Objective: Manage Exotic, Invasive, and Native Nuisance Species Monitoring Framework:
• Monitor the locations, extent occupied, and outcomes of control efforts, for exotic, invasive plant and animal species.
• Through collaboration with CG-CISMA, monitor the spread of exotic species found in the region but not yet on the Island and prepare contingency plans to proactively address if found.
• Monitor behaviors and impacts of native wildlife species that potentially conflict with human activities and priority species conservation.
Objective: Assess regional and local groundwater dynamics to better understand factors effecting ecological systems on Jekyll Island as well as contributions of Jekyll Island withdrawals to regional groundwater dynamics. Monitoring Framework:
• Convene a meeting with regional partners to assess current groundwater levels on and around the Island, determine their effect on wetland hydrology, and create a plan to minimize the impacts.
• Incorporate the Carolina willow dune swale community into the Island-wide hydrological monitoring program and monitoring inundation levels, seasonality of inundation, and duration of inundation.
• Monitor natural recruitment of desirable wetland canopy vegetation within the loblolly bay community and Outer Coastal Plain sweetbay swamp forest areas.
Objective: Protect Wildlife Priority Species Monitoring Framework: • Monitor, in collaboration with resource partners, the status of priority species and the conditions of the habitats on which they depend.
• Monitor nesting use and success and protect nesting areas for priority species.
Objective: Protect Wildlife Species That Nest or Roost on Beaches Monitoring Framework: • Monitor beach-dependent priority species in coordination with key external partners. Objective: Manage and Maintain Beaches to Address Erosion, Accretion, Storm Events, and Future Sea-level Rise Monitoring Framework:
• Ensure that regular monitoring of beach/dune profiles and shoreline positions is occurring and that data/products are available for JIA use.
• Identify the areas most likely to be affected by projected sea-level rise and monitor the vegetation composition and structure, hydrology, and the occurrence of exotic species.
Objective: Maintain/Improve Connectivity and Water Quality for Salt Marshes Monitoring Framework:
• Identify all locations where stormwater infrastructure facilitates flow between freshwater wetlands, brackish wetlands, and saltmarshes.
• Evaluate how existing stormwater infrastructure contributes to or detracts from wetland ecology throughout the salinity gradient.
• Continue to evaluate water quality of current discharges into tidal wetlands/waterways.
MANAGEMENT 80
