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Written by Kelly O'Rourke & Elizabeth Cheney
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Along the coast of Georgia, eight clusters of barrier islands are
separated from the mainland by an extensive system of salt marshes and
sounds. Barrier islands get their name due to the protective role
the islands and their marshes play in shielding the mainland from
oceanic storms. Their formation is a completely natural and
dynamic process that has taken hundreds of thousands of years.
Over the past million or so years, from the Pleistocene Epoch to
present, climatic changes have caused Georgia’s shoreline to fluctuate
from the today’s continental slope 80 miles offshore, to 60 miles
inland from our present day shoreline. Seven sets of barrier
island profiles have been identified over the 60 mile inland stretch,
including the relic islands of Trail Ridge that were believed to
restrict flow and contribute to the forming of the Okefenokee Swamp.
Georgia’s present-day barrier islands are made up of two sets of
islands formed during distinctively different geologic time
periods. The older sets of islands were formed 35-40 thousand
years ago during the Pleistocene Epoch , before the last great “Ice
Age”.
Later, about 18 thousand years ago during the Holocene Epoch,
continental ice sheets began to melt. This was a time of sea
level rise and offshore islands rolled backward with the advancing sea
level, migrating up the continental shelf. Then about 4-5
thousand years ago, the rate of sea level rise greatly diminished,
allowing the establishment and growth of the new islands in their
approximate positions today.
Jekyll and Cumberland Islands are the only islands that still contain
both Pleistocene and Holocene island fragments. Much of the
Holocene formations which fronted Jekyll and Cumberland has been lost
to erosion, and the Pleistocene shorelines of these islands have once
again assumed those beaches.
The shape and sizes of sandy barrier islands change constantly under the influence of winds, waves, and tidal currents.
This is the typical progression of a barrier island starting with the
ocean beach, dune systems, inland area (maritime forests and/or barrier
flats), high and low salt marshes, and finally the lagoons or sounds
located between the islands and the mainland.
On some barrier islands, the ocean beach resides over what was once a
salt marsh. As barrier islands migrate or roll inland,
ocean beaches over wash dune ridges and bury existing salt
marshes. The salt marshes can adapt and reform on the new
interior side of the island.
Over time, portions of some barrier island’s ocean beaches may erode,
exposing underlying remnants of old salt marsh peat beds. This
can be seen on portions of Jekyll Island’s ocean beaches.
Jekyll Island’s beach has experienced the natural changes expected of a
sandy barrier island. While some sections have grown, others have
shrunk. Various factors have contributed to the erosion of our beaches
on Jekyll Island including storms, tides and human impact.
Large portions of the beach have been removed by storms, including
Hurricane Dora in 1964. President Lyndon Johnson ordered the placement
of a seawall composed of huge granite boulders known as the Johnson
Rocks on Jekyll and St. Simons Islands. The boulders were placed
along the northern shoreline in an effort to prevent further beach
erosion. During periods of high tides, the ocean reaches the rocks but
during low tide there is up to 30 feet of beach in places.
This is the Dexter Lane beach access point on Jekyll Island. You
can see some layers of peat have been exposed and are visible at low
tide. Although this is remnant peat beds from old salt marsh, its
texture and form have been changed over time by different geologic
processes. These peat beds are not squishy like present day marsh
mud. They have been covered by layers of soil, clay and sand for
thousands of years and have taken on an almost fossil-like
appearance. They are rock-like formations made of organic peat
material and will crumble if enough force is applied.
As you can see these exposed peat beds are providing great habitat for several types of plants and animals. |
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Spear Guns Banned in Gray's Reef Sanctuary |
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Written by Courthouse News
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Wednesday, 24 February 2010 14:06 |
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is banning spearfishing gear in the Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, unless it is locked away on vessels that are passing through, to prevent spearfishing divers from killing the larger sanctuary fish.
One of the most popular sportfishing areas on the Georgia coast, Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary is one of the largest near shore live-bottom reefs in the southeastern United States.
More than 180 species of fish including mackerel, grouper, black sea bass, angelfish, and endangered species such as loggerhead sea turtles, live in and around the varied ecosystems of the reef, which is located 17.5 nautical miles off Sapelo Island.
Spear guns make it easy for divers to select the largest specimens, which can lead to downward pressure on the size of subsequent generations. The agency believes the ban will also reinforce an existing ban on bangsticks or powerheads, a specialized firearm that discharges on contact with the target, as these often are attached to the end of spear guns for self-defense underwater.
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Massive trees, rare species grace new Altamaha area |
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Written by Matt Elliott
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Friday, 14 August 2009 10:56 |
One of the most exciting land protection efforts in Georgia will come to
fruition over the next few years. The state hopes to acquire from Rayonier Forest Resources about 14,000 acres
along 22 miles of the Altamaha River in Long and McIntosh
counties, property containing some of the highest-quality natural habitats in
the state.
Even more exciting, the first phase of the Georgia Land
Conservation Program project was announced
this month: the $8.2 million acquisition of 7,180 acres from Rayonier.
Accomplished in partnership with The Nature
Conservancy – which gave the state a multimillion-dollar break on the first
tract and is trying
to raise money to cover the difference – the overall project is backed by
federal grants, private support such as from the Open Space Institute, and
Georgia Land Conservation Program funding. The Marine Corps will also give a
substantial amount to buffer nearby Townsend
Bombing Range from encroachment.
Here’s a glimpse of what the Rayonier
Forest Resources tract features.
Along Miller Lake and other tidal sloughs on the
property are many massive, ancient and often hollow baldcypress trees
left uncut when loggers first came through these swamps 100 years ago. One
cypress (pictured above) measures 43 feet in circumference, or more than
13 feet in diameter, a good deal larger than any listed among the Georgia
Forestry Commission’s state
champion trees. The hollow cypresses are home to roosting bats, including
two rare species, Southeastern
myotis and Rafinesque’s
big-eared bat.
On slightly higher ground along the river bottoms are
beautiful stands of hardwoods dominated by oak species such as Shumard oak,
cherrybark oak, swamp laurel oak and overcup oak. Especially where river cane
grows, these forests are home to the Swainson’s
warbler, which Georgia lists as rare.
On even higher areas that rise,
sometimes very steeply, like islands above the surrounding swamps are
spectacular oak hammocks. Many have never been logged. They are dominated by
live oak (some more than 4 feet in diameter), sand laurel oak, bluff white
oak (a rare species in Georgia), American holly and spruce-pine, along with
shrubs such as saw palmetto and American olive. These hammocks have a lush,
subtropical feel to them, not unlike Georgia’s barrier islands.
Along the
highest ridges, on very deep, sandy soils, are a number of undisturbed longleaf
pine-turkey oak sandhills, home to a healthy population of gopher tortoises and
indigo snakes. Although
some of the sand ridges have been converted to dense pine plantations, these
will be restored back to native longleaf
sandhills ecosystems.
The 7,000-plus acres acquired this year
stretches for 10 miles along the Altamaha and supports at least 17 state-listed
rare and endangered species.
Recreation opportunities here will be
incredible. There are many oxbow lakes with excellent fishing that were not
previously accessible to the public. You can paddle a canoe or kayak through the
cypress sloughs for days, especially during high water. And wild turkey and wood
duck numbers are very healthy!
As envisioned, the entire project would
bring the state-owned acreage for Townsend Wildlife Management Area to more than
20,000. Additional acreage under conservation easement allowing perpetual public
access will push the total past 24,000, part of more than 100,000 permanently
protected acres in the Altamaha corridor.
The project highlights
Rayonier’s role in keeping the targeted property intact and collaborating on
conservation efforts. The Florida-based company donated a 300-foot buffer along
the river to the state in 1978.
Public access to the nearly 7,200 acres is
available by some roads and the river: Williamsburg Landing on Sansavilla
Wildlife Management Area is on the opposite bank of the Altamaha. For
details, contact the Wildlife Resources
Division’s Game Management office in Brunswick, (912)
262-3173.
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Georgia Coast Photo Gallery |
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 Georgia's Coast website is proud to have one of the finest photo galleries about coastal Georgia living.
Our picture gallery tries to include contributions from evey part of coastal Georgia. We have images
from every Georgia coastal county. It is our goal to allow you to "SEA" Georgia while you see Georgia.
Here is a direct link to our photo galleries VIEW GALLERIES
Thanks and enjoy!
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Brunswick & Glynn County Events |
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