FIGURE 4- EXTREME TIDES

Figure X. Number of extreme tides occurring per year since record keeping the mid-1930’s at the Fort Pulaski, GA tide gauge maintained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Figure 4. Number of extreme tides occurring per year since record keeping the mid-1930s at the Fort Pulaski, GA tide gauge Administration (NOAA) near Savannah, Georgia. Graph produced by Jason Lee of the Georgia maintained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) near Savannah, Georgia. Graph produced by Jason Lee of the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division using tide-gauge data from NOAA. DNR Wildlife Resources Division using tide-gauge data from NOAA.

NUMBER OF EXTREME TIDES PER YEAR

This trend, writ large, has led to the popularization of the term “King Tide”, which commonly This widespread trend has led to the popularization of the term “King Tide”, which commonly describes exceptionally high tides, is describes exceptionally high tides, but is now used so often that it suggests the exceptional is now used so often that it suggests the exceptional is becoming typical, (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal. pone.0170949). The potential for increased tropical storm and hurricane frequency and intensity due to climate change becoming typical, (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0170949). (https://www.yaleclimateconnections.org/2019/07/how-climate-change-is-making-hurricanes-more-dangerous/) means that planning The potential for increased tropical storm and hurricane frequency and intensity due to climate for storm preparedness and resiliency must account for increased flood risks affecting formerly lower-risk elevations. Ocean change (https://www.yaleclimateconnections.org/2019/07/how-climate-change-is-makingacidification, another climate-change impact, is less studied in coastal Georgia, but has important implications for the future of hurricanes-more-dangerous/) means that planning for storm preparedness and resiliency musshellfish populations and emerging prospects for commercialization of oyster aquaculture in the state t account for increased flood risks, affecting formerly lower-risk elevations. Ocean acidification, (https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/ocean-coasts/ocean-acidification). another climate-change impact, is less studied in coastal Georgia, but has important implications for the future of shellfish populations and emerging prospects for commercialization of oyster aquaculture in the state (https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/ocean“Sea-level rise will radically redefine the coastline of the 21st century. For many coastal regions, coasts/ocean-acidification). projections of global sea-level rise by the year 2100 (e.g., 0.5–2 meters) are comparable in magnitude to today’s extreme but short-lived increases in water level due to storms. Thus, the 21st century will see significant changes to coastal flooding regimes (where present-day, extreme-but-rare events become Numerous studies, tools, and guidance documents exist to inform planning and decision-making common), which poses a major risk to the safety and sustainability of coastal communities worldwide.” in response to concerns presented by climate issues. In 2018, the JIA completed a Carrying Capacity and Infrastructure Assessment that evaluated the risks to roads, water mains, sewer Taherkhani, M., Vitousek, S., Barnard, P.L. et al. Sea-level rise exponentially increases coastal flood frequency. Sci Rep 10, 6466 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-62188-4

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Numerous studies, tools, and guidance documents exist to inform planning and decision-making in response to concerns presented by climate issues. In 2018, the JIA completed a Carrying Capacity and Infrastructure Assessment that evaluated the risks to roads, water mains, sewer lines, and sewage lift stations associated with up to 3 feet of sea-level rise (https://www.jekyllisland.com/jekyll-island-authority/jekyll-island-carrying-capacity-infrastructure-assessment/). The GADNR has produced maps showing the predicted migration of tidal wetlands on Jekyll Island in response to sea-level rise (Appendix J).

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration maintains an easy-to-use online tool, the NOAA Sea Level Rise Viewer (https://coast.noaa.gov/slr/#), which maps inundation at one-foot intervals up to 10 feet above current mean higher high water (MHHW). Georgia’s network of professionals working on climate and sea level rise issues is robust. Collaborations are emerging across academia, civil service, and the private sector exemplified by the collaborative Georgia Climate Project and two statewide Georgia Climate Conferences that have been held in recent years. At the Federal level, documents such as the National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy provide a strategic framework for action. Several of the strategies listed below are adopted from this document (https://toolkit.climate.gov/tool/national-fish-wildlife-and-plants-climate-adaptation-strategy):

Strategies:

1. Set and periodically update sea-level rise planning parameters for height of rise to be anticipated within a specified timeframe.

2. Revise the Jekyll Island Design Guidelines to require, prior to concept approval, that sea-level rise and coastal flooding resiliency analysis be provided and vetted through the Environmental Assessment Procedure (see Chapter 7), for any new development, re-development, or major infrastructure projects that could be impacted within the planning parameters. The EAP Review Team may accept an analysis derived from a prior project if the circumstances and project specifications are sufficiently similar. The JIA may draw upon resources offered by institutional partners, such as Georgia DNR, when conducting such analyses for its own projects.

3. Identify vegetation communities and priority species most at risk from climate change and sea-level rise.

4. Identify lands that can be made available to accommodate wetland and marsh migration due to sea-level rise.

5. Maintain awareness of and pursue innovative approaches, including nature-based engineering, to be implemented instead of traditional methods when long term costs and benefits are favorable, to sustain priority species and the habitats they depend upon.

6. Manage species and habitats for ecological resiliency in a changing climate.

7. Conserve habitat extent and diversity to support the adaptability of native wildlife and plant populations to a changing climate.

8. Contribute to advancing the state of knowledge about climate impacts and the responses of wildlife and plants to changing climate and associated extremes of weather.

9. Mitigate environmental threats and stresses that are not primarily climate-change driven to reduce cumulative negative pressures acting on native wildlife and plant populations.

10. Promote public awareness as well as individual and collective action to safeguard native wildlife and plants in a changing climate.

11. Serve as an innovative leader in Glynn County and coastal Georgia in preparation for and resiliency to climate and sea-level rise impacts.

Discussion: The Island is composed of a variety of naturally vegetated areas influenced by the presence, or absence, of fire. Fuel loads and fuel laddering create conditions that increase the likelihood of more frequent, and potentially more intense, fire within habitats like pine flatwoods and live oak hammocks. They also make safe application of prescribed fire more problematic. Although prescribed fire is often a desired management tool to use, other mechanical tools such as bushhogging, rollerchopping, or hydroaxing are often needed to “reset” the conditions for safe application of prescribed fire or decrease the height and density of natural fuels within areas where fire and its associated smoke are problematic. These techniques will be used with attention to their potential to compact soils, influence nutrient cycling and cause short-term impacts to wildlife communities. Ultimately, mechanical management, coupled with appropriate prescribed fire, will likely provide the best approach to reducing devastating fire risk and promoting desirable habitat conditions.

Comprehensive Fire Management will utilize prescribed fire only in situations that allow for the highest standards of safety and risk management for both staff and the public. Personnel involved in managing controlled burns or controlling wildfires will not be allowed to take on any situations that exceed their training level. If the Comprehensive Fire Management program calls for application of prescribed fire to an area, but a safe and effective burn does not prove achievable, then program goals will be adjusted accordingly. Appendix H outlines the Comprehensive Fire Management Program as envisioned at the time of this Plan update.

Strategies:

1. Create and implement a fire management program that identifies portions of the Island where fire will be actively suppressed vs. prescribed, fire control measures, desired timing and seasonality of prescribed fire, and mechanical management activities; implement prescribed fire and/or mechanical fuel reduction measures on an ongoing basis consistent with the timing and seasonality identified in the comprehensive fire management plan.

2. Establish a Geographic Information System (GIS) database for recent fires and fuel reduction management activities to document the date conducted, area burned from prescribed fire or wildfire, and/or area treated with mechanical fuel reduction measures.

3. Determine whether existing policies or ordinances need to be revised to accommodate the Island-wide fire management protocol.

4. Develop protocol for rapid response to wildfire ignition and processes to quickly evaluate if a fire needs intervention and to decide what nature of intervention is appropriate.

Discussion: Over the life of the Conservation Plan, future development or redevelopment activities, recreation activities, and roadway improvements have the greatest potential to fragment habitat continuity or result in the loss of natural habitats. Proper siting, design, implementation, and operations may alleviate adverse effects of these activities. In 2014, the Georgia State Legislature codified changes to the JIA, enabling legislation that repositioned the Island’s development limitation. The total extent of developed lands allowable on Jekyll Island is now capped at 1,675 acres. In a favorable economic environment, the JIA has demonstrated that it can generate increasing revenues without expanding development to its potential legal limits.

Strategies:

1. Use the management recommendations for the six Management Units described below, Conservation Priority Areas (CPAs, see Chapter 7), and other criteria associated with the landscape-scale evaluation in the Environmental Assessment Procedure (EAP) along with 2018 JIA Capacity Study products, to provide input regarding proposed land classification changes and updates to the Jekyll Island Master Plan.

2. Prevent new or expanded development from occurring in Conservation Priority Areas (CPAs) as defined in Chapter 7, or otherwise degrading CPAs.

3. Add lands designated for conservation and passive outdoor recreation, as identified in the proposed 2020 Golf Master Plan, to the CPAs.

4. Identify and pursue legal mechanisms designed to strengthen CPAs as a durable bulwark against overdevelopment or overexploitation of Jekyll Island’s most valuable green spaces at the expense of their public and/or ecological value.

5. Design green spaces within the footprint of lands classified as Developed, to enhance outdoor recreation opportunities and facilitate connectivity across the island for car-free mobility of visitors and residents.

6. Promote the business mindset within the JIA decision-making structure of doing more with less, by continuing to optimize revenue growth without expanding development, and even allowing for the contraction of the development footprint.

7. Update Jekyll Island Authority ordinances to protect natural resources and assess need for any new ordinances.

8. Implement the EAP review for any proposed new development or redevelopment, renovation or remodeled residential and commercial projects with potential for significant negative impacts to natural resources or the JIA’s ability to carry forward this Plan.

9. Adopt specific stormwater guidelines and integrate JIA policies and plans with the Georgia Coastal Stormwater Supplement to maintain appropriate freshwater/brackish inputs, water quality, and water quantity for wetland systems on or surrounding the Island (https://epd.georgia.gov/watershed-protection-branch/storm-water/georgia-epd-coastal-stormwater-supplement-stormwater).

10. Identify and act on opportunities to implement protective measures designed to reduce roadway mortality of wildlife.

Discussion: Invasive exotic species can radically alter vegetation structure and composition, the natural processes on which a particular vegetation type or wildlife species depends, and/or the health and viability of species affected by the exotic species. Minimizing the effects of exotic invasive species is dependent upon effective monitoring followed by focused, timely control efforts as well as policy and implementation actions to minimize activities that would create or maintain conditions favorable for undesirable population growth or behavior of pest species.

Once populations are identified and mapped, future appropriate management efforts can be targeted to remove the species with minimal effects on other species in the area. Invasive plant species such as salt cedar, Chinese tallow, Chinaberry, and camphor tree can spread rapidly from seed dispersed by animals and tidal currents.

camphor tree Chinese tallow

salt cedar

While re-infestation from on- and off-site propagule sources can be difficult to prevent, control at minimal levels can be effective with vigilant monitoring. Monitoring for new invasive animal species such as feral hogs and Cuban treefrogs or researching the ecological progression of a disease vector like the Ambrosia beetle can assist in proactively removing, controlling, or adapting to, incipient populations.

Native species can also become nuisance species by affecting human health and/or comfort (i.e., mosquitoes, ticks), aesthetics and maintenance of developed areas (e.g., white-tailed deer browsing on landscape materials, raccoons in trash cans). Some native species, such as alligators or snakes, may be feared by some people due to perceptions about their inherent danger. While these potentially dangerous animals require certain precautions, their natural threats do not warrant active removal, but should be countered with proactive education, research, and management. On the other hand, native species such as raccoons and coyotes may negatively affect priority species such as nesting shorebirds and sea turtles to the degree that control measures need to be undertaken.

Strategies:

1. Sustain the qualitative monitoring program to identify the locations, extent occupied, and/or occurrences of invasive plant and wildlife exotic species on the Island and develop a GIS database of existing exotic plant and wildlife species locations for long-term tracking.

2. Strategically prioritize efforts with the goal of ecologically eradicating the most damaging plant invaders and controlling the spread of those that cannot be eradicated.

3. Continue to improve the efficacy of chemical treatment methods favoring a targeted, rather than broadcast, approach to application whenever possible.

4. Seek opportunities to restore historical native communities as a part of the long-term solution to invasive, exotic species control.

5. Monitor for exotic species found in the region that are not yet on the island and prepare contingency plans to proactively address if found. Early detection and rapid response to remove new infestations is key to success.

6. Continue to serve as an active partner in the Coastal Georgia Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CoGaCISMA).

7. Formalize mosquito control guidelines in coordination with Glynn County Mosquito Control to address human health concerns from mosquito populations, while minimizing collateral effects on non-target organisms. These guidelines should aim to minimize, and where possible eliminate, lethal or sub-lethal effects on any non-target species.

8. Continue to implement predator control efforts conservatively using humane methods to limit depredation of Wildlife Priority Species, control disease, and reduce risk of aggressive contact with humans.

9. Avoid being drawn into taking sides in polarized arguments about feral cat management, taking no categorical position— either in favor or opposed to— any particular methods of managing feral or unowned domestic cats.

10. Encourage and promote fostering, adopting, and sterilizing domestic cats, and keeping pet cats indoors.

11. Take legal and humane steps to prioritize preservation of animal health and life while not returning removed animals to the Island, in order to to prevent the establishment and growth of feral cat populations in areas where their presence would be particularly threatening for wildlife. These areas include the campground “bird sanctuary”, Conservation Priority Areas identified in this Plan, and generally all areas south of Ben Fortson Parkway consistent with sparse development impacts on this end of the Island.

12. Continue to implement education, training, and policies that prevent JIA employees from feeding wildlife.

13. Develop educational materials to inform residents and guests of the issues associated with feeding wildlife.

14. Prohibit use of open-top dumpsters for any materials containing or contaminated with food wastes, to prevent animal access.

15. Monitor the impacts of native species of plants and animals extending their ranges northward as a result of climate change.

Discussion: Surface water alterations resulting from historical drainage or development projects, stormwater routing, and constrictions on tidal flow from culvert construction can have further effects on the hydrological conditions of natural systems. Understanding the relative role of groundwater reductions, in comparison to surface hydrology changes is necessary to evaluate potential hydrological enhancements for degraded wetlands. Groundwater withdrawal associated with industrial, commercial, and residential use, both locally and regionally, may be a factor in altered hydrological dynamics affecting wetlands on the Island.

Strategies:

1. Establish a long-term hydrological monitoring program for wetlands, use data obtained from the monitoring program to identify impaired wetlands, and prioritize enhancements when funding becomes available.

2. Work with regional partners to assess current groundwater levels on and around the Island, determine their effect on wetland hydrology and evaluate opportunities and challenges for minimizing any associated ecological impacts.

3. Monitor salinity levels within freshwater wetland systems and ponds for saltwater influence.

4. Establish ongoing monitoring of surficial aquifer water quality and depth to water table.

5. Continue and improve the adoption and implementation of more advanced stormwater plans for new development and/or retrofit projects (i.e., low-impact development designs and green infrastructure) that capture stormwater discharge from impervious surfaces and encourage on site infiltration into the surficial aquifer, in accordance with the Coastal Stormwater Supplement.

6. Map the stormwater drainage infrastructure across the Island in order to understand the potential impacts to salt marsh water quality and hydrology.

7. Implement enhancements to culverts and control structures to remove impediments to natural tidal fluctuations where fragmentation has caused ecological degradation.

8. Continue to encourage the use of native plants and other non-invasive low-water-use plants within landscapes for existing residential, commercial, and civic sites as well as new development parcels.

9. Enforce local ordinances and state law regarding conservation of irrigation water from residential and commercial properties and JIA operations, especially during drought periods.

10. Consider the implications of climate-change-induced amplification of drought and precipitation extremes on wetland enhancement plans.

Objective F – Protect Priority Species

Discussion: Many of the priority species for the Island occur in systems that are subject to some degree of regulation or long-term constraint, such as wetlands or beaches. While this does not eliminate potential impacts, the regulations and constraints can provide enforcement measures and/or decrease the risk of potential adverse long-term activities such as land conversion. However, continued vigilance is still required to ensure adequate protection is maintained. Additional management requirements may be needed for priority species occurring outside of these regulated systems.

Strategies:

1. Monitor the status of priority species and the condition of the habitats upon which they depend, leveraging external research partnerships to increase knowledge of threats and stresses facing priority species populations.

2. Emphasize the implementation of management and restoration actions that support priority species and consider the effects on priority species with all management actions.

3. Coordinate with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to enforce regulatory requirements of the Endangered Species Act, including designated critical habitat areas, for federally listed wildlife species.

4. Prevent habitat degradation or loss for all priority species. 5. Identify implementable and appropriate buffers to be managed and regulated to protect or enhance nesting habitat for birds listed in this Plan as Wildlife Priority Species. 6. Integrate priority species protection into all planning processes and documents that pertain to natural areas and green spaces, including Conservation Priority Areas.

Discussion: The existing trail system provides access to a wide variety of recreation opportunities throughout the Island, as well as potential access locations for management activities. New trails will be conservative in extent and may only be added as deemed appropriate for management, educational or recreational purposes. Access to some trails may be permanently or temporarily restricted for management (e.g., fire breaks) or education (e.g., field programs) activities. The appropriateness of any proposed new trails will be evaluated using the EAP defined in Section 7 of this Plan to evaluate potential fragmentation, habitat disturbance, and edge effects that may result from the new trails.

Strategies:

1. Develop a recreational trail map that includes the location and type of travel allowable (foot/bicycle) and associated guidelines for responsible trail use.

2. Determine the appropriateness of any proposed new trails, or attractions at the land/water interface, such as blue-trail landings or fishing facilities, using the Environmental Assessment Procedure (EAP) defined in Chapter 7

3. Evaluate, through EAP review, potential fragmentation, habitat disturbance, and edge effects that may result from proposed new trails.

4. Coordinate trail development/maintenance and facility design with fire-management goals.

5. Manage, avoid, and/or mitigate impacts to sensitive habitats and priority species from outdoor recreation and learning activities, including research.

5.3- CAUSEWAY AND BACK-BARRIER MARSH MANAGEMENT

A causeway was built from Route 17 to join the Island to the mainland after the State of Georgia acquired the Island in 1947, but the bridges were not completed until 1954 due to an iron embargo during the Korean War. The construction of these roads resulted in the filling of numerous acres of salt marsh and dramatically altered the tidal hydrology of Jointer Creek while adding to the already extensive modification of the Jekyll Creek/River system and associated tributaries. Fill material also washed or seeped into the adjacent salt marsh, creating artificial high marsh along large stretches of the perimeter of the causeway. The causeway and associated salt marshes are excluded from acreage calculations associated with legal limitations on the development of the Island itself. However, the causeway and the associated marshes and hammocks, including some west of Route 17, are part of Jekyll Island State Park and as such are under the management authority of the JIA. Other entities with significant jurisdictional authority along the causeway include Georgia DOT, Georgia DNR (GADNR), and Georgia Power. JIA leases out lands within this part of the Park to the Emerald Princess casino cruise operation and to the Federal Aviation Administration. The Island’s guest information plaza and Georgia State Patrol post are located on the causeway. A wildlife observation deck is located near the guest information center and is a popular birding destination. In general, the causeway is a very significant feature for both the visitor experience and the ecological ramifications associated with its capability to facilitate access to the Island for animals and plants, as well as people. In addition, the causeway has the highest speed limit of any other road in the Park and therefore is a significant source of wildlife mortality, most notably for nesting diamondback terrapins. Long-term research on diamondback terrapins and other coastal species is being conducted on the causeway, including work by GSTC staff focused on rehabilitation of terrapins injured by automobiles and mitigation techniques to minimize terrapin mortality from automobiles.

Management Priorities:

1. Minimize vehicle strike mortality of Wildlife Priority Species 2. Reduce immigration of exotic-invasive plants and animals 3. Prevent loss of elevation due to erosion or compaction of soils surrounding causeway 4. Promote habitat diversity 5. Maintain a safe and enjoyable experience for drivers and cyclists using the Jekyll Island Causeway that affords opportunities for appreciation of the natural beauty and abundance of wildlife evident upon arriving at Jekyll Island State Park