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May 2021
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In the Tides CREW
Issue No. 69 May 2021
Publisher/Editor Amy Thurman amy@southerntidesmagazine.com
7 Editor's Note
Consulting Naturalist John "Crawfish" Crawford crawfish@uga.edu
9 Business Spotlight: Bull River Marina 11 Bioretention Fields
The Bitter End Columnist Captain J. Gary "Gator" Hill theoriginalcaptaingator@gmail.com
13 Okefenokee Programs 16 Georgia Report Card 23 Saving the Vernon River
Around the Reef Columnist Michelle Riley michelle.riley@noaa.gov Contributors
24 Hurricane Season News
Katie Antczak Okefenokee Swamp Park
21 First Sea Turtle Nest
26 New Living Shoreline
Kadie Beth Duncan UGA Marine Extension & GA Sea Grant
28 Community Updates
Meaghan Walsh Gerard Ogeechee Riverkeeper
30 The Bitter End
Tim Keyes GADNR Wildlife Resources Division Rick Lavender GADNR Wildlife Resources Division Kedra Shafer St. Marys Riverkeeper
Copyright © 2015-2021
All content herein is copyright protected and may not be reproduced in whole or part without express written permission. Southern Tides is a free magazine, published monthly, and can be found at multiple locations from St. Marys, Ga., to Beaufort, S.C.
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About the Cover:
A nearly endless array of critters and photo opportunities await you at Okefenokee Swamp Park. (Article starts on page 13.) Photo by Katie Antzcak
May 2021
Southern Tides Magazine
Letters to the Editor:
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Editor’s Note Another hurricane season starts in just a few short weeks. Are you ready?
I
have two questions for you. 1) If you were given six months’ notice that a major hurricane was going to make landfall in your community, what would you do now to prepare? 2) How do you know you won’t get hit? The answer to the latter is, you don’t know whether or not a hurricane will come through coastal Georgia. Another “higher than average” season is predicted, so it only makes sense to prepare, and starting now will spread out the cost, reduce the drain on the supply chain, and make life easier and safer if something does happen later. Here’s a list of things to do now, before the threat of a storm is imminent. • Learn the risks at your location. Flooding? Downed trees? Wind damage? Spin-off tornadoes? Use these factors to develop your plans. • Determine where you’ll go if evacuation is necessary, how you’ll get there and what you’ll take with you. • Check your insurance coverage and be clear on what you’ll be dealing with if the worst happens. Make changes if needed. • Create a home inventory. A simple list of what’s in every room and photos of items you value will go a long way in helping you get reestablished if the worst happens. • Scan or copy important documents (medical, property, identification, insurance, legal, financial, pet records) and store in a secure location or your emergency kit. • Prepare an emergency kit with food, water, important documents, first aid kit and medicines, clothes, flashlights, phone chargers, and other essential items. • Make any repairs to your home or property such as roof leaks, loose shutters, or other issues that could be hazardous in high winds, heavy rain or flooding. • Service your generator or consider purchasing one. • Plan for what you’ll do with important family heirlooms if a major storm heads your way. Move them to higher locations in your home if flooding is possible, take them with you if you evacuate or move them to a storage facility inland? • Plan ahead for your pets. Do you have the carriers, leashes, and shot records you’ll need if you have to travel with them? Create a checklist of pet supplies you’ll need so you don’t miss anything if a storm heads this way. • Begin saving water storage containers now. These can be purchased, or as simple as 2-liter soda bottles that have been
cleaned and stored securely somewhere in your home. In the event of flooding, power outages or a no-use order, you’ll need a gallon per person for 3 – 14 days, water for your pets, and water for cleaning and handwashing. • Begin now stocking up on food. If you purchase a few extra items each time you shop, you can avoid the run on the grocery store at the last minute. Purchase things your family will eat, that you can prepare without power, and that will store safely through the rest of the year. Dry beans are no good if your family won’t eat them, or if you have to run the generator for the better part of a day just to cook them. Canned foods, items you can freeze (if you have a generator), and dry goods you can easily prepare are your best options. • Begin now purchasing fuel (and STA-BIL ®) for your generator. Take a look at your generator manual to see if you need oil/filters, how long it will operate on a tank of fuel, and load capacities to plan how much fuel you’ll need to get you through from three days to a week without power. • Put aside cash. ATM machines and card readers won’t work during power outages and you’ll need cash on hand to make any unexpected purchases. Small bills, nothing larger than a twenty. • Have a plan for your boat. Where you’ll store it, how you’ll get it there, what you’ll remove to secure it, such a the bimini and coolers. • Plan for any special needs. Does someone in your household require power for a medical device? Have medical treatments they can’t miss? Plan ahead. This is by no means an all-inclusive list; your plans will be based on your specific circumstances. For more information, the Southern Tides hurricane guide will be posted on our website prior to June 1. You can also visit your county’s emergency management agency website for checklists, evacuation guidelines, links to check your area’s flood probability, and more. Be ready and be safe. See you out there!
Amy Thurman
Editor in Chief amy@southerntidesmagazine.com
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Business Spotlight: Bull River Marina
B
ull River Marina sits on the west bank of Bull River, on the south side of the Bull River Bridge. The marina has changed hands several times since it originally opened in the mid-80s, and in June 2020, was purchased by Brandon Long and Gina Hughey. The couple are avid boaters and eager to share their love of the coast and the water with marina guests. Brandon, a Savannah native, spent more than a decade in the Northeast working as a facility manager and event coordinator, while Gina, originally from across the river in South Carolina, worked in Ophthalmology for over 20 years. In 2016 they began preparing for a future in the marine industry, initially in purchasing their first sailboat together, followed by taking jobs that allowed them to learn the business from the bottom up. This culminated in the purchase of Bull River Marina last year. “At the peak of one of the craziest years this nation has ever known,” Long said. They faced some challenges along the way. Deciphering legalities and regulations pertaining to the marina and the services they wanted to offer and accepting and learning to work with the many state and federal entities involved. “Learning to do our own research to get to answers to questions that sometimes even the departments involved didn’t fully understand was key,” Long said. “It never hurts to have a good lawyer, too! But we currently have good relationships with
the DNR, Coast Guard and Environmental Protection Division, to name a few.” Long and Hughey have done extensive work to modernize the facilities and now have a great deal to offer boaters and visitors to the area. Bull River is a certified liveboard marina with a pumpout station, a fuel dock (diesel and gas), shower facilities, and wi-fi, as well as bike racks. They employ service-oriented staff to assist boaters with their needs and have a range of bait, tackle and gift items for sale in the dock office, to include original local art. In addition to traditional dockage, they also provide a range of tourism services, to include fishing and eco/dolphin charters, a Daufuskie Island excursion and taxi service, beach drop services, and boat rentals. The facility itself is also available for small events of up to 30 people, to include meetings, social events, and more. As the couple looks to the future, they make it clear that they’re eager to take an active role in the boating and coastal community, both as boaters and as marina owners. “We love the opportunity to expose our guests to the natural beauty of the area and educate them on our ecosystem and rich history. Our goal is to perfect that delivery system and we have new charter programs in place this season that will add fun and adventure to the ingredients of an already delicious stew!” Long said.
A panoramic view of the marina. Photo provided by BRM
May 2021
Southern Tides Magazine
9
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Bioretention Flooding Fix By Kadie Beth Duncan Communications Intern UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
being used to properly dig the bioretention cell was a really cool experience.” Camden County’s Public Works Road Crew provided the tools and construction assistance for the installation. They worked alongside Warren and Brown to excavate the area and add sand and topsoil to form the base layer of the bioretention cell. Mulch, rocks and gravel form the second layer, and a variety of native plants including swamp sunflower, blue ageratum and blue-eyed grass were planted on top. While the COVID-19 pandemic slowed the progress of the project, the bioretention cell was fully installed and functioning by the end of 2020. The native plants have been established in the area, and two rain barrels donated by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Resources Division have been installed. The final step of the project is to create and display educational signage at the site in 2021. “We will hopefully have an open house and some educational events that will help give people examples and a demonstration of
T
he UGA Cooperative Extension office in Camden County has experienced its fair share of soaked floors and wet shoes. When it rained, water streamed into the building. Fortunately, these days the floors remain dry thanks to the installation of a new stormwater management practice that alleviates flooding and serves as an educational tool for visitors. In 2019, Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant teamed up with the Camden County Extension office and the Camden County Department of Public Works to find a solution to the flooding. The fix was a bioretention cell that captures and treats runoff by mimicking the natural water cycle. “A bioretention cell is a landscape depression that is designed to hold the rain for about 24 to 48 hours to slowly allow the water to seep back into the ground,” said Jessica Brown, stormwater specialist for Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, who led the project. As stormwater flows over surfaces like the parking lot outside of the extension office, it picks up pollutants and carries those to streams and larger waterways, degrading water quality, Brown said. The bioretention cell limits the amount of runoff, keeping nearby bodies of water clean. Brown first learned about the flooding issues from Jessica Warren, Camden County Extension agriculture and natural resources agent, who is based at the facility in Woodbine, Georgia. “Our office had some flooding issues when we had heavy rainstorms, or severe weather events, since the parking lot is slightly A bioretention cell is a stormwater management practice that helps mitigate flooding risks graded towards our building,” said Warren. by layering organic materials such as sand, top soil, gravel, mulch and plants. “We would have water come in the doors and Photo provided by UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant saturate areas in the office, so you would see it standing several inches up on the foundation of the building.” what they could do with their landscape issues, [such as] how to With a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency better integrate native plants or how to manage stormwater issues and the assistance of a UGA student studying biochemical in their landscape,” said Warren. engineering, Brown designed and oversaw the installation of the The project, which was recently awarded the Four for the Future bioretention cell. award by Georgia Trend and UGA Public Service and Outreach, The project was a valuable experiential learning opportunity for has also opened the door for the Camden County Extension office Jake Forcier, a UGA Public Service and Outreach Student Scholar to serve as an example for other communities in coastal Georgia interning with Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant. experiencing similar issues. Brown “truly set me up for success and allowed me to put my best foot forward in my first engineering project outside of school,” Forcier said. “Going out there and seeing all my calculations May 2021
Southern Tides Magazine
11
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New Okefenokee Programs Article and Photos by Katie Antczak Environmental Science Education Coordinator Okefenokee Swamp Park
W
here do you go to spark your imagination and wonder? For many people across the world, that place is the Okefenokee Swamp. Where else in the Southeastern United States can one take a leisurely stroll down a wooden boardwalk and listen to the “tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet” song of a Prothonotary warbler, the “clacking marbles” call of a Southern cricket frog, or the deep rumbling bellow of an American alligator? Where else can you take a guided boat tour, put in your own kayak or canoe, or take a train ride and see an 11-foot-long alligator basking on the bank of a blackwater creek? At Okefenokee Swamp Park (OSP) in Waycross, Georgia, you can hear, see, and do all of that and much more! Our mission is “to provide visitor access and interpretive education that inspires conservation advocacy for the Okefenokee Swamp.” My personal goal as the environmental science education coordinator at OSP is not just to give our visitors a good show and things to see, but to provide an immersive experience that allows visitors to build a personal connection to the Okefenokee Swamp. My first day on the job, I asked myself, “How do I get children who have been stuck in their phones and video games to appreciate this spectacular land? How do I inspire them to want to protect this unique place?” The answer I uncovered was immersive and fun educational programming experiences. As an educator and a naturalist, I have always followed the adage “show me, I forget; teach me, I learn; involve me, I understand.” I did not want the programs that I developed to be a “show and tell” that visitors of any age would quickly forget. I wanted the OSP visitors to walk away with an understanding of the swamp they could not get just by reading about it or watching videos. I wanted them to build a connection to this fascinating land, have the experience of a lifetime, and leave with a sense of awe and wonder. I wanted to encourage them to investigate, explore, and learn more, and thus in turn inspire them to be conservation advocates for the Okefenokee Swamp. With this goal in mind, I created the brand new “I wonder…” monthly Wednesday Homeschool Program and am continuing the very successful monthly Junior Naturalist Program. Both of these engaging educational programs involve children in immersive activities in the swamp. We discuss the culture and history of the swamp as well as its ecology. The goal of each of these programs is not just to teach about the Okefenokee Swamp, but to give the May 2021
Southern Tides Magazine
Above, a wood-lined boardwalk; below wild iris in bloom.
13
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children the opportunity to form their own questions and explore their curiosities through investigations and explorations within the swamp. Participants are given the opportunity not just to hear about the swamp, but to investigate it for themselves through wildlife watching, dip netting for macroinvertebrates, crustaceans, and fish, participating in activities that model what happens to populations of wildlife when an area is affected by habitat loss or degradation, guided nighttime interpretive hikes and boat excursions, and much more. I also began developing educational programs for the Okefenokee Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) district’s schools, which include schools in the nine counties surrounding the Okefenokee Swamp. These programs provide professional learning opportunities for teachers within the area, and through the OSP’s partnership with Okefenokee RESA, I have been able to visit 14 different schools, some of which I have visited multiple times for different grade levels. It is vitally important for the conservation of the Okefenokee Swamp that we reach those students and teachers who may not actually have the opportunity to visit the Okefenokee Swamp, and going into schools is just one way to achieve that goal. Between February and May of this year, I’ll have taught over 2,000 students and teachers about the wonderful and unique Okefenokee Swamp. For the purpose of reaching students and teachers that cannot actually visit the swamp, I create educational programs appropriate for the classroom for K-12 students. Each grade level’s program is designed to educate students and teachers about the animals and plants at the Okefenokee Swamp while also meeting the Georgia Standards for Excellence in Science. It also engages the students in thinking about the Okefenokee Swamp as a unique and fascinating place. Students are given the opportunity to observe and touch several of OSP’s educational animals and plants, and they complete an activity which helps them remember and understand the science about the animals and plants as well. Another educational program that will take place over three weeks this summer is Camp OSCAR. This year the camp will take on a brand new focus: Okefenokee Sustainability, Conservation, Advocacy, and Respect. Each day of this half-day camp will focus on how we as citizens can conserve our natural resources, learn and understand more about them, and gain deeper connections, respect, and appreciation for them. Campers will have truly immersive experiences in the swamp. They will be involved in wildlife surveys, plant surveys, water quality surveys, building habitats for some of our cavity nesting species, experiencing what it was like to be an early “swamper,” participating in activities that model what life is like for species in the Okefenokee Swamp, and helping in the creation of a carnivorous plant garden that will be used for educational purposes. Campers will hear from experts in ecology, biology, forestry, and history so they will understand what it takes to have a career in those fields and what they could expect to be doing day to day. I never imagined that one day I would get to work at, explore, and teach about the largest, intact blackwater swamp in North America that is home to so many different species, to inclue 50 mammal species, 37 amphibians, 64 reptiles, 39 fish, 234 birds, and over 600 plants. The Okefenokee Swamp is a breathtaking and truly awe-inspiring place, and it is my deepest hope and wish that through our educational efforts at the OSP, more people from across the globe will one day be inspired to love it and protect it just as we do. May 2021
Southern Tides Magazine
Top, a tagged gator getting some sun. Above, words of wisdom; below, a kayak trail through the swamp.
15
Coastal Georgia
B+
Ecosystem Report Card 2020 Moderately good ecosystem health Overall health
Wate r
B
In
rd
I
ie
A
>80-100% good
B
>60-<80% moderately good
C
>40-<60% moderate
D
>20-<40% poor
F
0-<20% very poor
s
Bi
dex
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+
nd
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Qu a
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Overall, Coastal Georgia received a B+, a moderately good score (77%). The highest scoring indicators were blue crab, spotted seatrout, and sea turtle nesting, and all had perfect scores (100%). This year’s report card makes some changes in the indicators used to grade the ecosystem’s overall health. These changes removed right whales as an indicator species and added spotted seatrout and bald eagles. The changes reflect a more holistic approach to the report card with the goal of more accurately reflecting the overall health of coastal Georgia. You can learn more about these changes and why they were made further inside this report card.
ex
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Grading scale A
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90%
72%
fecal coliform
dissolved oxygen
enterococcus
100% spotted seatrout
66% American oystercatchers
40%
92%
90%
wood storks
16
blue crabs
red drum
shrimp
59%
100%
57% bald eagles
60% sea turtle hatching
Southern Tides Magazine
100% sea turtle nesting
May 2021
New indicators and methods for 2020 For the past five years, two human health indicators, three fisheries indicators, and six wildlife indicators have been averaged into three indices and then averaged into an overall Coastal Georgia ecosystem health score. In 2020, the values and threats to Coastal Georgia were revisited and the importance and relevance of indicators was reviewed. This led to the addition of three new indicators: dissolved oxygen, bald eagles, and spotted seatrout. The two indicators covering right whales (population and calves) were removed from the report card scoring. While the right whale is an important species, its population viability is influenced by much more than the time they spend in Georgia waters. The indicators were reorganized into four indices: water quality, fisheries, birds, and sea turtles. Despite the change in methodology, the scores from 2014 to 2019 were recalculated and showed similar results as past report cards.
Bald eagles are a new indicator in 2020 Bald eagle productivity on the coast was above average in 2020. No new occupied nest territories were discovered, and no nests were lost to storm damage. Some pairs built new nests within existing territories or rebuilt nests previously lost. The percentage of dead and dying nest trees on barrier islands is increasing, likely from saltwater damage caused by tropical storms and hurricanes in recent years. Coordinating with landowners and developers helps prevent disturbance-related nest failures or abandonment. Eagles hit by cars while feeding on roadside carrion continues to be a leading cause of mortality for the species. Bald eagles are an important species in coastal Georgia. Photo by Tim Keyes, GADNR
Report card highlights in 2020 Wood stork Wood storks received a moderate score of 59% in 2020. While populations fluctuate annually, environmental factors such as food and habitat availability throughout their range can influence their success.
Spotted seatrout Spotted seatrout received a good score of 100% in 2020. This indicator was added in 2020 to help give a more holistic view of fisheries health in coastal Georgia. Seatrout are a relevant indicator because they spend a majority of their lifecycle in multiple habitats within Georgia estuaries. May 2021
Southern Tides Magazine
Wood storks are an important indicator species as they depend on varying wetland types to successfully nest and raise young. Photo by Tim Keyes, GADNR 17
Indexes highlights Fisheries index The fisheries index scored 83%, an A-, in 2020. Overall, fisheries indicators are good, which means that sustainable fishing practices are used, and the coastal environment is able to support most commercial and recreational species. Blue crab, spotted seatrout, and shrimp all had good scores. Red drum had a moderate score of 40%. While the reason for this is still being studied, population changes like this may be due to environmental factors such as salinity or temperature.
A
A spotted seatrout caught by recreational fisherman Mike Smith. Recreational fishing licenses can be purchased at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com. Photo provided by Mike Smith
Water quality index The water quality index scored 84%, an A-, in 2020. Overall, water quality indicators are good, meaning that it is generally safe to swim and to eat local shellfish, and that there are oxygen levels that support fish and other species. Dissolved oxygen and fecal coliform had good scores, and enterococcus had a moderately good score.
A-
Bird index The bird index scored 61%, a B-, in 2020. Overall, bird indicators are moderately good. American oystercatchers had a moderately good score. Bald eagles and wood storks had moderate scores. The lower wood stork score was most likely due to repeated storms affecting one colony right as they were establishing their nests and in the early egg-laying stage. Overall, wood stork populations are being maintained, American oystercatcher nesting is healthy, and bald eagle nest success is moderate.
B-
American oystercatcher in flight. Photo by Tim Keyes, GADNR
Sea turtle index The sea turtle index scored a 80%, an A-, in 2020. Overall, sea turtle indicators are good. Sea turtle nesting is good, while sea turtle hatching is moderately good. Sea turtle management is promoting populations and maintaining excellent nesting.
A
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Sea turtle nesting season is May through mid-August and females typically nest on the same beach annually. Photo by Adam Mackinnon, GADNR Southern Tides Magazine
May 2021
Coastal Georgia is a gem of biodiversity and natural wonders Marshes, wetlands, and barrier islands make up the diverse habitats of Coastal Georgia. The region is rich in abundant wildlife like sea turtles, fishes, shellfish, birds, and mammals. Recreational opportunities abound, such as boating, fishing, bird watching, kayaking, and swimming. Protecting the ecosystems and their inhabitants helps support not only recreational opportunities, but also the local economy, seafood industry and tourism.
Coastal wetlands, like salt marshes, filter pollutants as water runs downstream, which improves water quality for species in the estuary, like marine mammals. Photo provided by GADNR
Maintaining a healthy coastal ecosystem is an important way to support recreational uses, such as kayaking, and commercial uses, like fishing and ecotourism. Photos provided by GADNR
Report card scores from 2014–2020 In Coastal Georgia, report card scores vary from year-to-year. By tracking health over time, we can evaluate changes in the environment and prioritize management and restoration. For example, DNR actively manages wood stork and American oystercatcher populations by habitat creation, predator management and nesting area closures to prevent disturbances.
Indicator
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
fecal coliform 92% 92% 92% 80% 90% 98% 90% enterococcus 82% 91% 94% 94% 96% 78% 72% dissolved 79% 85% 87% 84% 84% 87% 90% oxygen shrimp 100% 100% 96% 84% 84% 75% 92% red drum 83% 69% 100% 100% 91% 100% 40% blue crabs 22% 62% 47% 100% 100% 100% 100%
To see the full 2020 report card and those from previous years, visit: coastalgadnr.org/ReportCard May 2021
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spotted seatrout 99% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% American 47% 61% 28% 13% 78% 78% 66% oystercatchers wood storks 67% 70% 64% 84% 81% 78% 59% bald eagles
NA 66% 46% 57% 62% 51% 57%
sea turtle 77% 69% 64% 47% 44% 64% 60% hatching sea turtle 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% nesting
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First Sea Turtle Nest of 2021 By Rick Lavender Communications and Outreach Specialist GADNR Wildlife Resources Division
N
This sandy mama was photographed digging her nest at dawn. (Photo from a previous season.) Photo provided by GADNR
esting season for loggerhead sea turtles has started on
schedule. The annual cycle of these massive turtles returning to beaches in the Southeast to lay their eggs began in Georgia with a nest found Saturday morning, May 1, on Little Cumberland Island. Georgia Sea Turtle Cooperative members reported a second nest Sunday on Sea Island. Georgia Sea Turtle Program Coordinator Mark Dodd said the first nests are “always around the first of May.” “It’s kind of like clockwork.” This year’s first also has historical ties. While nesting has been monitored on all Georgia beaches since 1989, the network took root in 1964 when former University of Georgia professor Dr. Jim Richardson started the Little Cumberland Island Sea Turtle Project. That loggerhead monitoring effort is the oldest in North America and shares the status worldwide with a program started in South Africa the same year. Little Cumberland Project Director Russell Regnery documented the nest on Little Cumberland Saturday. Hundreds more will follow on Georgia barrier islands, with nesting season for the state’s leading marine turtle and a protected species hitting full stride by June. Predicting a total is anyone’s guess, according to Dodd, a senior wildlife biologist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. But one question is whether 2021 can top the 2,786 nests last year, or better yet, the 3,950 in 2019, the most since comprehensive monitoring began. The state’s previous record was 3,289 nests in 2016. The total in 2019 also marked the first time the chunky-headed marine turtles had topped a Georgia recovery benchmark of 2,800 nests. The loggerhead population has been increasing at approximately 4 percent annually since the early 1990s. However, a new population model developed by UGA and the U.S. Geological Survey using nesting and genetics data indicates the population will plateau at current levels for about the next 20 years, its progress hindered by low recruitment during the early 2000s, Dodd said. If current protections remain in place at least through that period, the model suggests loggerhead numbers would then start to increase again, possibly reaching levels not seen since the late 1950s. Supporting that rebound is the goal of Georgia’s Sea Turtle May 2021
Southern Tides Magazine
Cooperative. The DNR-coordinated network of about 200 volunteers, researchers and agency employees patrols beaches daily during nesting season. Working under a federal permit, members mark, monitor and protect all loggerhead nests, plus those of other species that seldom nest in Georgia, such as green and Kemp’s ridley. The effort not only eases predation and increases the number of young that hatch, the data collected is used to assess loggerhead populations, assess threats and inform management. Cooperators also help with beach management. The program has been in play on Georgia beaches for more than 30 years. “The cooperative has done a tremendous amount of work,” and with a measurable impact, Dodd said. “We started out averaging about 800 nests a year and we’re now up to about 3,500.” Like other marine turtles, loggerheads – named for their large heads – crawl ashore on barrier island beaches, dig a hole at the base of the dunes and lay their eggs, usually at night. To prep for the season, Dodd and staff have been training interns, working with volunteers, partner agencies and organizations, and teaming with DNR’s Law Enforcement Division, all while navigating social distancing and other requirements involving the coronavirus pandemic. Game wardens enforce regulations including the use of turtle excluder devices, or TEDs, in commercial shrimping. The process followed on Little Cumberland and Sea Island last weekend will be repeated hundreds of times this year. An egg from each nest – less than 1 percent of the average clutch size on the island – was collected for UGA genetic analysis documenting the number and relatedness of loggerheads nesting in Georgia. The nest was then covered with a screen to protect the eggs from predators. To follow what's going on with nesting season, follow the Georgia Sea Turtle Cooperative on Facebook. www.facebook.com/groups/228230141073849/
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Protecting the Vernon River By Meaghan Walsh Gerard Communications and Administrative Director Ogeechee Riverkeeper
O
geechee Riverkeeper (ORK) and the City of Savannah are partnering to lead a long term project to protect the water quality and ecology of the Vernon River. The Vernon River receives a significant amount of the stormwater leaving the City of Savannah, via Wilshire Canal, Harmon Canal, Casey Canal, and Hayners Creek, all part of the Ogeechee River watershed. The goal is to improve water quality, restore ecological habitat, and “Protect The Vernon River” from current and future threats. The canals and tributaries that feed the Vernon River are highly impacted by urban development. When stormwater runs across parking lots, through streets, and off of other impervious surfaces it doesn’t have a chance to be filtered through soils before reaching the marsh. This, along with aging sewage infrastructure, failing septic systems, and disconnected riparian habitats, has negatively impacted the canals and creeks of the Vernon watershed. In 2001 a group of citizens came together to focus on protecting the Vernon River from urban pollution when it was listed as ‘impaired’ by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD). This allowed ORK and the City of Savannah to apply for grant funding and conduct further testing to trace causes and share the results. In 2012 the committee expanded to a group of stakeholders to create a Watershed Management Plan (WSMP). The plan was released in 2013 and a number of recommendations have been enacted. This year, Ogeechee Riverkeeper, the City of Savannah, and other stakeholders are updating the WSMP with new data and recommendations with the goals to: restore the waterways in the Vernon River basin to the point that it can be delisted as an impaired waterbody by GA EPD; and to reduce the amount of litter and plastic pollution entering the waterways.
“All of Savannah’s stormwater infrastructure flows into a public waterway,” says Laura Walker, Water Resources Environmental Manager for the City of Savannah. “These waterways are lifelines to Savannah’s environmental and economic health. We work hard every day to try and keep them fishable and swimmable. But we need everyone to treat the storm system with care. We need everyone to protect the storm drains, ditches, and creeks and keep them clean.” The steering committee includes representatives from: • The City of Savannah • Cuddybum Hydrology • Ogeechee Riverkeeper • Savannah State University • Skidaway Institute of Oceanography (UGA) • Town of Vernonburg • Concerned residents from neighborhoods throughout the watershed “With its gorgeous views and vibrant wildlife, the Vernon River exemplifies why our coastal rivers are such jewels and worthy of our protection,” says Damon Mullis, Ogeechee Riverkeeper and Executive Director. “We are so grateful for the broad group of stakeholders working with us to minimize the threats that urban runoff, and litter and plastic pollution pose to this special waterbody. Local residents are encouraged to volunteer for litter cleanups, citizen science programs, educational events, and more in the coming months.” Sign up to volunteer, view data, and read the 2013 WSMP at: www.ogeecheeriverkeeper.org/vernon
Vernon River image provided by Ogeechee Riverkeeper
May 2021
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Hurricane Season News Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. We’ll take a look at last year, the science involved, as well as 2021 forecasts. Remember, regardless of what’s predicted for the season, you should prepare for the worst. Coastal Georgia has been lucky since 2016 when Tropical Storm Hermine came through in early September, followed just a month later by Hurricane Matthew, which spun up the Georgia coastline about 50 miles offshore as a Category 2 storm. Remember, it only takes one storm to make this a bad hurricane season.
Storm Type Named Hurricanes Major
NOAA TBA TBA TBA
2021 Forecast CSU 17 8 4
NCSU 15-18 7-9 2-3
2021 Hurricane Names Ana Bill Claudette Danny Elsa Fred Grace
By Amy Thurman
Henri Ida Julian Kate Larry Mindy Nicholas
Odette Peter Rose Sam Teresa Victor Wanda
If more than 21 named storms occur in the season, the Greek Alphabet will be used.
2020 Season Recap The 2020 hurricane season started off in high gear with three named storms, Arthur, Bertha and Cristobal, prior to the official June 1 start. These three storms and six others that formed in June and July constituted a new record for nine early season named storms. It didn’t slow down. By September we’d already gone through all 21 names allotted for Atlantic storms for 2020, with Wilfred being the last name on the list. After the 21 names are used in a season, naming switches to the Greek alphabet, and by the season’s end, an additional nine named storms took us through Iota. This was only the second time in recorded history that the Greek alphabet was used for the rest of the season. In total, there were 30 named storms last year, setting a new record as the busiest season to date, followed by 2005 with 28 named storms. Of those 30, 13 were classified as hurricanes, 12 made landfall in the continental U.S. and six were considered major hurricanes, with windspeeds of 111 mph or higher. These numbers also made 2020 the fifth consecutive year of an above normal hurricane season. Why?
Saffir-Simpson Scale
Tropical Storm (not part of Saffir-Simpson) Sustained winds of 39 – 73 mph Dangerous winds, will produce some damage. Category 1 Sustained winds of 74 – 95 mph Very dangerous winds, will produce some damage. Category 2 Sustained winds of 96 – 110 mph Extremely dangerous winds, will cause extensive damage. Category 3 (major) Sustained winds of 111 – 129 mph Devastating damage will occur. Category 4 (major) Sustained winds of 130 – 156 mph Catastrophic damage will occur. Category 5 (major) Sustained winds of 157 mph or higher Catastrophic damage will occur.
The Science One explanation for the increase in hurricane activity in recent years is the warm phase of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, or AMO. This is basically long-term warm and cool phases of the sea surface temperature in the North Atlantic. These phases last 20 – 40 years and we’re in a warm phase that began in 1995. Warm phases can mean more, stronger, and longer-lasting storms than cool phases. It’s impossible to predict how long we’ll remain in this warm phase, but we are still definitely in it. (For more on the very interesting topic of AMOs, visit: www.aoml.noaa.gov/phod/amo_faq.php) 2020 was also a La Nina year. El Niño and La Niña are climate patterns that originate in the Pacific and can impact weather worldwide. Simply put, El Niño means a stronger hurricane season
in the central and eastern Pacific basins, while La Niña means a stronger hurricane season in the Atlantic basin. La Niña began to taper off last fall, leaving us in a kind of neutral zone, as El Niño has yet to begin and may not begin again this year. Each of these climate patterns typically last from nine to 12 months. They typically begin in the spring (around March) and last through the fall. To learn more about El Niño and La Niña, visit the government climate website at bit.ly/nino-nina-QA. On another note, last year marked the end of a 30-year “period of record,” running from 1991 – 2020. The previous period of record ran from 1981 – 2010 and provided data that gave us yearly averages. Those averages, which you’ve seen listed alongside most 24
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May 2021
hurricane forecasts for the past ten years, were 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes, per season. Now that we’ve entered a new 30-year period of record, the data from 1991 – 2020 has been calculated and we have new “average hurricane season” numbers to use as a guideline. And they’ve increased to 14 named storms and seven hurricanes, though three major hurricanes per season remains unchanged. This doesn’t mean we’ll have more hurricanes, it simply means that the numbers have increased over the previous 30-year period of record. What does all this mean for this year?
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2021 Hurricane Season Forecasts Southern Tides follows three hurricane forecasting centers: NOAA, Colorado State University (CSU) and North Carolina State University (NCSU). NOAA has released a statement that it will issue its forecast in late May, and it seems unlikely that they will predict a less-than-average season. CSU and NCSU have issued theirs and both are predicting slightly higher than average activity. In looking back over the past six years, all three agencies have routinely forecasted fewer storms than what were actually recorded. It is also possible that these forecasts may be revised as new climate data becomes available or changes significantly, so check periodically for updates. CSU states in their published forecast, “We anticipate an aboveaverage probability for major hurricanes making landfall along the continental United States coastline and in the Caribbean.” They also state that a significant El Niño seems unlikely, and if you’ll recall, a significant El Niño means a less active hurricane season in the Atlantic basin. In addition, CSU predicts a 45% chance of at least one major hurricane striking the east coast (the average for the last century is 31%). The bottom line is another busy season and you should begin preparing for it now. Southern Tides will post our hurricane guide on our website prior to June 1. For some basic tips to get you started, take a look at the Editor’s Note on page 7. Stay safe!
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Living Shoreline Installed Article and Photos by Kendra Shafer St. Marys Riverkeeper
together and secured them in the proper locations. Fifteen students listened closely through the misty salt wind to the directions of their instructor, UNF Biology Professor Kelly Smith. “It was an excellent learning experience for them,” Smith said. “They get a lot out of seeing the challenges of setting up an experiment in low tide.” Her students will be comparing two types of structures, one using cemented oyster shells and one using loose shells, to see which recruits the most new oysters over time, she said. Some UNF Geography and GIS students of Dr. Chris Baynard also participated, adding a high tech element to the morning with their drone flying overhead. Living shorelines are growing in popularity in coastal states as an option to traditional “hardened” shorelines, such as sea walls. Many living shorelines consist primarily of stacks of net bags of oyster shells, creating an extension of the shoreline when combined with
St. Marys Riverkeeeper Anna Laws on site at the living shoreline installation.
A
s the tide crept higher and higher, undergraduate students from the University of North Florida's Coastal and Marine Biology Program hustled to install their crab trap structures along the mudslick shoreline. The students joined forces early Saturday morning with volunteers from the St. Marys Riverkeeper (SMRK) to plant beat-up old crab traps into the surf, with the understanding that they will appear as dream palaces to oysters. In all, arrays of 70 crab traps were added to the living shoreline along the Amelia River at Fernandina Beach’s Old Town, completing a project that began with an initial crab trap reef in 2019. The Amelia River is the mouth of the St. Marys River, which begins in the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia and makes a 130-mile path to the Atlantic Ocean. “We used reclaimed crab traps filled with oyster shells to rebuild a reef offshore,” said St. Marys Riverkeeper Anna Laws. “The first group of traps has held together quite well over two years and shown significant oyster growth. Now, we are taking what we have learned and adding a line of structures to act as a wave break. We also have designated specific traps for a student study.” The shoreline was lively at sunrise as the students and Amelia Island Sailing Club volunteers carried traps to the coast, wired them
Above and below, students and Riverkeeper volunteers work to place recycled crab traps containing oysters.
26
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May 2021
native plants. When the first set of crab traps were installed at the Old Town Living Shoreline in 2019, SMRK was fortunate to have the assistance of Dan “the Oysterman” DeGuire, a former commercial oysterman who died in 2020. He used crab traps to grow oysters for years. They obtained the traps from a non-profit organization that collected them rather than letting them go into a landfill. “It was a kind of recyclable thing to take these old traps and turn them into something useful,” according to Rick Frey, DeGuire’s friend and founder of the St. Marys Riverkeeper. “Also, it creates a structure that the oysters would cling to much easier and much quicker.” Advantages of Living Shoreline Technique: • Creates a vegetated buffer that absorbs and disperses wave energy thereby reducing erosion • Allows for animal access between upland and aquatic habitats • Mimics natural shoreline dynamics • Provides alternatives to the construction of rock revetments and bulkheads for erosion control • Can be equal to or less expensive than structures such as bulkheads and rock revetments • Preserves, creates, or maintains habitat for aquatic plants and animals • Restores critical feeding and nursery habitat for fish • Can trap and retain land runoff containing nutrients and pollutants List provided by GADNR
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This living shoreline can be seen from Fernandina Plaza Historic State Park at low to mid-tides. May 2021
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Have you contacted a boat service company to get work done on your boat, only to be told they’re weeks or even months from being able to get to you? Part of the reason for this is a shortage of tradesmen or skilled labor. Many marine businesses in coastal Georgia have open positions to fill, but there aren’t enough qualified applicants available. Additionally, as older generations retire, there don’t seem to be enough younger generations choosing to follow similar career paths, which will eventually create a critical workforce issue. With 24,665 boats currently registered in the six coastal counties, 9,863 in Chatham County alone, there’s no shortage of work needed to maintain them. To that end, the Georgia Marine Business Association (GAMBA) met recently with key personnel from Savannah Tech and the Chatham County Public School Systems to begin discussions on how to alleviate this issue in Chatham County and beyond. The objectives of these discussions included: introducing students to potential careers in the marine industry, developing marine trades training programs at both high school and college levels, creating apprenticeship and intern programs, and even setting up scholarships. More information will follow as talks progress and plans are put into action. To learn more contact GAMBA through their website at www.georgiamarinebusiness.org.
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In the spring, it is not unusual to see young wildlife that appear to be alone. Before you attempt to help – remember that it is best to leave wildlife where you find them, according to the GADNR Wildlife Resources Division (WRD). "When you take wildlife out of their environment and bring them into your home, it often takes away that animal’s ability to then survive in the wild, where they belong,” explains Kaitlin Goode, program manager of the Georgia WRD Urban Wildlife Program. “In most instances, there is an adult animal a short distance away – even though you may not be able to see it. Adult animals, such as deer, spend most of the day away from their young to reduce the risk of a predator
finding the young animal.” The best thing people can do when they see a young animal is to leave it exactly as they found it for at least 24 hours. If the animal is still there after this time period, reach out to the local WRD office for guidance (georgiawildlife.com/about/contact). Young wildlife demand a great deal of care and have specific nutritional requirements. If they are not cared for properly, they will not be releasable or retain the ability to survive on their own. Persons not licensed and trained in wildlife rehabilitation should not attempt to care for wildlife. In fact, Georgia law prohibits the possession of most wildlife without a permit. For more information, visit www.georgiawildlife.com and click on “Living With Wildlife” or contact the local Wildlife Resources Division office (georgiawildlife.com/ about/contact). 28
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May 2021
Changes to USCG Documentation
Of the nation’s nearly 12 million registered recreational boats, those owners who federally document their vessels, or about 165,000 boats, will be spared the hassle of renewing their U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation every year as a result of recent rule change that now makes documentation valid for five years. The move was the result of Coast Guard costsaving efforts and requirements set forth in the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018. BoatUS Manager of Government Affairs David Kennedy notes the new rule also eliminates some options that were formerly available. “Going forward, the five-year Certificate of Documentation is the only option available for Boat owners will no longer recreational vessels as the 2018 Act did not allow for need to renew their Certificate alternatives,” added Kennedy. of Documentation every year. Formerly, documentation was $26 per year and Photo provided by BoatUS boaters could select the number of years, from one to five. The new five-year documentation cost for is fixed at $130. Additional fees apply for initial documentation as well as exchanges. The Coast Guard will not issue refunds if an owner chooses to cancel documentation before its five-year expiration or if a vessel is sold during the renewal period. Boat owners generally choose to federally document vessels with the U.S. Coast Guard versus the more common practice of state registration, for one of two reasons: the boat was purchased with a bank loan and the lender required it or the owner plans to travel beyond U.S. waters. A Certificate of Documentation is internationally recognized and makes it easier for American vessels to enter and leave foreign ports. In a related issue, BoatUS continues to advise boaters to be vigilant when renewing U.S. Coast Guard vessel documentation as official-looking vessel documentation renewal notices can lead to confusion and higher costs. Some BoatUS members have received notices that are not from the Coast Guard but rather third-party companies whose name or return addresses may appear similar to that of the official U.S. Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC). For more information on documentation go to BoatUS.com/Documentation.
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UGA Care Program Trains Eco Tour Guides
UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, in collaboration with Manomet, Inc., certified the first cohort of ecotour guides participating in the Coastal Awareness and Responsible Ecotourism (CARE) program which was developed through a Coastal Incentive Grant from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division. The CARE certification program provides ecotour companies with the tools to implement best practices when it comes to water-based tourism activities. Fifteen guides participated in the16-hour course which focused on recreational use and potential disturbance of coastal habitats which has serious implications for wildlife, specifically for shorebirds. Engaging ecotourism companies through a certification course will build support for conservation and stewardship of important habitats and wildlife on the coast. The first CARE cohort includes veteran tour guides like Rene Heidt, owner of Sundial Charters on Tybee Island and those new to the profession like Sam Ghiotto works at Southeast Adventures based on St. Simons Island. Participants in the program provide tours by kayak, paddleboard, or boat along the Georgia coast. The guides graduated just in time for the spring birding migration and summer tourist season, allowing them to share information learned from the program with their customers.
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The BitterEnd Confederate Legends By Captain J. Gary "Gator" Hill
"F
Left: Treasures of the Confederate Coast: The Real Rhett Butler & Other Revelations, by Dr. E. Lee Spence Right: Gone with the Wind, by Margaret Mitchel (image © Paramount Pictures)
rankly my dear, I don’t give a damn!” Maybe one of the most frequently quoted lines ever. Of course, you all know this line from Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell’s seminal book about southern life before, during and after the Civil War. Many of us have either seen the movie or read the book, if not both. And yes, even though I’m a guy, I’ve done both, and I can do most of Rhett’s lines from the movie. As so often with my stories, buckle up buttercups, you’re in for another wild meandering! Mitchell stated numerous times before she went to her grave that this literary classic was a work of fiction, including all the characters. But that may not be the case. Recently, I picked up a book called Treasures of the Confederate Coast: The Real Rhett Butler and Other Revelations, by Dr. E. Lee Spence. I used it while working on another article, but also wanted it for future reference. This column is centered around three names, two historical and one fictional. Two I’ve already mentioned, Dr. Spence and Mr. Butler, but there’s a third, who might possibly be the basis of one Mr. Rhett Butler, and his name is George Alfred Trenholm. Let’s take a look at Mr. Butler’s attitudes concerning money and finances. Here are a couple quotes that give good examples. “I told you once before that there were two times for making big money, one in the up-building of a country and the other in its destruction. Slow money on the up-building, fast money in the crack-up. Remember my words. Perhaps they may be of use to you some day.” Another, “I warn you that I am not kind. I am tempting you with bonnets and bangles and leading you into a pit. Always remember I never do anything without reason and I never give anything without expecting something in return. I always get paid.” Quite possibly one of the most telling of clues as to who the real Rhett Butler is, “My funds are in Liverpool, not in Atlanta. If I tried drawing a draft the Yankees’d be on me like a duck on a June bug.” We also see his benevolence when he buys back Melanie’s wedding band, as well as Scarlett’s, and his high bid at the fundraising ball for a dance with Scarlett. Also in him making mention that he would do whatever is needed to move their standing up in society for their daughter, Bonnie. Now for a little look at Mr. George Alfred Trenholm who, as Dr. Spence poses, may be the character on whom Mr. Butler is based. Trenholm was a banker, financier, and blockade runner. And from where? Charleston, just like our Mr. Butler. When Trenholm was a young man he worked as a cotton broker at a major firm, John Fraser and Company, which he later led then owned. There are some additional parallels. At the onset of the war Trenholm quickly realized that the South was sorely lacking in industrial capability. He backed a huge fleet of blockade runners, as many as sixty steamers at one point. These blockade runners brought back home not only much need war goods, but silks and
satins and other finery for the South’s elite and wealthy (which was where the real money was). It’s rumored that Trenholm kept the company of “fast women” which might ring a bell, as in Belle Watling, the madam who owned a brothel frequented by Butler. Maybe one of the most telling comparisons (and there are more than this limited space allows) was where the money went. Trenholm kept his money in Liverpool, just as the fictional Butler did. In the last year of the war, Trenholm was made Secretary of the Confederate Treasury, and is thought to be where the wealth of the Southern states ended up. I want to state that I have relied heavily on the research by Dr. Lee Spence, and in no way want to take credit for his outstanding writing and knowledge of this subject. Dr. Spence is described as the Indiana Jones of the maritime world. What initially led him down this curious rabbit hole was in his discovery on the C.S.S Georgiana. Among the many artifacts recovered was a simple collection of pins that peaked his curiosity and that he later referred to as “Scarlett’s Pins.” There is so much more to this and other stories; hopefully I’ve accomplished my task and piqued your interest! I hope you’ll take time to do some research of your own into these fascinating people and the stories behind them. As always, peace and love, shrimp and grits, wash your hands, and I'll see you on the water!
Email: TheOriginalCaptainGator@gmail.com
30
Southern Tides Magazine
May 2021
115 Carolines Retreat
Southside
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