HomeMy Public PortalAbout20130509GDNR Letter - Beach Rake Letter.docxMay 8, 2013
Karl Burgess
GDNR
One Conservation Way
Brunswick, Georgia 31520
RE: Request for Letter of Permission for Use of Beach Rake for Relocation of Natural Vegetative Material and Trash from the Jurisdiction of the Shore Protection Act, City of Tybee Island
Dear Mr. Burgess,
Thank you for your staff’s assistance with the process of requesting permission from the Georgia Department of Natural Resource for the permission to operate a beach rake which is pulled
by tractor on the beach for purposes of relocating natural vegetative material and trash periodically from the jurisdiction of the Shore Protection Act without removing sand.
The city is anticipating purchasing specialized equipment for the relocating marsh wrack and the occasional large deposits of sea weed from located from the high tide line to the low
tide line. The city staff would utilize the beach rake to relocate the marsh from the intertidal zone and plan to deposit the material to the dune lines in areas where dunes need additional
encouragement such as the curve and south of the pier. From the North federal groin to the South federal groin excluding the area south of the Gulick Street cross-over to the East Gate
cross-over, excluding south of Center Street to 13th Street. The areas proposed for seasonal removal are areas that are under ocean rescue protection during the tourist season. The
areas request would also exclude south of Gulick Street cross-over to the East Gate cross-over. No relocation activity would be conducted during the Piper Plover season in the winter.
City staff would coordinate with the turtle nesting coordinator between May 1s and October 31st.
The city staff would also want to utilize the beach rake to relocate all sea weed from the North federal groin to the South federal groin excluding the area south of the Gulick Street
cross-over to the East Gate cross-over. The city staff would utilize the machine to deposit the material to the dune lines preferably to in front of the sea ward dunes located in the
non-protected areas (non-lifeguard
areas). No relocation activity would be conducted during the Piper Plover season in the winter. City staff would coordinate all activities with the turtle nesting coordinator between
May 1st and October 31st.
The city will not place any natural vegetative material in front of marked turtle nests and will coordinate with the local turtle coordinator with the Marine Science Center to reconfirm
all locations. Again, the area between the Gulick Street cross-over and East Gate is excluded from this request. It is a no swimming area due to dangerous seawall/groins and has vegetation
growing between the primary dunes and the high tide line which the city does not want to move material. Enclosed is an exhibit with the area marked that will illustrate this request.
Regarding the removal of trash, the city also request permission to utilize the beach rake for purposes of the removal of trash from the intertidal zone from the North federal groin
to the South federal groin excluding the area south of the Gulick Street cross-over to the East Gate cross-over. The operations would occur in the very early mornings and/or afternoons
after large crowds have been on the beach and deposited large amounts of trash. This could occur from March 1st to October 31st of each year.
The purpose of this request is to collect the trash including plastic bottles, Styrofoam, plastic straws and cigarette without removing the sand in a timely fashion before the trash
washes out to the sea and into the marsh. The city staff believes this machine can optimize the city’s staff’s efforts to keep the beach clean, as possible, and augment the efforts
of local non-profits such as Tybee Beautification.
I have emailed you a brochure from the company that manufactures the machine and a video of a recent demonstration of the machine on Tybee’s beach last December 2012 for your review
The city looks forward to a positive response from the GDNR to this request. If you have any questions or need additional information. Please contact me at 912-472-5070 or dsch@cityoftybee.org
Sincerely,
Diane D. Schleicher
City Manager
CC: Jason Buelterman, Mayor
Edward Hughes, Attorney
A.G. “Spud” Woodward, Director, CRD
Brad Gane, CRD