recruited based on their civic or science interests, educated on coastal Georgia issues pertaining to stormwater quality and quantity, and trained in how they can assist their community and the County in reducing these stormwater issues. Volunteer opportunities range from applying storm drain marking tiles to actively monitoring storm drains near them to removing debris that could potentially pollute nearby waterways or clog stormwater conveyance structures. Given Chatham County’s immense size, AAD volunteers are critical in having extra eyes and hands to monitor and report activity on such a large geographic area. Educating the community and utilizing interested residents as volunteers to apply storm drain markers and/or “adopt” a storm drain are critical components in Unincorporated Chatham County’s Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) which is written to address ways in which this jurisdiction will maintain compliance to their Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) as required by the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). This project involved compiling and evaluating storm drain inventory on file with Chatham County, creating a web-based interactive map of the county’s storm drain inventory, designing program logo and flyers, announcing the program and recruiting volunteers, purchasing programming supplies, and conducting program training.

• Add or enhance physical access for the public to coastal water resources (i.e. rivers, wetlands, beaches)
• Public access planning
• Conservation of riparian habitats through acquisition
• Land conservation, preservation, and/or management, especially for sea level rise retreat
• Analysis of land conservation needs and opportunities for habitat protection

Location: Coastal Georgia

Applicant: University of Georgia Research Foundation

This project’s goal was to update and standardize the Guide to Coastal Fishing previously published by University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant and GA DNR-CRD, as well as migrate the map from print to an online interactive web map. The Guide to Coastal Fishing in Georgia map series was created by the University of Georgia’s Sea Grant College Program in the late 1970s to provide a concise guide to recreational saltwater fishing in coastal Georgia. UGA developed the guides to meet the needs of a state in which the majority of the population lives more than 100 miles from the coast. The five guides are county-based and cover Georgia’s six coastal counties; Chatham, Liberty and Bryan, McIntosh, Glynn and Camden. One side of the foldout guide includes a map that highlights popular fishing spots for varied types of fishing styles (i.e. bottom, float rig, shark, tarpon etc.) as well as boat ramp, marina, tackle shop and public fishing locations. Depending on the county, additional information such as artificial reef sites, shrimp baitfish zones, recreational shellfish areas, and/or oyster recycling locations have been added over the years. The opposite side of the guide provides educational information that at times, has focused on fish identification, sustainable fishing practices, boating safety, and/or coastal habitat conservation and restoration practices.  Information on how to access copies of the physical maps can be found here ,  and the web map can be found here .

Location: Coastal Georgia

Applicant: University of Georgia Research Foundation

The purpose of this project was to address the recreational disturbance of shorebird habitat, which has serious implications for wildlife, specifically for shorebirds, through the development of a certification program for local tour guides. Habitat protection, including disturbance reduction, is an important strategy to mitigate shorebird population declines, which have been noted globally. A lack of awareness by kayakers, boaters and recreationalists can cause birds to flush and leave important feeding, resting and nesting sites thus wasting valuable energy, reducing feeding opportunities, and increasing risk of predation. A program incentivizing responsible ecotourism through a certification process will increase buy-in for businesses by providing a marketable credential, increasing communication between businesses and the agencies trying to reduce recreational disturbance, and creating a standard level of information that businesses convey to their customers, thereby enhancing understanding among constituents. Ecotourism, a thriving component of Georgia’s coastal economy, provides an opportunity to build support for conservation action by connecting residents and tourists to their environment, especially remote areas inaccessible without a boat or local knowledge of the waterways. Through this program, a database of ecotourism companies on the Georgia coast was created; input was received on the best development practices for the certification program; the general public was given an online webinar on the subject of shorebird disturbance and the project; and workshop content has begun to be developed on an online learning platform which will be available to tour operators in the second year of the project and beyond. Printed outreach material on shorebird and wildlife identification, conservation concerns, and recommendations for interactions was created and made available to certified guides helping to highlight the program and its goals.

• Improve understanding of coastal hazards and potential impacts
• Develop, implement or incorporate adaptation and mitigation strategies/plans or policies
• Strengthen local capacity to implement FEMA’s Community Rating System