Southern Tides August 2020 by Southern Tides Magazine

Southern Tides all about the water

August 2020

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Southern Tides

In the Tides

all about the water

CREW

Issue No. 60 / August 2020

Publisher/Editor Amy Thurman

7 Editor's Note

amy@southerntidesmagazine.com

Editorial Assistant Jennifer Farmer

9 Around the Reef 11 Invasive Asian Tiger Shrimp

The Bitter End Columnist Captain J. Gary "Gator" Hill

12 Cay Creek

theoriginalcaptaingator@gmail.com

Around the Reef Columnist Mary Dillard for Michelle Riley

17 Virtual Programming

michelle.riley@noaa.gov

19 Sea Turtle Returns

Consulting Naturalist John "Crawfish" Crawford

20 Skylines

crawfish@uga.edu

22 The Bitter End

Consulting Writer Emily Kenworthy ekenworthy@uga.edu

Contributing Writer Emma Berry Contributing Photographer Malcolm Gorrie

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.

(912) 484-3611 info@southerntidesmagazine.com Visit us on social media: www.issuu.com/SouthernTidesMagazine.com Facebook.com/southern-tides-magazine Instagram @southerntides_mag Southern Tides Magazine is printed by Walton Press, Monroe, Ga.

Subscribe to Southern Tides:

Visit www.squareup.com/store/ southern-tides-magazine $25 for one year/12 issues. (plus $1.15 credit card processing fee) Thank you for your support!

About the Cover:

Taken on the elevated boardwalk at Cay Creek Wetlands Interpretation Center, in Liberty County. Story starts on page 12. Photo by Amy Thurman

August 2020

Southern Tides Magazine

Letters to the Editor:

We love hearing from you! Questions, comments, ideas, or whatever you'd like to share, please do! Send your thoughts to any of our email addresses listed above. 5

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Editor’s Note

Charlie - my boat dog!

an you believe summer’s almost over? Or for that matter, that there are only a few months left in 2020? Though many of us will be thrilled to see this year in the rearview mirror! As I put together each issue of the magazine, I’m typically thinking ahead to when it will actually hit the stands, so I was mentally in August well before it actually arrived, and I’m now well into September and even thinking ahead to the October and November issues. Then one more after that and this insane year is over. But speaking of upcoming issues, September marks our fiveyear anniversary publishing Southern Tides! We’re going to try to include many of the regular features we’ve run over the years, including a new "Did You Know?" topic, and a new "Taste of the Tides" recipe. We have a few special features planned too, so be sure to pick up a copy. After that is our second annual October oyster issue. Dedicated almost entirely to oysters, those delectable little bivalves that are so much a part of our coastal heritage, culture and dining fare, get their own salute. If you grow, harvest or sell oysters, create products based around oysters, create oyster art, or simply have a great recipe or story to share, we want to hear from you! We’re also working on a fun feature for November and need your input. We’ll be featuring photos and stories about dogs. Our four-legged companions often join us on the water and we want to see and hear about your furry friend’s boating and water adventures! Send them to me via email or Facebook. In the meantime, we have some cool content is this issue

August 2020

Southern Tides Magazine

as well. As a resident of Liberty County, I’m happy to share a little pocket of natural beauty with you in the Cay Creek feature, starting on page 12. And Malcolm Gorrie generously shared some of his amazing photos in “Skylines” (page 20). I first met Malcolm when we both kept our boats at the same marina on Lake Lanier and dreamt of getting our vessels to the coast. He’s a good friend, and a good photographer – we’ve used his images on several occasions, most notably his storm images after Hurricanes Matthew and Irma. Let’s hope and pray there’s no need for photos like that this year. Lot’s of other good stuff too! Thank you all for reading and thanks to our advertisers for making it all possible! See you out there!

Amy Thurman

Editor in Chief amy@southerntidesmagazine.com

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Around theReef By Mary Dillard Communications Volunteer and Staff Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary

n addition to being a great spot for recreational fishing and diving, Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary also serves as a living laboratory for marine scientists. Last month I had the pleasure of speaking to Alison Soss, a geospatial analyst at the sanctuary. In layman’s terms, a geospatial analyst takes data collected in the field and displays it on maps, helping to guide current and future scientific research. Currently, much of Soss' time is spent supporting the sanctuary's acoustic telemetry project, which tracks the movements of marine animals, and its soundscape project, which record sounds in the ocean. “We really don't know much about the ocean's soundscape ... we also don't know all the fish species that are out at Gray's Reef,” Soss said. Several different sources are used to create maps. For example, during the 2011 Nancy Foster Expedition in Gray's Reef, technicians aboard the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster used the ship's multibeam echosounder to record changes in depths of the ocean floor, which provided heights of various ledges at the reef. Then scientific divers dove to some of the higher ledges to characterize different types of habitats in the sanctuary. Some habitats are densely colonized by sponges, corals and tunicates; other areas are flat and sandy; and some are “hotspots” that attract lots of sea turtles, fish and sharks. Together, the multibeam data and the habitat characterizations act as the sanctuary's base map for planning research to better understand the ocean, the reef, and the animals that live in and visit Gray's Reef. Soss also is responsible for maintaining the scientific equipment used underwater. The current at Gray's Reef is strong and swift, and shifting sands can move the hydrophones and receivers. Some of Soss' maps illustrate where the equipment is deployed, and in a few cases, pinpoint where various pieces of equipment have moved. Every few months, Soss and a team of scientific divers retrieve the recorded data so that sanctuary staff and research partners can process and analyze the information. The data yields a wellspring of information. More than a dozen animal species tagged outside of Gray's Reef have been detected in the sanctuary, including the endangered Atlantic sturgeon and a variety of sharks. Soss says the baseline data also helps scientists catalogue specific sounds that animals make, so that changes in the sanctuary's soundscape can be recorded over time. Although research is her greatest love, Soss also gives presentations to grade schoolers and college students, collaborates on research reports, and summarizes data for NOAA and fellow researchers. She has begun creating maps for the general public, as well. “I want everybody to be able to understand what we are doing here at Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, and it might be as simple as showing them a map.” She does say, however, that making maps can go beyond what one might imagine. “I'm learning that cartography is an art within itself. How information is displayed on a map can guide the narrative and interpretation of the data you're using.” Soss works hard to make scientific data as appealing and understandable to as many people as possible. Her passion and enthusiasm to bring Gray’s Reef to those of us on land are unmistakable! August 2020

Southern Tides Magazine

Above: Alison Soss measuring the Gray's Reef habitat in 2019. Photo by Kimberly Roberson, NOAA Below: Illustration of a NOAA ship conducting multibeam bathymetry. Image created by NOAA Bottom: Tall ledge habitat characterization and multibeam map of Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary with data compiled by NOAA. Map by Alison Soss, GRNMS For Information contact Michelle Riley: (912) 598-2417 michelle.riley@noaa.gov

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Invasive Shrimp Asian Tiger Shrimp on Rise

he GADNR, NOAA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are looking into an invasive species being spotted more frequently in coastal waters. Asian tiger shrimp are native to Indo-Pacific, Asian, and Australian waters, but are now found along the southeast and Gulf coasts of the United States. While small numbers of this invasive species have been reported in U.S. waters for over a decade, sightings have notably increased over the past few years. The USGS and NOAA are now working with state agencies from North Carolina to Texas to look into whether these shrimp carry disease, compete for the same food sources, or prey directly on native shrimp. An investigation is also underway to determine how this transplanted species reached U.S. waters, and what is behind the recent rise in sightings of the non-native shrimp. Scientists have not yet officially deemed the Asian tiger shrimp "established" in U.S. waters, and no one is certain what triggered the recent round of increased sightings. The non-native shrimp species may have escaped from aquaculture facilities; however, there are no known Asian tiger shrimp farms presently in operation in the U.S. Ballast water from ships has been suggested as another pathway. Another possibility is that they are arriving on ocean currents from wild populations in the Caribbean or even as far away as Gambia, a west African nation where they are known to be established. With so many alternative theories about where these shrimp are coming from and only a handful of juveniles reported, it is hard for scientists to conclude whether they are breeding or simply being carried in by currents. To look for answers, scientists are examining shrimp collected from the Gulf and Atlantic coasts to look for subtle differences in their DNA, information which could offer valuable clues to their origins. This is the first look at the genetics of wild caught Asian tiger shrimp populations found in this part of the U.S. and may shed light on whether there are multiple sources. NOAA scientists are also launching a research effort to understand more about the biology of these shrimp and how they may affect the ecology of native fisheries and coastal ecosystems. As with all non-native species, there are concerns over the potential for novel avenues of disease transmission and competition with native shrimp stocks, especially given the high growth rates and spawning rates compared with other species. To share information on these shrimp if you catch them, visit: bit.ly/ invasive_report

Report Asian tiger shrimp and other invasive species you catch in coastal Ga. waters:

bit.ly/invasive_report

August 2020

Southern Tides Magazine

Images provided by GADNR Data compiled from GADNR and NOAA

Cay

CREEK Resurrection ferns thriving on the trunks of live oaks. The boardwalk makes for an easy stroll while protecting the surrounding habitat.

By Amy Thurman

iberty County, Ga. has a rich history (including two signers of the Declaration of Independence) and some of the most lovely spots on our coast. One such place is Cay Creek Wetlands Interpretive Center, just off Highway 84, a mile east of I-95 (exit 76). This wetland park sits on the site of a former plantation, owned by Richard Cay, alongside Cay Creek (previously known as Salter’s Creek). The property was later owned by Union Camp Corporation; it was purchased in 1996 by the City of Midway and the wetlands park was created for visitors to learn more about our coastal environment. Six unique ecosystems can be viewed along a ¾-mile boardwalk and from a wildlife viewing platform. The boardwalk meanders through upland forests, open wetlands, freshwater tidal swamp, brackish marsh, and ends at a tidal creek. It’s lined with interpretive panels that describe the ecosystems and the plants and animals you might see along the way. The site also includes picnic tables and occasional benches. It makes for a beautiful, peaceful and educational stroll when you have an hour or two and want to stretch your legs a bit. For more info, visit: coastalwildscapes.org/Cay-Creek Note: Walk quietly and take a pause to stand still on occasion to increase the chances of seeing wildlife. 12

Southern Tides Magazine

August 2020

Above: Duckweed lines the surface of this freshwater wetland area. The plentiful foliage is a favorite spot for butterflies and other pollinators.

Above: From this wildlife viewing platform you can see both forest and marsh. Countless bird species were visible.

Below: Sit a spell and enjoy the peaceful setting. Although the temperature was over 90, it was surprisingly cool in this spot. I saw frogs, lizards, turtles and birds while sitting quietly for a bit.

Below: Looking northwest on Cay Creek, from the overlook at the end of the boardwalk. It's easy to imagine what life might have been like before being manipulated by progress.

Know Your Flora? How well do you know the plants found frequently in lowcountry habitats? Test your knowledge with these, all found in Cay Creek wetland park. Thanks to John â&#x20AC;&#x153;Crawfishâ&#x20AC;? Crawford, our Southern Tides Naturalist, and Amy Schuler with Coastal Wildscapes, for identifying the various species presented here!

Answers on page 16.

Southern Tides Magazine

August 2020

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Ironweed

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Virtual Programming Expanded any age group, you have great transitions, interesting information and the enthusiasm and depth of knowledge is really at a topnotch level.” The communications team at UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant was recently able to purchase multimedia equipment that will boost the quality of the online programs. The new equipment, purchased with funding donated by Friends of the Aquarium, includes wireless microphones, tripods, a webcam, a 360-degree camera and a WIFI hotspot device. The communications team held a socially distanced training session for faculty and staff to explain how to use the equipment and offer tips and best practices on creating video content. “Our faculty and staff are working together to deliver engaging, educational content during a time when connecting with people can be difficult,” says Mark Risse, director of UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant. “Our hope is that with this new equipment, we can expand the type of programming we’re offering and make our facilities and field experiences virtually accessible to broader audiences.” The new equipment will enable faculty and staff to utilize specific areas of the aquarium where background noise and lighting can be a limiting factor. It will also allow them to host programs about dolphin studies and barrier island explorations in the field. The new microphones can capture dialogue without interference from the wind and other outdoor noises. Details about the new fall programs will be available on Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s event calendar in early September at https://gacoast.uga.edu/events/ In addition to increasing virtual programming, the UGA Aquarium will reopen on Aug. 5 for small group visits. Groups of up to 10 people may reserve an hour to visit the aquarium with a marine educator who can talk about the different exhibits and answer questions. The programs will be offered Mondays through Thursdays at 10 a.m. and at 1 p.m. Masks, social distancing and hand sanitizing will be required. The program cost is $50 and online payment is required when the reservation is made. More information is available at https://gacoast.uga.edu/visit-us/

By Emily Kenworthy Public Relations Coordinator UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant

hen the coronavirus pandemic caused Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant to close its coastal facilities in March, Public Program Coordinator Kayla Clark came up with a plan to offer a suite of virtual summer programs that families could enjoy remotely. Throughout June and July, Clark worked with educators and extension specialists to host a series of online events that have attracted hundreds of participants, reaching new audiences that could not visit the Marine Education Center and Aquarium in person. “Virtual programming is a pretty new thing for our faculty and staff, and it’s been a bit of a learning curve,” Clark says. “We’ve got the rhythm down now and are looking forward to offering even more virtual programming this fall so that we can continue to engage children and adults.” Each program includes interactive activities that families can do together at home. The style aligns with the hands-on, feet-in approach that educators at the UGA Aquarium use to facilitate coastal exploration with all ages. Recordings of the summer programs are available for viewing on the Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant YouTube channel. “I’ve been blown away by the engaging material, the way you’ve found a way to connect with kids of all ages and have made them something that we all look forward to,” Brookwood High School teacher and Friend of the Aquarium, John Chvatal, wrote in an email to Clark. “You have put together lessons that can work for

Public Program Coordinator Kayla Clark and Captain Todd Recicar use the new equipment to host a virtual program aboard the RV Sea Dawg. Photo provided by UGA Marine Extension & Georgia Sea Grant

August 2020

Southern Tides Magazine

Trey Cooper, a member of the communications team, led a socially distanced meeting for faculty and staff to learn how to use the new equipment. Photo provided by UGA Marine Extension & Georgia Sea Grant 17

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Sea Turtle Returns By Emma Berry Outreach Specialist SC Department of Natural Resources

his nesting season, a new loggerhead sea turtle appeared three times on Bald Head Island (BHI), N.C. to lay her eggs. The new visitor sported an unfamiliar tag that ultimately told a surprising story: TTF766. Paul Hillbrand, coordinator of the Sea Turtle Conservancy Program on BHI, checked their database but found no record of her. The Sea Turtle Protection Program on BHI is a saturation tagging program, meaning their goal is to intercept and tag/ID as many of the nesting turtles as possible. Typically, about half of the 30-40 sea turtles they encounter are returning visitors, and the other half have no tag and represent brand new nesters on BHI. “In some rare cases, we find unknown tags, as was the case with TTF766,” Hillbrand said. “It was a welcome sight to see.” Hillbrand is part of a large network of researchers and volunteers who work to protect and study sea turtles along the southeastern coast. He reached out to the contacts at a central database to see if he could identify who had first tagged TTF766 — and when and where. Hillbrand quickly received word that the turtle in question had been identified. She was first tagged as a juvenile by biologists in South Carolina aboard a research vessel in May 2006. TTF766 was tagged during a South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) in-water turtle survey, whose biologists work from a converted shrimper to catch and study sea turtles in the environment where they spend the vast majority of their lives: the ocean. The in-water research gives biologists a better understanding of the overall sea turtle population — not just of the nesting mothers and hatchlings on beaches, but also the juveniles and males that never come ashore. Tagging these turtles helps biologists across state borders compare data on recaptured animals and see how far they’ve traveled and how long they’ve survived. Dr. Mike Arendt was one of the people present during that initial capture and has overseen the agency’s in-water sea turtle research since 2007. TTF766 was the seventh and final loggerhead sea turtle captured in the Charleston shipping channel that day. She was aboard the R/V Lady Lisa for 21 minutes and appeared to be in good health. During that time she was weighed, measured, tagged with both an internal PIT tag (similar to a pet’s microchip) and flipper tag, and released back into the water. “Just knowing that I heard her exhale at least once while she was aboard our vessel makes her recent re-sighting that much more special,” Arendt said. The biologists aboard SCDNR’s in-water survey have tagged more than 2500 loggerhead sea turtles in the ocean over the past 20 years, two-thirds of which were female — but TTF766 only marks the second time that one of those turtles tagged as a juvenile has been reported nesting on a beach. That’s because most programs don’t intercept females at night, Arendt said. Hillbrand said he was elated when he found out TTF766 had been tagged 14 years ago as a juvenile. “The significance of this is that she is pushing her species forward,” Hillbrand said. “She made it to sexual maturity and is reproducing. That’s huge when it comes to sea turtles.” Depending on the species, sea turtles can take up to 30 years to reach sexual maturity. That’s thirty 19 August 2020 Southern Tides Magazine

TTF766 nesting on BHI for the third time in 2020. Because white lights can be harmful and disorienting to nesting sea turtles and hatchlings, researchers use red lights when working on the beach at night. Photo provided by BHI Conservancy

years in which animals must survive countless threats. “She had to navigate the beach, ocean, predators and anthropogenic obstacles so that she could repeat the process her own mother went through 20 or so years prior,” Hillbrand said. “It takes four states, countless organizations and individuals to protect, conserve and manage the efforts along the eastern seaboard, and I couldn't be happier to be a part of it,” Hillbrand said. “It seems the groundbreaking sea turtle protection work initiated in the 80s is showing signs of paying off.” This image of TTF766 was taken by researchers aboard a SCDNR vessel in 2006, when she was still a juvenile. The ‘chair’ shown allows researchers to safely measure and assess sea turtles so the animals can be returned to the water as quickly as possible. Photo provided by SCDNR

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Southern Tides Magazine

August 2020

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Southern Tides Magazine

Fishable Swimmable Drinkable Water!

The BitterEnd The Lowcountry By Captain J. Gary "Gator" Hill

Photo by Captain Gator

He referred to this area as Los Bajo, or basically low and flat; in essence, the lowcountry. As I have mentioned in other writings here in Southern Tides, Spain played a very prominent role in early settlements along the lowcountry coast, from Saint Simons, to Saint Helena. In Savannah, General James Oglethorpe played a key role in asserting the British as the dominant force to be reckoned with. A nine-foot statue erected in Chippewa Square has the notable figure facing Southward, keeping an ever-vigilant eye on Spanish incursion coming from the south. How could I close without touching on cuisine? The ol’ Gator loves to eat and for the consummate foodie, the lowcountry offers a cornucopia of flavors to entice the palate. From lowcountry boils to a treasure trove of other seafoods, to Gullah and other fare with roots in Africa, nothing says lowcountry like sitting down to a table loaded with these cultural delicacies. So take a little time to explore this magical place, from Penn Center on St. Helena Island to Pinpoint Heritage Museum near Skidaway Island, and Sapelo’s Hog Hammock. Better yet take the kids and really educate them on what lowcountry truly means. I'll see you on the water — be safe out there!

hat’s the first thing that goes through your mind when you hear the term lowcountry? It seems the lowcountry means many things to many people. For some, it’s pretty straight forward: it’s the flat, marsh-covered wetlands, extending from about the midportion of South Carolina to the Florida-Georgia state line. For others, it’s more cultural, as we’re blessed to have a rich and diverse melting pot of nationalities. Going back to the early days this land was peopled by folks from Africa, such as the Gullah and Geechee, to those of European descent, from Ireland, Scotland, England and Germany. The lowcountry, to some, is art, such as classical sweetgrass baskets and bowls from the many talented Gullah artisans of South Carolina. These wares are often offered for sale in roadside stands along what has been deemed the Sweetgrass Highway, a stretch of Highway 17, or Coastal Highway 17, from Charleston, northward towards Georgetown. From bottle trees found in yard art to haint blue paint used on door and window frames, it’s a mixing bowl of color and texture. Whether your roots are European, African, a combination of the two, or elsewhere entirely, the lowcountry is a magical place. Technically speaking, lowcountry is also a geographical term. In South Carolina, the area extends out from below the fall line or what is sometimes referred to as the Sandhills region. Basically speaking, the area where the Atlantic Coastal Plain meets the Piedmont Plain, extending just south of Aiken eastward to the Charleston area. Some people extend this somewhat northward to the Pawleys Island area, though this has also been dubbed the PeeDee region. One major difference I’ve found is in the soil composition; once you get into the Peedee or the Myrtle Beach areas you find more sand versus the pluff mud of our lowcountry area. I encountered more information some time ago while reading about Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón, a Spanish magistrate and explorer who explored the east coast of America from as far south as north Florida to as far north as the Chesapeake area of Virginia.

Peace and love, shrimp and grits ... and wash your hands!

Email: TheOriginalCaptainGator@gmail.com 22

Southern Tides Magazine

August 2020

101 Edgewood Road Gordonston

This wonderful Craftsman home is located on a huge corner lot with welcoming open arms. The main home has four bedrooms and two baths. Large open floor plan. Living Room with FP opens to the DR and then Kitchen with breakfast room. A wonderful full wrap around screened porch. Beautiful staircase to upstairs with two large bedrooms and a full bath. To add to all this, there is a carriage house that is ready for your guests. Studio apartment on second floor of garage. Washer/dryer hookups for main house on one side and for apartment on the other. Secret gardens every where you turn. Gordonston neighborhood is one of the most charming and exclusive areas. Enjoy the community park, Brownie Park, all of the sweeping oaks lining the streets, and lots of area for walking and biking. Very close to downtown Savannah. And close to the beach as well. $479,000

WHITEMARSH ISLAND

105 Bradley Point Road REDUCED

Southern Tides August 2020

Articles inside

The Bitter End

Virtual Programming

Skylines

Cay Creek

Sea Turtle Returns

Invasive Asian Tiger Shrimp

Around the Reef

Editor's Note