HomeMy Public PortalAbout20140900Tybee Island Beach Management plan.pdf
Tybee Island
Beach
Management
Plan
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
SIGNATURE PAGE 1
INTRODUCTION 2
HISTORY AND BACKGROUND 2
Barrier Island Dynamics 2
History and Development of Tybee Island 2
Demographics 3
POLICIES AND LAWS 4
Federal 4
State 4
Local 5
HISTORY OF BEACH RESTORATION AND NOURISHMENT 6
PUBLIC BEACH USES 10
Beach Safety and Lifeguards 10
Equipment and Needs 11
Tourism 12
Traditional Tourism 12
Ecotourism 13
Roads and Parking 14
Beach Access 14
HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS 15
MOVING SAND FROM LOCAL AREAS OF ACCRETION TO LOCAL AREAS OF
EROSION 16
PUBLIC/PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF ACCRETING AREAS OF BEACH 18
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS 18
Wildlife 18
Shorebirds 18
Sea Turtles 18
Construction 19
Sediment Grain Size 19
Sediment Composition 19
Sediment Color 19
Compaction 19
Beach Profile 19
Sand Fence Construction 20
Beach Lighting 20
Plants 21
Scrub-Shrub Trimming Guidelines 21
Sea Oats 21
Tree Canopy 21
Green Space 21
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Beach Water Quality
Beach Water Quality Monitoring 22
Storm Water Management 23
Water Quantity/Conservation 24
Dogs on the Beach 24
Beach Cleaning and Maintenance 25
BEACH COMMUNITIES 26
Savannah River Beach 29
North Beach 30
Front Beach 30
Beach Business District 33
South Tip 36
Back River 39
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 43
Planning and Zoning 44
Beach Restoration and Nourishment 44
Federal 45
State 45
Local 47
BEACH MONITORING REQUIREMENTS 48
Federal 48
Cost Shared Five Year Beach Monitoring 48
QA Under the Corps’ Inspection of Completed Works Program 49
State 49
Local 49
Non-Federal Monitoring Requirements 49
Quarterly Surveillance Report 49
Citizens and Tourists 49
BEACH CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS 50
State 50
Local Population 50
THE WAY FORWARD 51
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 53
LITERATURE CITED AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS 54
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APPENDICIES
Appendix A: Corps of Engineers Operation and Maintenance Manual A1
Appendix B: Beach Monitoring Responsibilities B1
Appendix C: Tybee Beach Sand Management Players & Projects C1
Appendix D: DNR Standard Conditions for Dune Crossovers D1
Appendix E: DNR Scrub-Shrub Trimming Guidelines E1
Appendix F: DNR Guidance on Establishing Dune Paths F1
Appendix G: DNR Beach Cleaning Letter G1
Appendix H: Wintering Piping Plover Critical Habitat H1
Appendix I: Georgia DNR Sand Fence Guidelines I1
Appendix J: Summary of Recommendations J1
Appendix K: Recommendation Matrix K1
Appendix L: Beach Access Points and Parking Locations on Tybee L1
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Signature Page
The City of Tybee Island and the Tybee Island Beach Task Force has partnered to
create this Tybee Island Beach Management Plan. The City of Tybee Island has
asked its citizens to define th eir beach management interests and priorities and
has given fair consideration to the inclusion of those interests and priorities in this
Beach Management Plan. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has
provided technical assistance to the community to conduct and complete this
mutually beneficial work. The project has enabled the City of Tybee Island to
define its beach management interests and goals and will further enable the City
to conduct its planning, budgeting, and public works functions as they relate to
management of Tybee Island beaches.
Signed this day of , 2014
By:
Honorable Jason Buelterman, Mayor
Mayor City of Tybee Island
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INTRODUCTION
In order to understand Tybee Island and its unique place on our coast, we must place it into the
larger perspective of the Georgia barrier islands. The northernmost of our barrier islands, Tybee
has been impacted by human development for centuries. From Yuchi Indians to modern day
people looking for a beachside community, Tybee has been an important component of our
landscape, both culturally and ecologically for centuries. An article from the Savannah Morning
News from the late 1800’s gives us the following quote: “The beach is crowded with the old
and the young, the rich and the poor. There is no caste here. There is no stilted style. The
beach is long enough and broad enough and free for all. It’s impossible for the selfish to
monopolize the pure air of Tybee! There is enough and to spare. It is as free as the waves
which beat upon the beach.”
In order to properl y discuss beach management, which is the purpose of this document, we must
balance all perspectives, from beach stabilization and re-nourishment to the abundant natural and
cultural resources. For an excellent technical overview of shoreline stabilization on Tybee Island
see the Tybee Island, Georgia, Long Range Beach Management Plan prepared for T ybee Island
in June of 2001 by Olsen Associates, Inc.
The purpose of this plan is to provide a useable planning document to the Tybee Island
government and community that will serve several functions: serve as standard operating
procedures for beach management b y outlining responsibilities for management and maintenance
of the beach; recommend specific duties to stakeholders and government officials and provide
pertinent information to residents and interested parties. This document will serve as official
policy of the Cit y of T ybee Island. It will provide long–term direction and guidance for cit y
policy makers and the Tybee Island Beach Task Force (BTF) as well as best management
practices to city personnel for beach re-nourishment and maintenance.
HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
Barrier Island Dynamics
Barrier islands are shaped by both forces of nature and design! Natural forces include
water currents such as long shore currents, wave refraction, and storms, and cause barrier islands
to be impermanent geological entities.
This section will briefl y discuss the fact that the shapes and sizes of barrier islands
change constantl y under the influence of winds, waves, and tidal currents. Inlets, on the north
and south ends of the barrier islands, are especially d ynamic with southern ends tending to grow
through accretion and northern ends showing irregular growth and erosion. And so Tybee Island,
just like any Georgia barrier island, changes shape constantly. This Holocene, or recent
geologicall y speaking, island consists of 3,100 acres, of which 1,500 acres are uplands. For more
information on this topic, please see A Guide to a Georgia Barrier Island by Ta ylor Schoettle.
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Because the Savannah Harbor Federal Navigation Channel, maintained by the U. S. Army Corps
of Engineers, has disrupted this natural cycle, more attention will be paid to it in the next section
and in the Beach Restoration and Nourishment section.
History and Development of Tybee Island
Tybee Island was colonized alongside Savannah by General James Oglethorpe in 1733.
Tybee was recognized early on in the colonial period as strategic to protect the port of Savannah.
Several lighthouses were built on Tybee, and what you see toda y is actually two lighthouses: the
third lighthouse (the bottom 60 feet completed in 1773) and the fourth lighthouse (the top 94 feet
added to the original foundation in 1867). The octagonal structure is made of brick, with 12-foot-
thick walls at the base tapering to 18 inches at the top (Sherpa Guides, Lenz Design, 2005).
Tybee development continued in the mid-1800s when the only transportation was over water, the
general public having access by steamboat. It wasn’t until after the Civil War that Tybee trul y
became a tourist destination with the establishment of a rail line with Savannah in 1887. There
were ver y few year-round residents before the 1870s, but over 400 beach cottages and other
buildings were established b y the 1890s for the summer residents. U.S. Highway 80 was
completed in June of 1923 linking Tybee Island with Thunderbolt, Georgia, and b y the
1920’s, Tybee was one of the busiest seaside resorts in the Southeast with the main hub of social
activit y being the T ybrisa Pavilion. Another aspect of development on Tybee revolves
around the shipping channel and port. The natural channel depth of the Savannah River is
approximatel y 24 feet. Please see the sections on Beach Restoration and Nourishment and
Beach Monitoring, as they adequately address these topics.
Demographics
Tybee Island is one of four public beach communities in Georgia along with Jekyll
Island, St. Simons and Sea Islands. Tybee is Georgia’s 11th largest barrier island, measuring
approximatel y 2.5 miles long by 0.75 mile wide. There is a permanent resident population
approaching 4,000, which can grow to 30,000 on summer weekend days. The population
according to the most recent census (2000) was 3,392. The median resident age was 47 years,
median household income was $50,000, and the median house value was $175,000 and continues
to increase rapidl y (Cit y-Data.Com, 2005). As of August 2005, there have been 59 single-famil y
new house construction building permits issued at an average cost of $495,000 (Personal
communication, Jan Fox and Vivian Woods, July 2005). According to the U.S. Department of
Labor May 2004 Metropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for the
Savannah Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), the mean annual wage for all occupations were
$32,750. Race is mostly of European descent, with ancestries including African, English, Irish,
German, Italian, Scottish and American Indian (City-Data.Com, 2005). Rapid growth on the
South Carolina coast and in Florida have placed additional human stresses on Tybee such as
increased visitors on the beach, and greatly increasing single-and multi-family residential
construction. In turn there is a greater need to maintain the beach for the use of our visitors and
the protection of propert y.
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POLICIES AND LAWS
Federal
The Shore Protection Program Tybee Island was included in the Federal Shore Protection
Program under the Water Resources Development Act in 1974. This Congressional Action, as
well as other actions by the Federal Government, authorizes erosion protection measures,
including sand re-nourishments every seven years, through 2023. The Corps administers and
engineers this Program with coordination of the City, State and the GA DNR. Although the
project has become an authorized project, each action must be separately funded from the
Congress and from local funding sources for each construction activity as well as for the studies
and engineering required by it. Three past projects have brought in under this Authorization
beginning in 1975, the North Federal Terminal Groin was constructed and 2,300,000 cubic yards
of sand was placed along the front beach; in 1986/87, the Federal South Tip Groin was
constructed (and the North Terminal Groin was raised 4 feet) and approximately 1,000,000 cubic
yards of sand was placed at the north and the south ends of the front beach; and in 1999/2000,
built 8 rock groins at the back river and placed 1,300,000 cubic yards of sand on the north front
beach and the south end of the island. Another re-nourishment was initially scheduled for 2007;
however, adequate Federal funding was not allocated until FY2008. The City of Tybee, in
anticipation for the 2007 re-nourishment, began the engineering and design, in particular the
borrow area analysis initiated and was turned over to Corps for its use in support to the 2008
Renourishment.
The 2008 Beach Re-nourishment Project contract was awarded in August 2008 and work was
completed in December, 2008. Approximately 1,000,000 cy of sand was placed on the beach
above the mean low tide line, with an emphasis on the Second Street area, where an additional
2000 cy was placed in this “hot spot”. The BTF has requested that the north end of the island also
be included in this program as is all of the rest of Tybee and Congress has authorized a new
“North End Study. However, no work has been performed due to a lack of Federal Funds and a
prioritization for local funds assigned towards the main beach renourishment. The federal
government provides 60.1% of the funding and Tybee Island as the local sponsor must provide the
remaining 39.9% with the help of Chatham County and the State of Georgia. Another study (The
Channel Impacts Study) supported by the BTF could assign a larger percentage to the federal
government due to the effects of the federal channel if completed
State
The Shore Protection Act of 1979 (O.C.G.A. 12-5-230, et seq.) The Shore Protection Act is the
primary legal authority for protection and management of Georgia’s shoreline features including
sand dunes, beaches, sand bars and shoals. Its jurisdiction includes the submerged shoreline lands
out to the three mile limit of State ownership, the sand beaches to ordinary high water mark, and
the dynamic dune field. See http://www.legis.state.ga.us/cgi- bin/gl_codes_detail.pl?code=12-5-
231.
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The Marshlands Protection Act (O.C.G.A. 12-5-280, et seq.) The Coastal Marshlands Protection
Act provides the DNR Coastal Resources Division with the authority to protect tidal wetlands.
The CMPA manages certain activities and structures in marsh areas and requires permits for other
activities and structures. Erecting structures, dredging, or filling marsh an area requires a
Marshlands Protection Committee Permit administered through the DNR Coastal Resources
Division. In cases where the proposed activity involves construction on a State-owned tidal water
bottom, a Revocable License issued by the CRD may also be required. The estuarine area is
defined as all tidally influenced waters, marshes, and marshlands lying within a tide elevation
range from 5.6 feet above mean tide level and below. The jurisdiction of the Coastal Marshlands
Protection Act includes marshlands, intertidal areas, mudflats, tidal water bottoms, and salt marsh
areas within estuarine areas of the state. See http://www.legis.state.ga.us/cgi-
bin/gl_codes_detail.pl?code=12-5-281.
The Georgia Coastal Management Program Georgia joined the Federal Coastal Zone Management
Program (CMP) in 1998. Georgia’s federally-approved CMP allows the state to:
• Provide technical assistance and Coastal Incentive Grants to local governments for
projects in coastal area communities
• Provide public education about coastal resources
• Simplify the permitting process and improve compliance with issued permits
• Exercise more control over federal projects in the coastal area through federal
consistency review
• Improve environmental monitoring efforts to ensure the health of our coastal ecosystems
Developed through an extensive public process; the Georgia Coastal Management Program is an
integrated, networked program which uses existing state laws to manage Georgia’s critical coastal
resources. State resource policies, such as the Coastal Marshland Protection Act and the Shore
Protection Act, protect critical natural areas but do not provide a coordinated, comprehensive
management framework with which to address the above issues. The Georgia Coastal
Management Program provides such a framework.
Water Quality Control Act, Georgia Code 12-5-20, et seq. The people of the State of Georgia are
dependent upon the rivers, streams, lakes, and subsurface waters of the state for public and private
water supply and for agricultural, industrial, and recreational uses. It is therefore declared to be the
policy of the State of Georgia that the water resources of the state shall be utilized prudently for
the maximum benefit of the people, in order to restore and maintain a reasonable degree of purity
in the waters of the state and an adequate supply of such waters, and to require where necessary
reasonable usage of the waters of the state and reasonable treatment of sewage, industrial wastes,
and other wastes prior to their discharge into such waters. See http://www.legis.state.ga.us/cgi-
bin/gl_codes_detail.pl?code=12-5-21.
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Local
Consolidation of Beach Ordinances
This section should consolidate ordinances into one section of the City code. Included will be
safety and enforcement, commercial vendors, fishing regulations, pier use, and other rules and
regulations and ordinances that should have the effect of law. (See ‘k’ below). Following is a
partial list of ordinances:
Storm Water Management Tybee Code 5-4-1
Beach Rules Tybee Code 9-5-1 (dogs on beach, animals at large)
Green Space Title 8 is the land development code, in particular 8-3-100 is beach and dune
vegetation, and 8-3-165 is green space rule, 8-3-240 is wetlands protection, 8-5-010J is shore
protection (above ordinances provided by Bubba Hughes, City Attorney).
• Beach Task Force, Sec. 2-3-30
• Regulatory fees, Sec. 3-2-72
• Sand removal, Sec. 5-1-3
• Damage or intrusion, Sec. 5-1-5
• Powered watercraft, Sec. 7-3-6
• Sales on beach, Sec. 9-1-20
• License, Sec. 9-3-31
• Fees, Sec. 9-3-33
• Control of business, Sec. 9-3-34
• Lifeguard, Sec. 9-3-35
• Rules and Regulations, Sec. 9-5-1
• Disorderly conduct, Sec. 11-1-6
• Authorized powers, Sec. 100-1-13
• Special property tax, Sec. 100-6-12
•Parking, street, & beach user fees, Sec. 100-6-14
• Dock Builders—regulation of contractors, unassigned as of August 2005
HISTORY OF BEACH RESTORATION AND NOURISHMENT
The histor y of the Fe de r al N avi ga t i on p roj e ct i n t h e S av an n ah R i v e r
indicates that dredging activities got underway in the late 1800's. At that point in time, there
was a point of land a half mile out to sea between the north groin (the North Groin was n ’t
built until the 1970’s) to US Highwa y 80. By 1915, this land had disappeared, and by 1925,
another 600 feet disappeared from the front beach. The channel was deep enough to stop most
sand and the island had to be protected by the sea wall built in 1938. Over 130 groins helped to
hold some of the sand, but continuing deficits to the incoming sand flow due to the channel
have caused increasing shoreline erosion beyond that expected b y natural causes.
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Many older residents have memories of waves breaking against the sea wall from the
Back River all the way around to the front beach. With the destruction in 1963 of a
bulkhead protecting Fort Screven, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) at the
Savannah District initiated a Federal Beach Erosion Control Project for T ybee Island.
Congressional authorization was obtained in 1973 and work started in the mid 1970's on the
north groin near the Tybee Island Lighthouse. The Project Authorization was only for
15 years after the date of first construction. Upon completion of the north terminal
groin, 2.3 million cubic yards of sand was excavated from a source just south of the south tip
of the island and placed on the front beach beginning about 17th Street and moving north to the
north terminal groin. The local sponsor for the construction of the north terminal groin and
initial nourishment of the beach was Chatham County. This initial nourishment was based
primaril y on Recreation Benefits, with the cost sharing set at 51% Non-Federal and 49%
Federal. Following the initial nourishment, it was found that the new sand started migrating
southward and the system of dunes south of 17th Street began disappearing off the end of the
Island. After the issues related to the provision of adequate parking at the north end of the
Island was resolved, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA DNR) became the
Local Sponsor for the construction of a South End groin and Tybee Island’s first cost-shared
re-nourishment. The GA DNR and the BTF began working with the Corps and beach
consultants which resulted, in 1986, the construction of the south groin at 18th Street.
Another approximately 1,000,000 cubic yards of sand was also placed on the Back R iver,
south tip and front beaches beginning in January 1987. This project was also cost shared at
51% non- Federal and 49% Federal.
In October 1992 (WRDA 1992), Congress authorized the deepening of the
Savannah Channel from -38 ft mlw to -42 ft mlw. Part of the implementation plan was to
utilize the north end of Tybee Island as an alternate disposal site for some of the dredged
material from the entrance channel. The material was of a poorer quality than what was
expected, including mud, silt, clay and fine sands. In addition, when the dredge head was not
removing material (where the channel was already deep enough), almost all of the dredge output
was water. This had the effect of eroding some of the high beach and dunes during every pass of
the cutter head in the channel. In order to preserve the beach, the dredge outfall was place into
the surf zone in order to not erode the existing beach. This resulted in a beach that was
considerably flatter with all of the dredge material placed below the high tide line. Therefore,
the amount of dredge material did not get as far south as what was expected, with most of the
new material below the low tide line, no material was placed south of 2nd street. The
silty material soon washed awa y, leaving a wide flat beach at low tide. The Georgia Ports
Authority, along with the State of Georgia, made $4,900,000 available to perform a shore
protection project for the south end of the island to assuage unmet expectations and to assist
Tybee with erosion problems.
In 1995, groins comprised of pre -cast concrete removable “Cam p bel” unit s
were built on the south tip from the Federal South End groin to the south tip of the Island,
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with an additional 335,000 cubic yards of sand placed from the south tip of the island and
northward to 14th Street. Consideration was given to monitor the beach along the lower back
river to assure that the down-drift beach would not be starved of sand because of the installation
of the Campbel groins. If the monitoring of the lower back river beach indicated that there was
starvation occurring, the GaDNR would direct the City of Tybee Island to remove one or more of
the “Campbel” units to allow a consistent amount of sand to pass the South tip of the island.
In 1991, Project Authorization for the Federal Tybee Island Shore protection project expired.
In 1996, under the authorization of Section 934 of the federal Water Resources Development
Act (WRDA) of 1992, the Corps prepared a “Section 934 Report” to extend the Federal
Tybee Shore Protection Project Authorization to 50 years , subject to the approval of a
Section 934 Report by the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works
(ASA(CW). The purpose of the Section 934 report was to verify that the project was still
justifiable, even with limited recreation benefits, and the project remained environmental
sound. The Federal T ybee Shore Protection project Section 934 was approved and was re-
justified based mostl y on prevention of storm damages to the homes and businesses, with very
limited recreation benefits. The Section 934 Report was approved with a 60.3% Federal and
39.7% non-Federal because of the “blended” project benefits produces a unique cost share
percentage. The inclusion of the south tip and Back River beaches was made within an
A ppropriations A ct passed by Congress stating that the south tip and Back River up to
Horsepen Creek was “an integral part of the Federal Shore Project.” This had the effect such that
as long as the overall Shore Protection project was economically justified, that the
separable element (the south t ip and B ack R iver) did not have to be “incrementally”
economicall y justified. Thus, the current Federal Shore protection project extends from the
North Terminal Groin all the way to the south tip and north up the Back River to Horsepen
Creek.
The next the re-nourishment occurred in 2000 which provided 1,500,000 cubic yards of
sand and 8 small rock groins along the Back R iver beach near the South Tip of the island. This
project cost over $10,000,000 and Tybee Island as the nonfederal sponsor was responsible for
the 39.7% of the total project cost. The City of Tybee Island had financial assistance from the
State of Georgia and Chatham County SPLOST funds to pay for the non-Federal cost share.
The 2000 Beach Re-nourishment Project was completed in June, 2000.
As of 2005, the front beach in the middle of the island has a very stable beach with over
500 feet of dunes. The south tip has a usable beach and a growth of sand dunes, and the
Back River beach, except for the area just west of south tip, has shown growth. The front beach
had been eroding between the north groin and 2nd Street and also near 17th Street; the rate of
erosion has lessened since the three nourishments that are starting to refill our sand starved
beaches.
In FY2006, Congress appropriated Construction General Funds for the preparation of a
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Limited Revaluation Report (LRR) for the existing Federal Shore Protection project. The
purpose of the LRR was to verify that the existing Shore Protection project was still
justified, that the project was still environmentally compatible, that there was still a viable,
willing local sponsor. In addition, the LRR established were the sand was needed and to
establish the estimated cost for the next re-nourishment.
This LRR was completed and approved b y the Savannah District’s next level of
authority, the South Atlantic Division. The LRR updated the Economic Anal ysis produced a
slightl y revised cost sharing split of 60.9% Federal and 30.1% non-Federal because of the
updated project benefit split. No funds were appropriated b y Congress for the actual
construction of the 2007 re-nourishment at that time.
In December, 2007 (FY2008), Congress appropriated $6,396,000 as the Federal Share
for the re-nourishment as described in the LRR. Funds were allocated to the District in
January, 2008, with the plan to award the contract in late summer for execution in the fall of
2008. The Corps adopted much of the preliminary work that was prepared b y the City of T ybee
Island main coastal consultant, Mr. Eric Olsen of Olsen and Associates. By adopting most of
the information, in particular the offshore borrow area investigation and analysis, the Corps
was able to complete the plans and specs in time.
The 2008 Beach Re-nourishment contract was awarded to Great Lakes Dredge and Dock
in August 2008. Work commenced in October 2008 and was substantially com pleted b y 1
January 2009. The contract was closed out on September 25, 2009, at a total project cost of
$10,027,047.70, with $6,086,417.95 in Federal Expense and $3,940,629.75 in non-Federal costs.
In addition, the City spent an additional $827,100 on consulting and engineering fees with
Olsen and Associates in conjunction with the project which was not credited to the City of
Tybee Island. The Corps utilized Mr. Olsen’s studies and recommendations which created
efficiencies and allowed the project to be continued in the winter of 2008/2009.
In Federal fiscal year 2 005, Congress appropriated stud y funds (General
Investigations) for two purposes, for the possible inclusion of the north beach (from the North
Terminal Groin to the mouth of Lazaretto Creek) and for the study of the possible impacts of
the Federal Navigation project to the shoreline of Tybee Island. These two studies sought
to change the existing Federal Shore Protection Project.
In addition, there was a separate Federal project in the works. The Feasibility Cost Share
Agreement (FCSA) for the Tybee Island Channel Island Impacts Feasibility Study was signed in
January 2007. The scope of the initial work was first to determine if there was an impact, and if so,
what would be an approximate estimate of that impact. The Corps Engineering Research and
Development Center (ERDC) in Vicksburg, Mississippi, was enlisted to perform this analysis
based on historical surveys and advanced modeling.
In September, 2007, the initial phase of the study was completed and reviewed as a final
ERDC technical document. This report concluded that 70-80% of the erosion of the Tybee Island
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shoreline and shelf was caused by the ongoing Operation and Maintenance of the Federal
Navigation Channel. There was no conclusion or recommendation as to the best mitigation
alternative to offset this impact.
No funds were appropriated in FY08 for the continuation of the Channel Impacts
Feasibility Stud y; therefore, no work was performed.
(Spencer, were any funds allocated in FY09, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14 for the Federal Share of
the Channel Impacts Study?)
In summary, although progress has been made to stabilize the beach, work remains to be
done to directl y mitigate the annual loss of sand caused b y normal forces of nature, which are
exacerbated b y the interruption of the littoral flow by the Federal Navigation Channel for the
Port of Savannah. Future re-nourishments are required to replace approximately an average
of 200,000 cubic yards of sand lost each year from these causes. Such re-nourishments are
needed about every seven to ten years to protect property and the growing dune fields and to
maintain the beach.
Beach Monitoring - The Savannah District of the U.S. Arm y Corps of Engineers (the
Corps), monitored Tybee Island’s beaches for the first 5 years after the 2000 beach re-
nourishment as required by the federal project for Beach Erosion Control (Tybee Island,
Georgia, Operations, Maintenance, Replacement, Repair, and Rehabilitation Manual, U.S.
Arm y Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, July 2009). After the fifth year, it became the
responsibilit y of the City of T ybee Island to perform the required monitoring for the remainder of
the life of the project. The City of Tybee Island hired ARC Engineering Jacksonville, TN.
Olsen and Associates evaluates the annual surveys. This is to be done by aerial
photograph y and on ground surve ys by consultants for the City of T ybee Island with ongoing
status reports of present beach conditions and the rate of sand loss. Some fluctuations to beach
conditions are caused by wind, water, and storms, and some to manmade impact, such as the
shipping traffic and tourism. Of particular concern is the “hot spot” at the “Anchor” curve and
whether design changes have worked to reduce erosion. Appendix A provides a summary table
of shared responsibilities regarding beach monitoring on T ybee Island.
FY2014 Renourishment (Spencer Davis needs to provide summary of costs, schedule and
scope of work.)
PUBLIC BEACH USES
Beach Safety and Lifeguards –This section of the T ybee Island Beach
Management Plan addresses lifeguards, existing standard operating procedures,
equipment and needs.
Lifeguards on Tybee Island operate under standard operating procedures that are
available through The City of Tybee Island Fire Department and the Cit y Manager’s Office. All
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lifeguards fall under the command of the City of T ybee Island Fire Department. Direct
supervision of the lifeguard department is under the Fire Chief appointed as the supervisor of the
Ocean Rescue Division. The Ocean Rescue Captains report to the Fire Chief.
Equipment and Needs -The City of T ybee provides the lifeguards with several items to
ensure that the lifeguards are uniformed and professional in appearance. These include uniformed
swim trunks or female suits, tank tops and whistles with lanyards. Towers, flotation cans,
binoculars, various first aid equipment, fire-quality 800 MHz radios, rescue surfboard and kayaks
as well as ATVs are also provided as equipment to be used b y lifeguards.
Below is a chart explaining the placement of guards and equipment. This is only an
example and should not be used as a template for ever yday placement (Tybee Island Fire
Department Ocean Li feguard Division, Standard Operating Guidelines Manual).
Table 1. Tybee Island Lifeguard Equipment
Location Flotation
Cans
Radios Rescue
Surfboard
Kayaks Foot Patrol and
ATV
Tower #14
14th Street
2 Guards
2 Cans
1 Radio No No Yes
Tower #15
15th Street
2 Guards
2 Cans
1 Radio No Yes (1) Yes-ATV
Tower #16N
North Pier
2 Guards
2 Cans
1 Radio No Yes Yes
Tower #16S
South Pier
2 Guards
2 Cans
1 Radio No Yes Yes
Tower #17
17th Street
2 Guards
2 Cans
1 Radio No No Yes-ATV
Tower #18
18th Street
2 Guards
2 Cans
1 Radio No Yes (1) Yes
North Beach #1
Main Strand
2 Guards
2 Cans
3 Radios Yes Yes (1) Yes
North Beach #2
Tower
2 Guards
2 Cans
2 Radios No No Yes
Lifeguard Station
EMT/Dispatch
1 Guard
1 Radio No No No
Tower #3
3rd Street
2 Guards 2 Radios No No No
Tower #19 2 Guards
2 Cans
2 Radios No Yes (1) LTs/ATV @ large to
respond to
unprotected Areas
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Tourism
Tourism is the mainstay of Tybee Island’s economy. It is one of the main reasons why a
beach management plan is necessary in the first place and cannot be overemphasized.
Traditional Tourism
Traditional tourism on Tybee began after the Civil War when steamships began carrying
beach-goers to the island. Use of Tybee as a tourist destination has increased steadily as
transportation to the island has become easier, by train which ceased operations in 1933
and by car (U.S. Highway 80).
THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF TYBEE ISLAND BEACH RENOURISHMENT
A formal study published in November 2007 by Dr. Michael Toma, Director, Center for
Regional Analysis, Associate Professor of Economics, Armstrong Atlantic State
University and Ms. Alexis Brewer, Research Assistant documents the many and
substantial state-level economic and fiscal impacts associated with re-nourishment on
Tybee Island. These impact assessments may be considered state level estimates of lost
jobs, lost worker income, lost business revenue, and lost state tax revenue resulting from
a failure to re-nourish the beach at Tybee Island. This study is not an economic impact
assessment of the entire tourism economy on Tybee Island. This analysis focuses on the
net impact on Georgia’s economy of beach re-nourishment. Thus substantial effort has
expended to estimate the proportion of Tybee Island tourism activity that is attributable
to 1) out of state residents who vacation at Tybee Island, and 2) the amount of tourism
activity that would be “recaptured” for Georgia provided that beach re-nourishment
diverts some Georgia residents from vacationing in alternate out of state destinations
and maintains the flow of in state residents to Tybee Island.
On an annual basis, the state level net economic impacts can be summarized as follows:
A total of 678 jobs, $18.4 million in labor income and benefits, and $54.7 million in
business revenue are estimated to be supported by beach re-nourishment. Also on an
annual basis, a total of $2.7 million in state sales tax and income tax reven ue would be
generated for state government provided that the beach is re-nourished.
An alternate assumption for the same time frame of the economic and fiscal impacts
hold that tourism related economic activity linearly declines at the same rate as the
beach eroded over the seven year re-nourishment cycle. Under this assumption, the
annual economic and fiscal impacts are fourteen percent of the figures cited in the
previous paragraph, the cumulative impact over the seven year cycle exactly equal to the
data cited in the previous paragraph. The cumulative ten year economic impact under
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this assumption is summarized as follows: 678 jobs, $73 million in labor income and
benefits, and $219 million in business revenue are estimated to be supported by beach
re-nourishment. The ten year cumulative fiscal impact is $10.6 million in sales tax
revenue and income tax revenue for state government.
Although no formal study has taken place regarding the importance of tourism to
Tybee’s economy, we can look to certain indicators to show the exponential growth of
this industry, such as the hotel/motel tax generated over the past decade. Hotel/motel tax
shared with the Tybee Department of Tourism in 1986 was $28,000, while in 2004 it
was $325,933 (Personal communication, Paul DeVivo and Katrina Murray, April,
2005). This is an approximate 1,000 percentage increase in 19 years.
A number of websites exist that are dedicated to tourism on Tybee Island, including:
www.tybeevisit.com www.tybeeonline.com www.tybee.com www.tybeetyme.com
Ecotourism
According to the Institute of Ecotourism (www.ioet.org), the term “ecotourism”
originated in the early 1990’s in response to the growing interest among travelers in
enriching their travel experiences through direct contact with the natural environment,
living history, and local cultures. Tybee Island, having plenty of all three, is a perfect
ecotourism destination, and many small businesses and entities have sprung up due to
the ample ecotourism opportunities. The Institute of Ecotourism goes on to say that
“ecotourism enables communities to thrive economically while preserving and restoring
the resources on which the travel and tourism industry and local communities depend”.
With this idea in mind, ecotourism is a large part of Tybee’s future!
The Tybee Island City Council has an ecotourism committee. The mission of this
committee is two-fold: to promote ecotourism on Tybee and to identify green space and
seek ways to make green space accessible to the general public. At present there are
three projects that the ecotourism committee has worked on or is completed.
1. A bicycle trail using City streets from south beach to the lighthouse. This is a
marked bike trail that keeps cyclists off of Jones Avenue and Highway 80, two of the
busiest streets on Tybee Island. – Completed
2. The Sally Pearce Nature Trail. The ecotourism committee is in the process of
identifying unopened rights of way to expand the existing nature trail - Completed
3. Alleviating a growing problem of limited water access on Tybee for all humanly
powered craft such as kayaks, canoes, rowing shells and sailing rigs
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Roads & Parking
The following information has been summarized from the Tybee Island Traffic &
Parking Study prepared for the City of Tybee Island by HDR, Inc. Engineering in
Atlanta, Georgia. For more complete information please see their report on file with the
office of the City Clerk, or available as a downloadable PDF file on the City of Tybee
website (www.cityoftybee.org).
The coastal community of Tybee Island, Georgia, has a full-time population of
approaching 4,000 residents. This can increase to over 30,000 on weekend days during
the summer. The Tybee Island beaches, which stretch along the northern and eastern
sides of the Island, are essentially the only Georgia beach areas serving the surrounding
three-county area for public access and day use. This influx of visitors impacts traffic
conditions on the Island and public parking facilities frequently reach capacity during
peak times, leaving some visitors upset about not being able to find readily available
parking.
The HDR study continues to discuss overall parking strategies due to the fact that
parking spaces are inadequate during peak periods in the summer. Overall parking
strategies recommended by this study include enhanced beach access signage, satellite
parking and shuttle system, and a toll at the entrance to the island (Tybee Island Traffic
& Parking Study, HDR Engineering, Inc., January 2005).
To see parking locations and beach access points on Tybee, along with a summary of
access points and parking in table form, please refer to Appendix K.
Beach Access
To remain eligible for federal beach re-nourishment funding through the latest Project
Cooperation Agreement between the Department of the Army and the City of Tybee
Island (available at City Hall), Tybee Island needs to ensure public accessibility of its
beaches. For more information on this subject, please refer to the Project Cooperation
Agreement between the Department of the Army and the City of Tybee Island
Tybee Island has addressed the needs that beaches be handicapped and stroller
accessible by installing beach mats at 18th Street, East Gate and Gullick Street.
The city also has two ADA beach wheelchairs available for the public free of charge at
the Ocean Rescue headquarters on the South end next to the Tybee Island Marine
Science Center just north of the 16th Street (Tybrisa) cross-over.
The GA DNR, Coastal Resources Division has standard conditions for dune crossovers.
These conditions are authorized by the Georgia Shore Protection Act (SPA) (O.C.G.A.,
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§12-5-
230) and allows only one crossover structure per parcel. Please refer to Appendix C to
see the entire standard conditions.
It is the recommendation of the Beach Task Force to consider other ideas regarding
crossovers. Possibly similar to ones used on the Jersey Shore. After visiting the area,
Mayor Buelterman considers these types of crossovers worth evaluating.
DNR also has guidance on maintaining and establishing dune paths. The DNR, Coastal
Resources Division may allow the use of a path through the state’s jurisdiction under the
Shore Protection Act. O.C.G.A. 12-5-230 et. seq. The purpose of a path is to provide
pedestrian access through the vegetated dune area of the dry sand beach in areas of low
traffic where public access does not exist and the functionality of the dune system will
not be degraded.
The Tybee Island South Beach Business District Design Charette by HDR Engineering,
Inc. was completed in January 2005 for the City of Tybee Island. The South Beach
Business District Design Charette held September 15-17, 2004, focused on the South
Beach Business District.
The charette process included intense sessions to receive input from City staff, the
general public and area stakeholders. The design concept, according to HDR, is a
starting point—a big picture idea for future actions. Implementation recommendations
were broken up into Immediate Actions (<1 Year), Intermediate Actions (1-5 Years),
and Long-term Actions (5+ Years).
A balanced economic development will provide increased resources for the city to
implement this plan.
HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS
Mr. Jimmy Brown, with the City of Tybee Island, is the director of the Tybee
Island Emergency Management Agency. To learn about hurricane preparedness on
Tybee Island, contact Mr. Brown through City Hal at (912) 786-5330 and/or visit the
Tybee Island website at:
http://www.cityoftybee.org/Assets/Files/AreYouRead yforaHurricane.pdf
Regarding what to do should a hurricane strike Tybee Island; two points need to
be mentioned. According to current City Manager Ms. Diane Schleicher, a private firm
has been retained to help with clean-up in the aftermath of a hurricane and according to
Clayton Scott , the Director of the Chatham Emergency Management Agency (CEMA),
there are two programs for emergency funding available to residents called public
assistance (http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/pa/index.shtm) and individual
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assistance which are only awarded for uninsured claims. It is recommended all Tybee
Island property owners have adequate Flood Insurance
(http://www.fema.gov/media/fact_sheets/individual-assistance.shtm) the source of funds
originating originate at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) level.
These low-interest loan and grant programs become effective after a presidential
emergency declaration. For more information on these programs and related manuals,
please visit http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=22218 (personal
communication, Clayton Scott, September 29, 2009).
For a copy of the most recent (updated in 2009) Chatham County Hurricane
Plan, visit:
http://www.chathamemergency.org/Documents/EOP%20Incident%20Annex%20A%20
Hurricane%20Incident%20Management%20REV0709.pdf.
Post storm removal of sand from the plat of Tybee Island should seek to
maximize the return of such materials to the beach system. Depending upon the nature
and location of such deposits, screening of debris may be required prior to placement if
storm related send back to the beaches of Tybee Island. FEMA can pay for such sand
relocation measures. Consultants to the City can assist with the facilitation of sand
replacement.
MOVING SAND FROM LOCAL AREAS OF ACCRETION TO LOCAL
AREAS OF EROSION
There is much concern from landowners on Tybee Island regarding beach erosion “hot
spots” located seaward of their property. This issue is most evident at the Highway 80
curve and Second Street.
Tybee Island has two areas of significant sand accretion. These are found at both ends
of the island in the ebb tidal deltas. Sand could possibly be mined in these areas to be
placed in areas of erosion such as Second Street. However, the 2008 re-nourishment
used a different template in this area and it appears to be holding up better than
previous templates. This area will always be difficult to maintain and slow the erosion
rate due to the dynamics of water flow specific to this area.
At a public meeting on June 20, 2005, one private citizen suggested that Tybee Island
purchase a small dredge that could move sand from flood tide deltas to eroding areas.
These kinds of creative solutions need to be researched and thoughtfully planned out by
the citizens and public servants of Tybee Island in coordination with the State.
This policy change was investigated by the City of Tybee Island, the BTF, City
consultants, and sent to the GaDNR/Coastal Resources Division (CRD), and the Corps.
No final action was taken by the GaDNR. Such things as permits and e ngineering
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methods should be clarified. According to Mr. Brad Gane of the GA DNR/CRD,
moving sand locally from areas of accretion to areas of erosion can be done through
identifying best management practices and standards and acquiring the necessary
approvals from the State (Brad Gane, personal communication, June 20, 2005). Mr.
Gane and Karl Burgess, also from GADNR, visited with BTF and Tybee Officials
April 2014 and reiterated the same. The y will entertain a request to relocate a specific
amount of sand based on a specific request from a specific location to another specific
location. City Manager Diane Schleicher understands and is familiar with the process
and how to put the request together. The height and length of the South Tip Groin was
originally optimized in order to establish and maintain the main front beach, with just
enough material flowing over and through the rubble mound groin to help avoid
starving the South Tip and Back River beaches. It may be possible, with coordination
and approval of the Corps and other State of Georgia agencies, to increase the height
and length of the south tip groin in order to reduce the amount of littoral drift moving
annually into Tybee Inlet.
PUBLIC/PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF ACCRETING AREA OF BEACH
The issue of who owns parts of the beach on Tybee Island is an important one to
understand. Ownership issues are based on some records and the absence of other
records. It is fairly certain that the front beach area (between the north & south federal
groins) is owned by the city to the mean high water mark. The city did condemnations
of the beach in that area when the first nourishment was planned in the 1970s. Land
seaward of the mean high water line is owned by the state – the offshore also.
There is little indication of ownership of the land adjacent to the Savannah River
(North Beach). Parts that were once part of the old Fort Screven might arguably belong
to the City of Tybee Island, but those parcels conveyed to private ownership could var y
depending on deeds, accretion & easements.
On the Back River side, it has always been my understanding that the beach was on
public property but not necessarily defined as city property. When the Back River
project was done, easements were secured from all abutting owners to permit the
project to permanently allow public use and access. Occasionally, an upland property
owner facing the Back River will claim title to a portion of the beach in this area.
However, no such claim has ever been validated.
There are some “King’s Grants” to some properties on the island, particularly in the
Lazaretto Creek area. Not all such grants say the same thing & depending on facts
following the American Revolution, the actual title ownership to some water adjacent
properties can be impacted.
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The resolution of a definitive demarcation line would be evaluated as a part of a long
range action item category. The issue is complicated by the impact of historical
information on erosion & accretion as land ownership ordinarily accretes to the upland
adjoining landowner, at least when it occurs naturally.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
The environmental section of this document covers the following topics: wildlife,
plants, green space, water quality, water quantit y, and hurricane preparedness.
Wildlife- Two groups of wildlife directly using the beach environment for food, shelter and
reproduction are shorebirds and sea turtles. Both will be addressed at length in this section of the
plan. Information for other groups of wildlife such as neo-tropical migrants, diamondback
terrapins, wood storks, alligators, right whales and bottlenose dolphins can be found at the Tybee
Marine Science Center, the GA DNR and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) Coastal
Refuges Office.
Shorebirds- Tybee Island is important to wintering sea birds and shorebirds, and occasionally
nesting sea birds. The north beach of the island from the jetty on the northeast corner, west
along the beach that parallels the Savannah River is the best area for wintering and nesting birds.
1. The north beach of T ybee has been designated as Critical Habitat b y the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, and noted as GA-1 in the federal register for the Piping
Plover (Charadrius melodius). This area supports many species of water birds
through the fall, winter and spring months. On Januar y 26, 2005 there were nearl y
2,000 water birds on the north end of Tybee, including seven (7) Piping Plover. A
map of the general locations of the designated critical habitat for the wintering
Piping Plover is depicted in Appendix G.
2. Beach-nesting birds are a high conservation priority for the Wildlife Resources
Division of the DNR. The beach flats and dunes on the north end of Tybee
occasionall y attract sea birds to nest. In 2005, a small flock of Black Skimmers
(Rynchops niger) nested on Tybee. The City of Tybee should coordinate with the
DNR Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) to protect the areas where birds are
nesting, to achieve mutual conservation goals. State nongame biologists can assist
in sign placement and rope barriers to keep the public awa y from beach nesting
birds.
3. Dogs can disrupt and harass birds on the beach. Tybee's no-dog rule needs to be
enforced for the entire island.
Sea Turtles-Nesting sea turtles are an important part of our beach ecos ystems in the Southeast.
The following beach nourishment guidelines are from the Georgia Department of Natural
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Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, and Non-game Program: The protection and maintenance
of nesting habitat is considered a high priority in the USFWS/National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS) Recover y Plan for the U.S. Population of the Loggerhead Turtle, Caretta
caretta. The purpose of these guidelines is to minimize the effects of beach nourishment projects
on sea turtle reproduction and to ensure nourished beaches are compatible with native beaches.
The following are general guidelines for beach re-nourishment projects:
Construction-Construction shall be allowed primarily outside the loggerhead turtle
nesting and hatching season (Ma y 1-October 31). Deviations from this provision will require
coordination with the GADNR and approval prior to the initiation of construction.
Sediment Grain Size-Fill material shall be free of construction debris, rocks, or other
foreign matter and shall not contain, on average, greater than 10% fines (i.e. silt and clay, passing
through a #200 sieve, approximately 075 mm) and shall not contain, on average, greater than
5% course gravel or cobbles (retained by #4 sieve, approx.. 4.5 mm). Sand grain size on Georgia
beaches is generall y between 0.15 and 0.3 mm.
Sediment Composition-The sediment composition of Georgia beaches is generally fine-
grained silica sand (>90%) with ver y little fragmented shell. Shell content should remain below
15% of total volume.
Sediment Color-Sediment color should be between 10 yr6.5/1 and 10yr7.0/1 on the
Munsell soil color chart
Compaction-Sand compaction should be measured at a maximum of 500 ft. intervals
along the fill area. Compaction will be measured at 3 stations along three transects
corresponding to the landward, middle and seaward portion of the fill berm. At each
measurement station, a cone penetrometer shall be pushed to depths of 6, 12, and 18 inches three
times (3 replicates) and the compaction readings will be averaged to produce a final reading at
each depth for each station. If the average value for any depth exceeds 500 cone penetrometer
units (cpu) for an y 2 or more adjacent stations, than that area will be cross-tilled from the high
tide wave rush to the seaward toe of the dune prior to May 1. If a dune feature is constructed as
part of the project, the dune feature should be tested for compaction prior to the planting of
vegetation or sand fence construction. If compaction readings are greater than 500 cpu at any of
the test depths (6”, 12” 18”) for 2 consecutive stations, the dune feature should be tilled prior to
May 1. The DNR is responsible for performing the compaction testing and informing the city if
and where there is a need for tilling on the beach for turtle habitat.
Beach Profile-The constructed beach profile should be graduall y sloping rather than an
elevated flat terrace to reduce scarping. The beach should be monitored for scarping prior to
the nesting season. Escarpments in excess of 18” extending more than 100 ft should be
mechanicall y leveled to natural beach contour prior to May 1.
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Sand Fence Construction-Sand fence construction will be in accordance with GADNR
guidelines. GADNR Sand Fence Guidelines (Appendix I) are designed to allow marine turtle
access to nesting habitat and prevent trapping of marine turtles as they return to the sea following
nesting.
Dunes- Sand Dunes are a complementary feature of a healthy beach. The seaward edge of a dune
will align with the most recent high tide line. If there is excess sand, this excess sand will construct
a new dune line approximately at the high tide line. During low tide, the wind will blow the sand,
usually landward, which would be either captured by the line of wrack (deposited there by the high
tide) or captured in the dune system that is above the high tide line. With a steady supply of sand
(as with the middle beach), you will end up with multiple rows of mature sand dunes.
During periods of high tides and winds, such as a hurricane or northeaster, the first row of dunes
will become eroded and the sand will move into the intertidal zone. Thus, the dune system
becomes a sand “bank” and a source of sand that stabilizes the beach and delays any breach in the
dunes. Once the dunes have been breached, localized flooding will likely occur. In addition, when
the tide recedes, the outgoing water will further erode any remaining dunes.
Templates: As far as we know, there is no approved vertical cross section “template” for
sand dunes. However, there are templates for the placement of the sand fencing, as attached.
Basically, the snow fencing should be placed perpendicular to the prevailing wind. For the north
end of the island, the snow fencing should be placed in a northwest to southeast direction
(configuration 1). For the southern end of the island, the snow fencing should be placed in a
Northeast to Southwest direction (also configuration 1 but reversed). Where there is no prevailing
wind direction (middle beach), the snow fencing should be placed in a “W” as in configuration 2.
Vegetation on top of dunes: The recommended plantings for the top of the dunes are Sea
Oates. Along with the plantings, it is recommended that a sprinkler system be established such as
was established as a part of the dune building program for the North Beach (in front of the North
End parking lot.
Vegetation surrounding dunes: The Beach Management Plan contains directions as to the
maintenance of vegetation (Shrub-Scrub) surrounding the dunes, page 19.
Sand fencing: The City of Tybee should put together a very specific plan regarding
placement and rational for locating sand fencing. Appendix I pages 1-2.
Beach Lighting- No discussion of sea turtles would be complete without mentioning
beach front lighting during nesting and hatching season. The Cit y of Tybee has an ordinance,
section 8-3-230, which provides standards for lighting in the shore protection area adjacent to the
City's beaches. Because egg-la ying females are disturbed b y lights, and sea turtle hatchl ings
orient toward the bright horizon to be able to find their way to the ocean, they can become
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easily disoriented by artificial sources of lights, such as street and porch lights. Because of
this, the Tybee Island Marine Science Center (TIMSC) and Georgia Power have instigated a
“Lights Out” Program on Tybee Island to encourage citizens and tourists to turn off or shield
outdoor lighting after 9 PM from May 1 to October 31. For more information on this subject
please visit the TIMSC website at http://www.tybeemsc.org/turtles.html.
Plants
Scrub-Shrub Trimming Guidelines - The goal of this strategy is to summarize data
from numerous sources and to propose guidelines for granting GA DNR Shore Protection Act
Permits for vegetation tri mming or landscaping within State Shore Jurisdiction areas. Though
derived from the known habitat needs of the painted bunting (Passerina ciris), a species of
concern in Georgia, these guidelines are intended to apply to all scrub shrub habitats within
Shore Protection Act jurisdiction. Please refer to Appendix D for a more thorough description
of scrub-shrub trimming guidelines for areas within Georgia Shore Protection Act jurisdiction.
Sea Oats-The City of Tybee has a local ordinance that protects sea oats (Uniola
paniculata), Section 9-5-1(8): No disturbing of dune vegetation or walking in the dunes. It shall
be unlawful for any person to pick, gather, remove, walk in the dunes, or otherwise disturb the
vegetation present on sand dunes, including sea oats.
Tree Canopy-The cit y has conducted an inventory (when?Is it still valid) with
geo-location tools of all trees of 2” caliper or greater on city rights of wa ys, parks and other
propert y. One purpose of this project is to qualify for Federal Emergenc y Management
(FEMA) reimbursement if the city were to lose any of these tree due a FEMA declared
emergenc y. Funding for the project was in combination with city funds and a grand from
the Coastal Resource Division of the DNR. This inventory also allows city staff to anal ysis
the mixture of tree species currentl y on the island to some degree.
Green Space-The topic of green space on Tybee Island continues to evolve.
There are three main efforts underway:
1. A nature trail system consisting of the Sall y Pearce Trail, unopened city streets,
and a bicycle trail,
2. City Resolutions that cover preserving all remaining parcels owned b y the City
for green space and public recreation, and disallowing permanent structures or
pervious surfaces in cit y parks,
3. The T ybee Island Land Trust which holds several conservation easements to
permanentl y protect the easement properties.
Some discussion has ensued regarding a real estate transfer tax for green space
acquisition that would require state action for Tybee Island to collect a small percentage of a
[Type text] Page 22
transfer tax when real estate changes hands. In 2004, the City of T ybee Island received a grant
from the Georgia Forestry Commission to inventory and map remaining undeveloped forested
and green space areas. The goal of this project was to develop, from this inventory and map, a
series of walking and biking trails and linear parks (personal communication, Bob Thomson,
Jul y 2005). There are several ordinances in place, such as the prohibition of any fill of marsh and
freshwater wetlands that exceed the State’s minimum requirements (City Code 8-3-240,
Wetlands Protection). A map of green space on Tybee Island is available at City Hall (personal
communication, Paul Wolff, April 2005).
The City Code that directly addresses green space in Article 8, Section 3-165, entitled
Green Space. Following is the current city code of this section as listed on the Tybee Island Cit y
Government website (City of T ybee Island, 2005).
Findings and Purpose: The preservation of green space is important to the health and welfare
of the City's citizens and aids in the reduction of drainage problems associated with
development; and the preservation of green space and permeable surfaces will preserve
aesthetic features of the landscape and provide for the free flow of air, light, etc. Therefore, in
the interest of the public health, safety and welfare, the Mayor and Council find that the
imposition of a permeable surface requirement into the setback spaces of lots is appropriate.
In all zoning districts, sixty-five percent (65%) of the designated setback area of a lot shall
consist of permanent permeable surface so as to permit the absorption of water and shall not be
paved, built upon, or covered in such a way so as to interfere with the permeability of the
surface. It is the intention of the governing body and it is hereby ordained that the provisions of
this Ordinance shall become and be made a part of the Code of Ordinances, City of Tybee
Island, Georgia, and the sections of this Ordinance may be renumbered to accomplish such
intention.(ORD. 1999-24; 8/12/99)(ORD. 2000-10; 2/11/00)
Beach Water Quality
This section is attributed to the GA DNR, Coastal Resources Division. The City has
installed filters in 20 storm water catch basins in heavily used parking lots on the island in order
to catch the fines and other impurities before they enter into the system. These filters were
installed in city parking lots on the south side in 2009.
The Cit y currentl y has a Coastal Incentive Grant for additional storm water testing at
additional location in an effort to determine if shore birds significantl y contribute to higher levels
of bacterium in the water throughout the year.
The City is also working with the University of Georgia /Skidaway to establish oyster
beds at multiple storm water outfalls in an effort to process the storm water naturally.
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Beach Water Quality Monitoring
The GA DNR Coastal Resources Division (CRD) Beach Monitoring Program was
developed to protect swimmer health. Starting in 1999, CRD monitored the swimming beaches
on Tybee for the presence of fecal coli form bacteria. Fecal coli form is an indicator bacterium,
which when found in the water indicates the presence of human or animal fecal matter. Fecal
matter can contain pathogens (bacteria, virus, etc.), which can cause human illness.
Passage of an amendment to the federal Clean Water Act known as the Beaches
Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act of 2000 (PL 106-284) addresses
significant new swimmer protection provisions. The BEACH Act requires states to adopt water
qualit y criteria utilizing enterococcus bacteria as the standard indicator for salt-water recreational
beaches. The Act also requires states to develop procedures for notifying the swimming public
when high levels of bacteria are found.
In April 2004, CRD entered a new phase of beach monitoring and public notification
based on the Environmental Protection Agenc y’s recommended levels of enterococcus bacteria
for marine recreational waters. Enterococcus, like fecal coli form, is an indicator bacterium.
Research has shown the enterococcus is a better indicator of the presence of fecal matter in salt
water. EPA has finalized a new standard for bacterial water quality: a single sample maximum of
104 enterococcus CFU per 100ml or a geometric mean of 35 enterococcus CFU per 100ml. CRD
has worked in partnership with the City of Tybee and the Chatham Health Department to
develop procedures to notify the public. Public advisory signage has been installed at beach
access points on Tybee Islands. The Health Districts have prepared templates for press releases
to issue health advisories in the event of high bacteria levels.
CRD tests the Tybee beaches year-round in five (5) locations: the south end at Chatham
Street, the Strand just north of the pier, at Center Terrace, near the lighthouse at Gulick Street,
and at Polk Street with Polk Street recentl y being taken off of a permanent advisory status. The
beaches are tested weekly. When elevated levels of bacteria are found, CRD notifies the Health
Department. The Health Department notifies the City of T ybee and issues a press release
notifying the public of the swimming advisory. The City of Tybee activates the advisory signs in
the affected area of beach. The Environmental Protection Division (EPD) investigates to find the
source.
CRD continues to test the affected beach until the bacteria levels drop to an acceptable
level. The Health Department then lifts the swimming advisory and the City of T ybee de-
activates the advisory signs.
CRD has placed beach information on our web site at http://crd.dnr.state.ga.us/ and has
linked to the Earth911 web site to show current beach conditions. On the Earth911 site, regular
beach visitors can subscribe to an e-mail notification system for their favorite beach. Subscribers
to this free service will receive an e-mail each time the beach status changes.
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Storm Water Management
Storm water management on Tybee Island directly affects beach water quality. There
have been several ordinances/resolutions passed by City Council that address storm water
regarding:
- Pervious driveways, and
- Storm water permits are required by an y land disturbing activity regardless of size
or distance from the water.
It is important to note that the local code is stricter than State requirements regarding
storm water management. To see the Code section in its entirety, visit the City of T ybee website
at www.cit yoft ybee.org, Title 5 Public Works.
Water Quantity/Conservation
Water conservation is a priority for Tybee Island. There is a water conservation ordinance
in place since 1997, Municipal Code 6-1-2, and the City’s website has a section on water
conservation at http://www.cit yoft ybee.org/conservation.htm.
The Cit y adopted a tiered Water and Sewer rate schedule on January of 2009 based on
usage and has held workshops with local businesses on strategies for water conservation. There
is additional public information regarding water conservation on the City web site and public
access channel.
The City purchased and implemented an automated meter reading s ystem in 2008/2009
that has a leak detection system feature that allows city staff to notif y property owners of leaks
well before the y receive t heir monthly water bill in order to take corrective action.
The Cit y reduced the number of public showers at public cross-over from 23 public
showers in 2008 to 5 foot-washers in 2009.
Federal
The Environmental Policy Act of 1969, (NEPA) 42 USC § 4321 et seq. (1969), as amended,
requires the use of efficient plumbing fixtures. For more information see
http://www.epa.gov/owm/waterefficiency.
Dogs on the Beach
There are man y reasons why dogs, and other pets, are not allowed on Tybee’s beaches.
Public nuisance and disturbance to shorebirds are on the top of the list, along with nonpoint
source pollution from fecal matter. The City Code that addresses this issue can be accessed via
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the Cit y of T ybee website at www.cityoft ybee.org/code, Section 9-5-1 RULES AND
REGULATIONS FOR USE OF THE MUNICIPAL BEACHES, (4) No pets. It shall be unlawful
for any person who shall own, or be in control of, or be in charge of, any dog or other pet, to
allow or take that dog or other pet upon the beaches or structures erected thereon. This does not
include properly certified guide dogs, or similar animals assisting the blind, deaf, or other
physically handicapped persons.
Beach Cleaning and Maintenance
Beach cleaning and maintenance is one component of good beach management and beach
cleaning should take place within limits. In a letter written from then CRD Director Susan
Shipman to Mayor Walter Parker on July 16, 2004, it is stated that pursuant to O.C.G.A.,
Section 12 -5-248 (b), the DNR would issue a letter of authorization to T ybee for beach cleaning
activities with the following conditions:
1. Mechanical cleaning may not occur in the dunes and can only occur during the day.
2. Cleaning should focus on manmade debris and avoid natural debris, such as beach
wrack, as beach wrack is important to primary dune formation—an important
component to the ecology of the beach ecosystem.
3. During the sea turtle nesting season (May 1 to October 1), cleaning can only occur
after the turtle patrol has completed their daily surve y of Tybee Beach for nests and
hatchling emergence.
4. Cleaning ma y not occur within 20 feet of sea turtle nests.
5. Cleaning ma y not occur within 100 feet of a designated shorebird nesting area or
designated critical habitat.
6. Cleaning equipment must stay at least 10 feet from indigenous vegetation.
7. Onl y equipment with 10-psi or less tire pressure can operate on the beach.
8. Cleaning equipment must not penetrate more than two inches into the beach surface.
9. Cleaning equipment must effectively screen and return sand to the beach.
10. All material collected must be removed from the beach.
The letter also states the O.C.G.A. 12-5-248 (a) (1) provides that governmental vehicles
may be utilized for beach maintenance without a permit as long as those vehicles operate across
existing crossovers, paths, or drives. The letter goes on to state that pursuant to Board of Natural
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Resources Rule 391-2-2, Appendix A, T ybee Island’s three such existing access sites are the
north, middle, and south access drives. Other access points would need to be approved b y the
Shore Protection Committee.
Furthermore, the statute mandates that proper vehicular activity must be conducted so as
to provide protection to sea turtles and birds.
BEACH COMMUNITIES
In order to assess such local issues as infrastructure, zoning and parking, we have
attempted to identify beach communities on Tybee Island. The model that was used for this task
is the Virginia Beach Management Plan of April 2002, which used a principal strategy of
segmenting Virginia Beach’s coastline into eight individual beach units.
We have, cursoril y, attempted to identify beach communities and have come up with six
communities: Savannah River Beach, North Beach, Front Beach, Beach Business District, South
Tip, and Back River. The following sections were written b y Mr. Lou Off, the past current T ybee
Island BTF Chair, and Ms. Berta Adams, also a past member of the Tybee Island BTF.
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Savannah River Beach
Location and Structures
This beach starts in the northwest area of T ybee and goes to the northeast. Starting near
Teresa Lane, where residential development is approximately 500 feet wide between highways
80 and the beach, it ends at Estill Point, which is over a mile north of Highwa y 80. The beach is
approximatel y 5,000 feet long and contains 27 single-famil y beach front residences and 8 vacant
lots. Also along the beach is the Savannah Beach and R acquet C lub with 184 units near the
west end and Light House Point with 117 units on the east end. Both of these complexes
contain mainly short term rental spaces. The Tybee Island sewage treatment plant is on this
beachfront with tertiary treatment and effluent discharge into the ocean. Other than multi-
famil y housing, most homes are owner-occupied and have been constructed in the last 10
to 20 years. All remaining lots are zoned for single-family homes.
Property Ownership
Privately-owned property along this beach stops is in severe dispute, with some portions
of the Island, private ownership goes to the low water mark, the high water mark, or even the
middle of the channel. Public sand nourishment projects should not be constructed on private
land. Therefore, clarificat ion of propert y ownership needs to be determined.
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Usage
This beach is difficult to access unless from the beach-front residences, multi-family
units or in subdivisions that have beach access. The beach is therefore quiet and seldom
crowded. Increased construction in this area is causing more single-family residences to be
placed in the rental program causing a higher usage of the beach in the summer months. Since
this beach faces the Savannah River there is little surf and is safe for wading, ka yaking, fishing
and wind surfing. The beach is used for sunbathing, biking and walking. Points of interest along
this beach include the shrimp boats that moor overnight in the warm months, that attract man y
dolphin, while the close proximity to the river make it a great place to observe the large
commercial ships sailing to and from Savannah.
Beach Maintenance
The Savannah River beach is not included in the Federal Tybee Island Shore Protection
Program. Because it is on the river, surf is minimal, and the dynamic forces that usually affect
this beach are the tidal currents and large ship wakes. The east end of this beach has been
accreting from sand moving north from the north end of the island due to the sink caused by the
depth of the shipping channel and summer south east winds. This has added over 300 feet to
Estill Point in the last 10 years. Polk Street to the west end of the beach, which averages 200 feet
of width at low tide, has small but stead y erosion caused by winter time nor’easters that erode the
dunes at high tides. The State of Georgia provided funding in 2002 to increase the dune size in
this area b y having 20,000 cubic yards of sand trucked in and placed on the existing dunes. A
federal stud y is required (Authorized but not funded) to include this beach in the Shore
Protection Program which has been authorized but not funded by either Congress or the City of
Tybee Island.
Access
Because this beach is not in the Shore Protection Program there is no federal requirement
to have public access. However, there are two public access locations, one at Polk Street that
handles vehicular traffic as well as walking and with 10 parking spaces and one at Bay & Beyers
Streets with 4 public parking spaces plus a bicycle rack.
Wheelchairs can use this road but would need to have tires that can transverse the soft
sand at the Polk access point. The City has constructed another access to this beach at the
unopened portion of Byers Street, which is near the west end of this beach and is ADA
compliant.
Parking
There is adequate right-of-wa y near Byers Street and on Ba y Street to provide an
additional four (4) public parking plus bicycle parking. Additional Parking information is
contained in Appendix L.
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Infrastructure
There are no showers or restrooms along this reach of the beach front. The
City does maintain several locations with trash receptacles. There is a wooden swing near
Polk Street. There are several locations with signs posting the City rules for beach use and
numerous signs to remind people to stay off the dunes. A set of bird identification signs are at
the beach entrance at Polk Street for this purpose.
Services
Trash is picked up dail y in the summer. Almost no safet y service or police patrols are
made on this beach. Currents are strong on ebb and flood tides, especially at new and full moons,
when changes in the tide are at maximum. At low tide the south river channel is close to the
beach and can be dangerous for swimming or rafting. The east end is extremel y dangerous for
swimming due to the combined effects of tidal currents, beach wind currents, greater surf and the
ship wakes that are very close. One drowning has occurred at this location.
Environmental
The accretion of sand has formed a large dune field and shrub area near Estill Point that
is a nesting area for many shore birds. Also, the limited use of the beach allows birds to gather in
large numbers. This is a designated spot on the Colonial Coast Birding Trail. When permits were
received from the GA DNR for rebuilding the dunes on this beach, requirements for compaction
and scarp maintenance were assigned to the City of Tybee.
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North Beach
Location and Structures
This beach is defined as the area from Estill Point south to Highwa y 80. The beach is
approximatel y 7,000 feet long with the north Federal Groin in the middle. The accreting point on
the north end is over 1,000 feet from the nearest structure which is Light House Point
condominiums (see Savannah River Beach section).
Beyond this large complex is a small gated community, several single family residences
and a line of town homes. Behind these is a mixture of 25 single-family residences of mixed size
and age. South of the groin is the City of T ybee Public Beach that is over a quarter mile long. To
the south is Seaside Colony subdivision, a group of condominiums and more single-famil y
houses to US H ighway 80. This portion of the community includes 18 beachfront houses, 4
beachfront condominiums with another 50 single-famil y houses and 5 condominiums behind
them. Houses range from historic to new, dating back to the 1890’s. Just off the beach there
are two single-story older structures housing a nursing home.
Property Ownership
The Cit y of T ybee owns a portion of this beach and adjacent land for parking. On
the north end it is necessar y to clarify ownerships as described in the previous beach
communit y section (Savannah River Beach). It is thought that to the south of the public beach,
ownership to the beach side of the 1938 sea wall has been quitclaimed legall y to the City.
The T ybee Island Task Force recommends that the City of Tybee Island seek to clarify this issue.
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Historic Area
Much of this area of T ybee was a part of Fort Screven, developed in the second half of
the 1800’s and decommissioned in 1947. The fort contains the Tybee Lighthouse and several
renovated support buildings. Nearb y is a section of the fort that is now a museum. Other fort
buildings remain, such as the theatre and bakery along with eleven officer houses that have been
restored. Gun emplacements and attached ammunition storage exists along the beach with 14
foot thick walls. Some of these are under private ownership with houses built on top of them.
This area attracts man y tourists.
Usage
The north and south portions of this beach are difficult to access and are used mainly b y
the home owners, renters and guests. Typical beach use includes sun bathing, swimming and
walking. South of the groin the surf is greater. Along the southern portion the erosion has
exposed a sea wall from the early 1900’s that makes swimming dangerous. Signs mark this area,
and care needs to be taken in this area. The public beach is the second most used beach on the
island and draws large weekend and holiday crowds. At times the crowds on this beach spread
along the other sections.
Beach Maintenance
The portion of the beach north of the groin is not a part of the authorized Federal Shore
Protection Project. This beach has remained relatively stable due to sand passing through the
groin with the Southeast summer winds and tidal currents. There are emerging dune fields along
this beach above the tide line. The north point continues to accrete. The north groin was built in
1975 and had been settling into the sand allowing more sand to pass through it to the north. The
1986 Shore Protection Project included the raising of this groin by another four feet. There has
been no evidence that the North Terminal Groin has been sinking any further. A dynamic area
on the north side of the groin is caused by another “Y” shaped rock groin and the varying winds
that make major seasonal changes in the immediate area. The federal North Terminal Groin
continues to retain sand on the south side to provide an adequate, stable beach for the public
area. The beach south of the groin has been fairly stable with onl y a small loss of sand. Areas
above the tide line could use more sand fencing to encourage more dune build up. The south end
of this section is the worst erosion on the island. Re-nourishment sand has been placed in this
area during each construction project except for the 2008 re-nourishment. Because the beach
projects towards the east at this point, sand flows off it in both directions beaches to both sides
have become more stable from the recurring re-nourishment projects. Except for the couple of
blocks at the south end of this reach near US Highwa y 80, this beach has a low tide width of over
300 feet and increasing dune fields at the northernmost end.
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Signage and Traffic
Many da y trippers use the public beach in the north beach community and this, along
with the historic area tourists, brings heav y traffic to mostly narrow two-lane residential roads.
Signage for beach parking and the historic area is good and directs traffic through various turns
from US Highwa y 80 to the parking lots. During days of expanded use, traffic can be intense.
The Georgia Department of Transportation has provided a 4’x5’ reflective sign advising visitors
of the “Pay to Park” island-wide enforcement. The sign is located at the east-bound traffic lane
approaching the Island on US Hwy 80.
Access
North of the groin the only access for the public is along the south side of the Light
House Point condominiums. To the south there are public access points at both Highway 80 and
one block north at Van Horne Street. The public beach has three access boardwalks with one
being handicapped accessible. Other beach access is provided for the condominium complexes
and private houses. All major public and private access points are boardwalks over the dunes.
Some of the crosswalks do not extend through new dune fields and several paths are being used
for private access.
Parking
The public access north of the groin has limited public parking in its vicinity. The lot
next to the Police Department has been metered and signed using the pay & display meter
system. This has provided 200 additional metered parking spaces for the public. This is
overflow parking for the lots at the lighthouse and public beach.
There is also a lot with free parking of 30 spaces for use b y visitors to the
lighthouse and museum. The remainder of the parking location is shown in Appendix L.
Infrastructure
There are restrooms at the public beach that are somewhat outdated. At the parking lot
end of the Gullick Street cross-over there is a foot-washer available. Public access points have
signs with the beach rules and regulations. Near the groin there are bird identification signs
provided b y the DNR and designed b y Mallor y Pierce. There are no permanent lifeguard stations
on the public beach. Several beach swings are on the beach but in need of repair. A restaurant,
currentl y the North Beach Grill, shares the parking lot at the public beach, and the museum and
lighthouse are adjacent. Improvements to the restrooms were done in 2009 and a new single-
story FEMA compliant restroom is being res earched for possible construction with 2009
SPLOST funding in the future in the same location at the current public restroom.
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Environmental
At the north point there is, in addition to the quiet beach and dunes, approximately 5
acres of shrubs and m yrtle trees. This area is good for bird nesting and observing. This beach
section of Tybee is also heavily used b y man y ecologicall y sensitive shorebirds such as Black
Skimmers (Rhyncops niger), Sandwich Terns, (Sterna sandvicensis), and the Piping Plover, is a
good area for bird nesting and bird watching.
Front Beach
Location and Structures
This beach is approximately 8,000 feet and starts at Highwa y 80 on the north and ends at
14th Street on the south. The beach parallels Butler Avenue. The north end of Butler Avenue is
onl y 100 feet from the beach and about 900 feet at 14th Street. The first two blocks on the
north end contain two town-home complexes and twenty single-family houses. The next two
blocks hold the Desoto Hotel and Condominiums with 37 hotel rooms and 30 condominium units
and Beach Side Colony with approximately 91 condo units and a beach side restaurant.
Most condo units are for short-term rentals. From 5th (Center Street) to 14th Street the area
between Butler Avenue and the beach contains 40 beachfront single-family homes and 15
lots for development. Behind the beachfront are approximately 250 single famil y homes, a few
duplexes and another 50 lots. These homes contain one or two living levels, range between
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brand new and 1930’s vintage with most having footprints of 1,500 feet raised off the ground
to meet FEMA requirements. Between each numbered street are 2 or 3 alleyways that
service these homes and dead end at the beach. Many homes are being built or renovated to
meet increasing demands for beach side short-term rentals. An exception to the above is
the Fresh Air Home, which sits upon six or more lots and caters to disadvantaged
youngsters for beach camp. The west side of Butler Avenue, for a depth of several
blocks, contains houses smaller in size but mainly for permanent residents. Also on this side are
the Cit y Hall and related buildings, four churches, two motels and the island grocery market.
Property Ownership
It is not known whether all propert y beachside of the 1938 sea wall is owned by the Cit y
or not. This should be confirmed, and a permanent ownership tool, such as a conservation
easement, should be established to guarantee no future development.
Usage
From Hi ghway 80 to Center Street is the third most used beach on the island due to the
higher densit y housing with the town homes, hotel and condominium units. Residents of
weekly rentals tend to use this beach more than the permanent residents. Parking is
available in this section of the beach. From Center to 14th Street, the beach is quiet and used
mainl y b y residents, renters and guests in the houses between Butler Avenue and the beach. An
exception is when all parking is in use, usuall y summer weekends and holidays. This beach is
used for sunbathing, swimming and walking. There is a vendor for beach chairs and umbrellas
at 2nd Street.
Beach Maintenance
The North portion of this beach is Tybee Island’s most erosive area. Prior to the 1999 re-
nourishment project there was no beach in this area at high tide and the top of the sea wall, as
well as some of the reinforcing stone at the base, was totall y exposed. Even though over a
million cubic yards of material was placed here in 2000, this was the case again just prior to the
2008 re-nourishment. About 80% of the total sand lost since the last nourishment has happened
in this area. New sand placement has rebuilt this section of the beach. At this point on the island
sand flows in each direction due to the summer winds from the southeast and northeasters in the
winter. The whole front beach, from the north to the south federal groin, has had a loss of sand
from the hurricane season of 2004, and from normal erosion. This beach has seasonal changes
that include scarping, sand bars and intertidal gullies. From 8th Street to 13th Street the dune fields
have increased in width to over 400 feet. This is due to nourishment. Project providing
sand from the beach to the north. Dune fields are emerging at 3rd to 6th streets and additional
sand fencing has been added on the new upper beach near US Highwa y 80 in order to encourage
more dune growth.
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Signage and Traffic
Sunny summer weekends and holidays bring heavy traffic to Highway 80 and Butler
Avenue. The dead-end numbered streets tend to fill up quickl y b y beach goers hunting
parking spots. There is directional signage but a coordinated plan to move traffic and inform the
public of available parking is needed.
Access
Most numbered streets have public access to the beach by dune crossovers. Others have
direct access without the boardwalk where there are little or no dune fields. At 8th Street, the
crossover is handicapped accessible and there is a MOBI mat for wheel chair mobility on the soft
sand. Alleyways between the numbered Streets have dune crossovers that service the homes
in those areas. Some beachfront houses have private dune crossovers. The hotel and
condominium complexes have direct private beach access.
Parking
This section has parking along both sides of Butler Avenue, all numbered streets and on
the west side of Butler Avenue at 4th and 5th streets. There is a privatel y owned lot at 3rd Street,
with about 100 spaces, that is intermittently attended. Public parking spaces with pay & display
meters and single mechanical meters b y various locations are noted in Appendix L. Parking on
streets without meters is not legal. Cars will be ticketed.
Infrastructure
There no feet washing facilities or public showers in the middle section of the Island.
Signage at the street ends has beach rules and regulations and water quality information. At the
beach side of the access t here is also signage for beach rules and regulations, wooden swing seats
and trash receptacles. There is no permanent lifeguard along this beach.
Environmental
Most sea turtle nesting activity takes place on this beach. The wider dune fields here have
abundant plant life and provide homes for shore birds.
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Beach Business District
Location and Structure
This community is bounded by 14th Street on the north, 18th Street on the south and Butler
Avenue to the west. It encompasses approximately 2,200 feet of beach. The front row on
the beach is comprised of a hotel, numerous condominium buildings, and several stores and
restaurants. Between these structures and the beach are public parking lots and small buildings
that house the Tybee Island Marine Science Center, and two mobile air-conditioned restrooms on
each end of the district, in the two large parking lots. The main fishing pier and pavilion
extends over the ocean at Tybrisa Street (16th). T ybrisa Street is lined with stores, a hotel,
galleries and restaurants. South of Tybrisa, single and multi-family structures are densely built
on the numbered streets and parallel alleys. North of Tybrisa, there are a few scattered
single-famil y residences, a new condominium complex, restaurant, and motel and conference
center. There is some little space remaining in this area. On the west side of Butler Avenue,
the street is lined mostly with motels, shops and restaurants.
Historical
This area was the site of an earl y 1900s hotel and amusement park. However these
buildings are now gone. There are a few early and mid-century residential structures remaining.
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Usage
This is the busiest beach and community on the island in the summer time. Off-season
there remains much commerce but only at a fraction of the busy season. The beach is typicall y
crowded in the summer and used for sun bathing, swimming and surfing.
Beach Maintenance
In 1986, the South End Federal Groin was constructed. This reduced much of the
southerly sand drift through this area and has improved the overall stability of the beach. The
South End Federal Groin was designed to allow some sand to pass over and through the
rubble groin. The length of the groin was design to be able to hold back the “design
template”, including “advanced nourishment”. Advanced nourishment is the placement of
additional sand on the beach that has sufficient quantit y to withstand 7 years of average
erosion, allowing the beach to erode back to the “design template.” Prior to the construction
of this groin, the south portion of this beach was extremely unstable with a significant portion
of the sea wall exposed at low tide. There was also the very real danger that the bottom of the
seawall would be exposed enough to allow the bottom to “kick out” and fail. Rock was placed
at the toe of the seawall in the 1970, prior to an y Federal erosion protection project, as an
emergency action . The buildup of the beach to the north feeds sand onto this beach. The sand
dunes along this beach continue to develop.
Signage and Traffic
This communit y is extremely congested with both traffic and people during the summer
season. The Cit y of Tybee has formulated a development plan made for the streets and parking
lots of this area and has implemented the first major phase of this plan by expanding the
sidewalks, abandoning the airport armed parking lot system which has improved traffic flow and
made the South end more pedestrian-friendly. Improved signage should be a goal of this project.
Current beach signage is similar to other adjacent communities, so the city has implemented a
new wa y finding s ystem to help visitors find their way around the island.
Access
There are four dune crossovers between the pier and 14th Street, public accesses from the
pier and crossovers at 17th and 18th streets. 18th Street access is handicapped accessible and is
also capable of vehicular access.
Parking
The area immediatel y adjacent to the beach is reserved for public parking the entire
stretch of this community. These lots and are now using a central pay service s ystem with
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several kiosks located around the perimeter of the parking lot. The design for this area reformats
these lots to improve the efficienc y of spaces and traffic flow. Additionally there is parking on
the numbered streets, Butler Avenue and Inlet Avenue as listed in Appendix L.
Infrastructure
This beach has signage for state water quality monitoring and beach rules and
regulations, trash receptacles and swings at the access points. There are also 4 foot washers in
this district. Rest rooms for the public are in the building with the Tybee Island Marine Science
Center and store. The pi er and pavilion are administered and maintained by Chatham County.
There are several beach vendors in this community.
The City installed a mobile FEMA compliant ADA 3 stall restroom in the South lot (16 th
Street lot) in 2008 and a mobile FEMA compliant 5 stall restroom in the North Lot (14th Street
lot) in 2009.
Environmental
Due to the high human usage, rec ycling and trash pickup, particularl y on holidays and
summer weekends, should be increased.
Figure 2. South Beach Business District Design Vision
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South Tip
Location and Structure. The South Tip community is considered to be the
approximatel y 1,800 feet of beach from 18th Street to the back river terminal groin (jetty).
Along the beach there are 11 single-famil y homes with another 30 between the beach and
Butler Avenue. Several structures are town homes or duplexes. The neighborhood is zoned R-
2. There is a mix of permanent residences, second homes (mostly unoccupied in the off season),
and units for short-term rental. Houses exist in a variety of sizes and ages
History
Development of the south end of Tybee was established in the early 1900s and some
homes of that era still survive. There are a variet y of renovated homes from different parts of the
1900s along with some recent construction. Many houses in this area represent prime examples
of historic Tybee Beach architecture and life style. Unfortunately, some are lost each year due to
demolition.
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Usage
South of the South Federal Groin are a substantial broad beach and a large ebb tide delta
that is fed b y the southerl y littoral flow of material coming down the shoreline from the upper
beaches. This decreases the surf and allows beach walking on the sand bar at low tide. The south
tip beach is a popular area for sunbathing, sail boarding, and camping. The vegetation and dune
formations give the area a tropical island ambiance somewhat akin to the Bahamian Out Islands.
Low densit y housing adds to the feeling of space and remoteness that appeals to visitors wishing
to spread out with their families, picnic, play Bocce Ball, toss a Frisbee or kite surfing. (Safety
aspects of the sand bar being exposed during low tide?)
Beach Maintenance
The beach nourishment project of 1975 used a sand bar area just south of the beach for
borrow material and destroyed existing jetties as well. The combination of the sink-hole
caused by removing more material than specified in the project engineering plan and the
destruction of the jetties led to an erosion problem for the first time in this area. A state
project engineered in the mid-1990s by T ybee’s beach consultant resulted in the construction of
2 “T” and 1 “L”-shaped groins made of Campbell units. These are concrete sections that are
designed to decrease erosion caused by the d ynamics of surf hitting solid surfaces. Currentl y,
the beach is showing signs of stability and is forming new dune fields where the pree xisting
fields (before the 1975 initial nourishment ) used to be. A notching of these groins was
implemented on 2003 to allow for more sand to continue its flow through this beach for
additional nourishment to the Back River. This action continues to be monitored for positive
results on the B ack R iver and possible negative results to the front beach. No material was
required to be placed in the south tip area as a part of the 2008 re-nourishment. (What about the
2014 re-nourishment?)
Signage and Traffic
The location, accessed by several parking areas, has increased traffic in this area. Signage
for parking is adequate. During summer months, parking on 19th Street and Chatham
Avenue extension is in great demand; consequentl y, there is congestion at peak periods of beach
use.
Access
Public access to the beach is available with a dune crossover at 18th Street, a dune
walk and driveway at 19th Street, a dune walk at Chatham Avenue, and handicap access at 18th
Street with a MOBI mat leading across the soft sand to the hard sand. Alleys between 18th and
19th Streets provide access to the houses that are off the beach, and some front beach houses
have private access.
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Parking
There is public metered parking for this area is shown in Appendix L. Roads in this area
are narrow and do not allow for any other parking.
Infrastructure
At public access points there are signs for rules and regulations and water quality. There
are also sitting areas at the 19th and Chatham Avenue crossovers. Trash cans are placed at
the access points.
Environmental
Sand fencing has been and continued to be reinstalled in a new configuration that will be
less of a hindrance to sea turtle nesting.
Back River
Location and Structures
The Back River beach starts at the terminal groin at the south end and runs approximately
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3,000 feet northward. Along this beach are 24 single-family structures including two duplexes on
the beach front and another 24 between there and Chatham Avenue that parallel the beach. Houses
in this community vary from some of the oldest on the island to some of the newest. Many houses
have been renovated, keeping the old style of the early 1900’s. Some houses are second homes and
only a few are used for short-term rentals. Also on this stretch of beach is the back river fishing
pier, which extends 300 feet across the beach into the river. Several homes have personal docks.
The limits of private ownership along the beach area are unknown.
History
Due to the availability of the Back R iver and the cooling summer breezes, back
river development started in the late 1800s. Much of the original construction was
destroyed b y several strong hurricanes around that time. The next wave of house construction
is still standing and many of these are great examples of cottages from the early 1900s. Others
represent construction from the 1920s and 1930s with some already renovated and others in
need of repair and renovation. There has been some infill of houses from the 1950s to present
day.
Usage
The back river area is used for swimming, as there is no undertow and the wave action
is relativel y mild. Swimmers, however, are urged to pay attention to the currents, especiall y
during tidal changes. Popular activities are walking, fishing and kayaking. A boat ramp and
other areas along the beach are good places to launch kayaks. Walking on the north end of
the Back River is interrupted by the pier and docks that block the beach at higher tides. The
exposed sea wall makes it difficult to walk from the Back River to the south tip beach at higher
tides as well.
Beach Maintenance
The back river has recently been placed in the Federal Shore Protection Project and
includes the area from the South Tip terminal groin to Horse Pen Creek. There is no beach
from the entrance of Horse Pen Creek southward for 1,500 feet, and this confuses the limits
of this beach. It is understood that there has never been a beach in this area and there are 17
private short docks and a marina that would preclude nourishment in this area without
significant adjustments. This area has a bulkhead. There has been beach re-nourishment on the
south end of this beach and in 1999 eight short rock groins were constructed. The southern-
most groins are full y exposed while the five to the north are totally covered b y sand. Past
experience shows stabilit y along the north section and almost constant change both seasonal
and annuall y on 800 feet of the south end. Most of the erosion here is caused b y dynamic
tidal action in the river. At Inlet Avenue there has been some accretion to the beach. Notching
the south tip groins has shown that a small amount of sand can migrate to this beach. Future
stud y may show a need for several more short groins at the south end of this beach, with t-
heads added to some of the groins. Some limited re-nourishment was done here in the 2008
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project.
Signage and Traffic
Most use of this beach is by the people living in this community and those living on the
east side of Chatham Avenue. Roads are all narrow in this area and seldom crowded as
most tourists remain on the east beach areas. There are several signs for the fishing pier.
Access
Public access is at Inlet Avenue, Alle y 3 and at the fishing pier. Most houses have access
by paths or short dune crossovers. This beach can also be accessed from the south tip beach at
lower tides but, with a new stairway from the sea wall, could be accessed at all times.
Parking
More parking spaces are needed for the growing ka yak and small fishing boat users
can be added wh en the drainage project is done by the cit y on Alley 3. Additional parking
information is found in Appendix L.
Infrastructure
There exists the City Boat ramp and Fishing Pier located along the Back
River in addition to trashcans and signs for rules and regulations.
Environmental
This area is particularly sensitive to oil spills as there are many boats being docked here
and the water does not flush easily? (really?). Diamondback terrapins also utilize the Back
River and are a species of concern to wildlife biologists and ecologists.
It is recommended that citizens of these six beach communities be chosen to work with
the Tybee Island BTF and City staff from Public Works, Planning & Zoning, and others as
identified, to hold a one day workshop to further discuss these beach community sections.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The purpose of this Beach Management Plan is to provide a useable planning
document to the Tybee Island government and community that will serve several
functions:
1. To provide standard operating procedures for beach management by outlining
responsibilities for management and maintenance of the beach, and to provide long–term
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direction and guidance for city policy makers and the Tybee Island Beach Task Force
(BTF) as well as best management practices to City personnel for beach re-nourishment
and maintenance
2. recommend specific duties to stakeholders, and
3. Provide pertinent information to residents and interested parties.
Planning and Zoning
Mr. Donald ‘Dee’ Anderson, was the Assistant City Manager and Zoning Administrator for Tybee
Island in 2005 when the first version of the Tybee Island Beach Management Plan was developed.
According to Mr. Anderson and Mr. Bob Thomson, the City Manager for the City of Tybee Island
at that time, the City of Tybee Island has two unique planning and zoning requirements: 1) Tybee
Island requires drainage plans for both individual houses as well as subdivisions, and this is rare
for most jurisdictions in Georgia; and 2) there is a building height limit of 35 feet or less (Personal
communication, Bob Thomson, April, 2005). The following general information was excerpted
from the Comprehensive Plan for Tybee Island as submitted to the Georgia Department of
Community Affairs: Unlike other cities with a diverse range of development, Tybee Island is
essentially composed of residential, tourist, and resort-services activities. Development and
zoning patterns are therefore straightforward. Residential zone (R-1 and R-2), tourist zoning (R-
T), and commercial (C), are in effect and are generally followed by planners. However, exceptions
stand out. Certain “pockets” of nonconforming developments rise over, append to, or simply loom
in the midst of conformed development. For more information please refer to the Comprehensive
Plan for Tybee Island, and refer to Figure 1, Zoning Map of Tybee Island.
Beach Restoration & Nourishment
The Federal Government
Through the Water Resources Development Act and other act of law, the Federal
government authorized a 15-year project authorization to allow the Corps to work with the
City of Tybee Island to help maintain the beaches through 1989. Specificall y this project
Authorization authorized an erosion protection program, using both rubble mound groins and
beach re-nourishments beach re-nourishment every seven years of approximately one million
cubic yards. The federal government originally contributed 49% of the needed funding for
the initial nourishment in 1975 and the first re-nourishment in 1986, as well as the groin
construction in 1975 and 1987. The non-Federal share of the initial work was 51% because
the primary justification of the project was to promote and provide recreation.
Although the Project is authorized, it can remain unfunded far past its optimum 7 year re-
nourishment cycle. Much congressional c o o r d i n a t i o n a n d i n f o r m a t i on
s h a r i n g is therefore often necessar y to obtain the Federal as well as the local funding.
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Corps policy in the earl y 1980’s shifted to limit the benefits from recreation to no more
than 50% of the total project benefits. Under Section 934 of WRDA '86, Federal aid for periodic
beach nourishment at existing projects ma y be extended as necessary without further
Congressional authorization for a period not to exceed 50 years from the date of start of project
construction. The extension to 50 years was not automatic. After notification by the US Corps
that the nourishment period is about to expire, the project sponsor must request an extension
and express a willingness to cost share the cost of the Section 934 study and future re-
nourishments. The Corps received funds in 1989 to prepare the Section 934 report, which was
approved by the Secretary of the Army in 1996. This new authorization re-established the cost
sharing to be a blend of the Storm Damage Prevention benefits (normally shared at 65% Federal
and 35% non -Federal) with recreation benefits (normally shared at 50% Federal and 50% non-
Federal), yielding a weighted average initial cost share at 60.3% Federal and 39.7% non-Federal
for the 2008 Renourishment and will be XXX% for the 2104 Renourishment.
The Limited Revaluation Report, approved in 2006, revaluated the project benefits,
which yielded a sli ght adjustment to 60.9% Federal and 39.1% non-Federal.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps)
Locally, the Savannah District of the US Arm y Corps of Engineers
is responsible for the administration and operations of the F ederal government’s Civil
Works Program. For T ybee Island, this work includes studies for this coastal area,
engineering for construction and management of these projects. They provide valuable input
to maintenance of the beach. They also are the responsible agency for the on-going
maintenance of the Savannah River shipping channel and the three multipurpose projects in the
upper Savannah River Basin.
The federal government is responsible for the maintenance and operation of the adjacent
Savannah Harbor Federal Navigation Project and expends $12 to $15 million per year in O&M
funds in order to maintain an Authorized depth of -42 feet below mean low water mlw (the Inner
Harbor, from the mouth of the Savannah River, the project depth is kept at -42 ft mlw, whereas
the Offshore Bar channel is maintained at a depth two feet deeper at -44 ft mlw.).
State
State of Georgia, General Assembly
The State has been very generous in providing financial assistance to Tybee for
nourishment of the State’s most publicly accountability related to the beach. In addition to
assisting with the Shore Protection Project funding the state has provided funds of $4.9 million in
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1995 to install the south tip modular concrete erosion control units and nourish beaches in that
area. The State also provided $450,000 in 2002 to add to the dune fields at the north beach.
How about the 2008 and 2014 State Support?
The State legislation like many takes actions to reduce adverse inputs of man-altered
inlets to adjust coastal barriers. For example, the State passed HB 727 authored b y
Representative Burke Day on behalf of the City of Tybee Island.
House Bill 727. The following is taken from Georgia Code Section 52-9-2:
“With regard to all sand that is suitable for beach replenishment originating from the
dredging of navigation channels within tidal inlets, as well as the entrances to harbors and
rivers:
1. Such sand shall be used to replenish the adjacent coastal beaches, if feasible,
either b y deposition of sand into the near shore littoral zone or direct placement
on affected beaches;
2. If such sand is placed elsewhere, then a qualit y and quantity of sand from an
alternate location necessary to mitigate an y adverse effects caused by the
dredging shall be used to replenish affected coastal beaches; provided, however
that this paragraph shall apply onl y where beach replenishment is necessary to
mitigate effects from the dredging and dredged material removal from the natural
river-sand transport-beach system of a specific project and beach replenishment
from another source is the least costly environmentally sound mitigation option;
The disposition of sand shall be completed in cooperation with and, when
required b y applicable state or federal law, with the approval of the local
governing authority and the DNR according to the requirements of Part 2 of
Article 4 of Chapter 5 of Title 12, the 'Shore Protection Act'; and (4) All such
activities shall provide protection to coastal marshlands as defined in paragraph
(3) of Code Section 12-5-282 and to nesting sea turtles and hatchlings and their
habitats. (b) The DNR and the party undertaking the dredging shall coordinate to
determine the option under subsection (a) of this Code section for beach
replenishment that is most beneficial to the adjacent or affected coastal beaches,
including, where applicable, identifying an alternate source of sand for purposes
of paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of this Code section, after taking into
consideration environmental impacts and an y limitation of applicable state and
federal law.”
The Savannah District, US Army Corps of Engineers disclosed their position in
October 2008, that they will not modify their Operation and Maintenance practices for the
Savannah Harbor in light of HB 727 or the change in the Georgia Coastal Zone Management
Act because there is no reasonable and practicable alternative to the Federal Standard.
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Simpl y, the District has found their actions to be consistent with the State of Georgia CZM Plan.
Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Resources Division
The DNR Coastal Resources Division is responsible for implementing the Georgia
Coastal Management Program in which Georgia’s beaches are a major component. One of the
enforceable authorities of the Georgia Coastal Management Plan is the Shore Protection Act of
1979 that defines the sand-sharing s ystem and establishes management standards. Activities
regulated by the State include construction and maintenance of boardwalks, dune stabilization
projects, beach restoration and re-nourishment, and other activities that may alter the natural
topography or vegetation within beach and dune areas. In addition, the DNR establishes
guidelines for the placement and maintenance of sand fencing to provide for dune building and
stabilization while minimizing adverse impacts on wildlife. Recommendations are provided for
native dune vegetation when planting is needed. Coastal activities are coordinated with other
state and federal groups in accordance with existing laws and regulations while ensuring the
values and functions of the sand sharing s ystem are not impaired.
If the Corps is to be required to modify their sand disposal practices at the entrance to
the Savannah River, the GA DNR will need to challenge the Savannah District’s CZM finding.
Georgia Ports Authority (GPA)
The GPA operates the main Containerize and Roll-on-Roll-off of port facilities in the
Savannah area as well as three other Georgia locations (Bainbridge, Brunswick and Columbus,
GA). The GPA provides a large economic impact in this region. The Garden City Terminal,
being approximatel y 15 miles upstream from the mouth of the river Federal government, through
the Corps, must maintain the river at the authorized depths to allow continued commerce.
Georgia Department of Transportation (GA DOT)
The GA DOT is the official Local Sponsor for the on-going Operation and Maintenance
of the Savannah Harbor, executing the latest Project Cooperation Agreement (P C A) in
January 2005. With this agreement, their role is to provide 35% of the cost sharing for the
ongoing raisin g of the Diked Disposal Areas along the north bank of the Savannah River and
to participate in the funding of future deepening project, if authorized by Congress.
Local
City of Tybee Island
The City is ultimately responsible for the maintenance and operation of the beach within
certain limits placed upon it by the State and Federal Government. The City is currentl y
involved in an agreement called the T ybee Island Shore Protection Project, which is designed
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to provide flood control protection from hurricanes and storm damage. The protective work
includes re- nourishment of beaches to maintain a minimum beach template and groins and
fencing as required. The agreement establishes an operation and maintenance program with
specified tasks to be performed b y City personnel and cooperation with the preparation of
studies and specifications for future work. The responsibilities for the Cit y are established in
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, Tybee Island, Georgia, Shoreline
Protection Project, Operations, Maintenance, Replacement, Repair, and Rehabilitation Manual,
dated July 2009.
Community Development
Community Development is the responsibility of the local government. Comprehensive Plans are
required for a local government to keep Qualified Local Government status through the Georgia
Department of Community Affairs (DCA). Tybee Island submitted a comprehensive plan in 1992
that has had short-term work updates in 1998 and 2003 (personal communication, Mike Gleaton,
Georgia DCA, May 2005). The short-term update of 1998 states that a priority for Tybee Island is
the formulation of uniform, fair, and long-range zoning, building and enforcement codes that
reflect the experience of the past and the desire of the islanders for low-density, single-family
residential development and the need for open space and recreational areas
BEACH MONITORING REQUIREMNENTS
Much of the Federal and Local information below is taken from the Operations,
Maintenance, Replacement, Repair and Rehabilitation Manual for Tybee Island, Georgia,
Shoreline Protection Project of the U.S. Arm y Corps of Engineers, Savannah District of
July 2009 . Please see Appendix A for responsibilities.
Federal
Cost Shared Five-Year Beach Monitoring
The Project Cooperation Agreement requires a post construction-monitoring program to
evaluate the effectiveness of the project features. This portion of the monitoring is cost shared
under terms of the Project Cooperation Agreement (PCA), a legal document that spells out the
responsibilities of both the Federal Government and the Non-Federal Sponsor, and is
performed b y the Corps. The 5-year monitoring plan includes beach and h ydrographic
surveys as well as aerial photograph documentation for the first 5 years after the 2000re-
nourishment, whereas the City of T ybee Island has the responsibility to continue the
monitoring program until the project authorization has expired.
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Quality Assurance (QA) under the Corps’ Inspection of Completed Works Program
The Corps of Engineers performs a continuing quality assurance (QA) role for civil
works projects once a project has been turned over to the local sponsor for operation and
maintenance. The Section 934 Report established that the primary purpose of the project was to
provide Storm Damage Prevention. Therefore, the Tybee Island Shore Protection Project is part
of this QA Inspection program under the Flood Damage Reduction program. This program
requires the Government to assure that local sponsors are fulfilling their PCA and OMRR&R
responsibilities. The program requires the local sponsor to appoint a Project Superintendent and
provide the necessary resources to compl y with the requirements outlined in the OMRR&R
Manual. The Superintendent and the Corps will jointly inspect the project. The Corps will
coordinate a mutuall y acceptable QA inspection date with the Project Superintendent.
State
There are no State shared responsibilities regarding beach monitoring at this time.
Local
Non-Federal Monitoring Requirements
Beginning in the sixth year after the 2000 Re-nourishment (in 2006), (after the 5-year
post construction monitoring cost-shard with the Corps) at least annually, the non-Federal
Sponsor is responsible for monitoring the beach profile to determine losses of nourishment
material from the Project design section and provide the results of such monitoring to the
Government. After the 5-year monitoring period, the non-Federal Sponsor may request the
Government to conduct the surveys and analyze the data. However, financial arrangements
must be made prior to enactment and the non-Federal Sponsor must pay the entire cost.
Quarterly Surveillance Report
A quarterly surveillance report is submitted b y the City of T ybee and the Savannah
District Corp to the GA DNA, Coastal Protection Division. The report includes an assessment
of the beach fill, berm, dune, and groin performance of the Project. This visual
inspection is separate from the profile-monitoring program.
Citizens and Tourists
Citizens and tourists are responsible for helping to maintain a clean and healthy
environment. The y should rec ycle, keep the beach free from litter, and ensure that pets are not
roaming the beach. If citizens and tourists see any illegal or unethical practices, the y should
report such activities to the Tybee Island Police Department at (912) 786-5600.
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BEACH CLEANING & MAINTENANCE
State- O.C.G.A. 12-5-248 (a) (1) provides that governmental vehicles may be utilized for
beach maintenance without a permit as long as those vehicles operate across existing crossovers,
paths, or drives. Pursuant to Board of Natural Resources Rule 391-2-2, Appendix A, Tybee
Island’s three such existing access sites are the north, middle, and south access drives.
Other access points would need to be approved by the Shore Protection Committee.
Furthermore, the statute mandates that exempted vehicular activity must be conducted so as to
provide protection to sea turtles and birds. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. Section 12-5-248 (b), the
Department would want to issue a letter of authorization, with the following conditions:
1. Cleaning ma y not occur in the dunes and can only occur during the day.
2. Cleaning should focus on manmade debris and avoid natural debris, such as beach
wrack, as beach wrack is important to primary dune formation – an important
component to the ecology of the beach ecos ystem.
3. Wrack must be removed within 7 days of it appearance. If wrack appears, then
notification is required to call the DNR. If the wrack is allowed to become integrated
with the beach sand to the point that sand is retained by the wrack, then the wrack
must be preserved in place as a potential new sand dune line or else must be a
GaDNR Permit for its removal.
4. During the nesting season (May 1 to October 1), cleaning can onl y occur after the sea
turtle patrol has completed their daily survey of Tybee Beach for sea turtle nests and
hatchling emergence.
5. Cleaning ma y not occur within 20 feet of sea turtle nests.
6. Cleaning ma y not occur within 100 feet of a designated shorebird nesting area or
designated critical habitat.
7. Cleaning equipment must stay at least 10 feet from indigenous vegetation.
8. Onl y equipment with 10-psi or less tire pressure can operate on the beach.
9. Cleaning equipment must not penetrate more than two inches into the beach surface.
10. Cleaning equipment must effectively screen and return sand to the beach.
11. All material collected must be removed from the beach.
The above conditions are based on consultation with Florida's beach cleaning provisions
and DNR’s Coastal Nongame Endangered Wildlife Program.
Local Population
It is the responsibility of the local government, City of T ybee Island, to comply with the
above conditions once a letter of authorization is issued from the State. City personnel
would need to be trained in correct beach cleaning equipment and procedures. The Tybee
Beautification Association coordinates two major beach sweeps each year. The
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organization also sponsors many smaller cleanups for various school and civic organizations.
Also, four Adopt-A-Highwa y clean ups are conducted annually b y the T ybee Beautification
Association. Citizens and Tourists Citizens and tourists are responsible for helping to maintain
a clean and health y environment. They should rec ycle, keep the beach free from litter, and
ensure that pets are not on the beach.
THE WAY T0 2014.
As it has been written elsewhere, the Federal Authorization for the Tybee Island Shore Protection
project expires in 2024, 50 years after the initiation of construction. We have 10 years to prepare
for a new era with a change in the funding and execution of shore protection projects.
It can be said that there are several ways forward towards a continuation of the placement of sand
on the seaward beach on a regular basis. These are:
1) Seek an extension of the existing Federal Renourishment Project through enacting Section
1037 of WRRDA 2014 allows for:
a. “the Secretary shall, at the request of the non-Federal interest, carry out a study to
determine the feasibility of extending the period of nourishment described in
subsection (a) for a period not to exceed 15 additional years beyond the maximum
period described in subsection (a).
This provision would allow for the Local Sponsor (The City of Tybee Island) to request the Corps
to perform another Feasibility Study (similar to the 1989 Section 934 report) to re-verify the
Engineering, Economics and Environmental aspects of the Federal Shore protection project. The
cost of the 1988 Section 934 Report was $2.5 million and took three years to complete. Because
this is a delegated authority to the ASA(CW), no new Congressional Authorization would be
required. It is assumed that the study would be cost shared 50% Federal and 50% non-Federal.-
Timeline: Upon the receipt of a letter from the City of Tybee Island for the study, funds would be
requested from Congress (18 months), a Feasibility Cost Sharing agreement executed (one year),
Study completed (3 years), review and approval (2 years), a total of 7 to 8 years, depending on
funding. End result: a 15 year extension of Federal Authorization to 2039, if approved.
2) Complete the Phase II of the Channel Impacts study, which would provide the Engineering,
Economics and Environmental impacts of the mitigation options to offset the impacts of the
on-going Federal Navigation project, along with a specific recommendation to resolve the
problem
The completed study with a specific recommendation, a project cost estimate and environmental
approvals would have to be reviewed and approved by UQUSACE, OMB, ASA(CW), etc. and
submitted to Congress for a New Congressional Authorization.
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The remainder of the study would be cost-shared at 50% Federal and 50% non-Federal, with the
implementation cost of the mitigation feature cost shared to be determined. A possible benefit to
this path is that the project would no longer be justified on Storm Damage Prevention and/or
Recreation, but as a mitigation feature that must be funded as long and the Offshore Channel is
maintained.
Timeline: Revise the Feasibility Cost sharing agreement to include the new Phase 2. Prepare the
Phase 2 report (3 years), obtain approval (one year) and obtain inclusion in a new Water Resources
Development Act (problematic).
3) Go it alone. Beginning 2015, work to obtain State and Local funding for a 2025
Renourishment. Similar to Hilton Head, funds could come from GPA, GaDNR, Ga DOT,
Chatham County. The City of Tybee Island would be responsible for obtaining all
environmental approval and government coordination. Sand could be placed where ever
the City wanted with no regard to the “Federal” template, but still subject to Federal and
State environmental permits.
4) FEMA has a program to reduce the flood insurance rates if homes were raised to provide
additional “freeboard” to prevent the first floor from flooding during a storm event. If
freeboard is provided to homes, it may provide for a reduction in Federal Flood Insurance
Program Insurance premiums. However, since the existing Federal project is mostly
justified based on the Storm Damages prevented, raising the first floor will reduce some the
project benefits to any future Federal project not justified on Mitigation from the Channel
Impacts.
It is a recommendation of the Tybee Island Beach Task Force that a meeting should be held this
fall to fully explore each of these, and others, options to map out the best way forward for the
beach at Tybee Island.
All stakeholders should be invited to participate at the Federal, state and local levels to fully
explore each of these options, with the benefits, risks and uncertainties of each option. 2024 is just
around the corner.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Ms. Berta Adams, T ybee Island Beach Task Force
Dr. Clark Alexander, Skidawa y Institute of Oceanograph y and Georgia Southern Universit y
Ms. Deb Barreiro, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Resources Division
Mr. Bart Broph y, Living Independence for Everyone (LIFE) Inc.
Mr. Jimm y Brown, City of Tybee Island, T ybee Island Emergency Management
Major Chris Case, City of Tybee Island Police Department
Ms. Elizabeth Cheney, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Resources Division
Mr. Paul DeVivo, DeVivo Marketing
Mr. Brad Gane, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Resources Division
Mr. Alan Garrett, US Arm y Corps of Engineers
Mr. Mike Gleaton, Georgia Department of Community Affairs
Mr. Mike Harris, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division
Ms. Mary Hogan, Cit y of Tybee Island Finance Director
Mr. Bubba Hughes, Cit y of Tybee Island Attorne y
Mr. Jonathan Lynn, Cit y of Tybee Zoning and Planning Manager
Ms. Jan MacKinnon, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Resources Division
Mr. Pat Monahan, Chatham County, Assistant County Manager
Mr. Burt Moore, Savannah District Corp of Engineers
Ms. Hope Moorer, Georgia Ports Authority
Mr. Lou Off, T ybee Island Beach Task Force
Olsen & Associates
Mr. James W. Price, Tybee Island Police Chief
Mr. Doug Plach y, U.S. Arm y Corps of Engineers
Mr. Pete R yerson, Tybee Island Parking Services
Mr. Clifton “Skip” Sasser, Tybee Island Fire Chief
Ms. Diane Schleicher, City of Tybee Island City Manager
Mr. Clayton Scott, Chatham Emergenc y Management Agency
Ms. Susan Shipman, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Resources Division
(Retired)
Ms. Jennifer Spivey, Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority
Ms. Ann Thran, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Resources Division
Ms. Fran Todd, Living Independence for Everyone LIFE Inc.
Ms. Lawanna Tsolous, Tybee Island Ecotourism Council
Mr. John Walden, Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Ms. Kathr yn Williams, Tybee Island City Council and Tybee Island Beatification
Mr. Joe Wilson, City of Tybee, Department of Public Works Director
Mr. Brad Winn, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division
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Mr. Paul Wolff, Tybee Island City Council
Ms. Vivian Woods, Cit y of Tybee Island Clerk of Council
Mr. Spud Woodward, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Resources Division
The sources of funding for this project are The Coastal Management Program of the Georgia
Department of Natural Resources and The U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration. And, of course, all the private citizens of T ybee Island who
attended the public meetings and gave their comments and recommendations!
LITERATURE CITED AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
A Guide to a Georgia Barrier Island, Ta ylor Schoettle, 1996. Watermarks Publishing, St. Simons
Island, Georgia.
Beach Long Range Management Plan by Erik Olsen. This provides lots of info on the beach and
monitoring, projects, funding.
Chatham Count y Hurricane Plan, revised August 2004. Chatham Emergenc y Management
Agenc y. Found online at:
http://www.chathamemergency.org/Documents/EOP%20Incident%20Annex%20A%20Hurricane
%20Incident%20Management%20REV0709.pdf
City-Data.Com, 2005. http://www.city-data.com/city/T ybee-Island-Georgia.html.
City of T ybee Island, 2005. http://www.cityoft ybee.org/code.
Comprehensive Plan for T ybee Island Georgia, 1992, and short-term work update of 1998, as
submitted to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
Limited Reevaluation Report, Tybee Island, Georgia, 2007 Re-nourishment, August 2005,
US Arm y Corps of Engineers Savannah District
North Beach berm construction permits from DNR. Spells out requirements from DNR that the
City must follow.
Project Cooperation Agreement between the Department of the Army and the City of Tybee
Island regarding each re-nourishment funding.
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Sherpa Guides, Lenz Design. 2005.
http://www.sherpaguides.com/georgia/coast/northern_coast/t ybee_fort_screven_north_midbeach
.html#Li ghthouse.
State of Georgia ADA Coordinator’s Office, 2005.
http://www.ganet.org/gsfic/ada/overview.shtml.
Tybee Island Fire Department Ocean Rescue Division, Standard Operating Procedure Manual
Tybee Island, Georgia, Shoreline Protection Project, Operations, Maintenance, Replacement,
Repair, and Rehabilitation Manual, May 2002. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah
District.
Tybee Issues, 2002. http://www.tybeet yme.com/ti/tybee_beaches_lou_off.htm.
Tybee Island South Beach Business District Design Charrette. Prepared b y HDR, January
2005.
Tybee Island Traffic & Parking Study. prepared by HDR Engineering, Inc. Atlanta, GA,
January 2005.
View of Tybee from the Lighthouse, 2004, Application for Urban & Community Forestry
Financial Assistance Program.
Virginia Beach Management Plan, April, 2002, Beaches and Waterways Advisory Commission.
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Appendix A
Corps of Engineers Operations, Maintenance, Rehabilitation and Repair Manual
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Appendix B
Beach Monitoring Responsibilities
The following information contains a summary of the activities the Tybee Island superintendent has responsibility for
implementing as part of the OMRR&R phase of the project.
MONITORING
REQIREMENTS
RESPONSIBLE
AGENCY
TIMEFRAME DURATION OF
MONITORING
FREQUENCY
Visual Surveillance
Inspection
City of Tybee January, April, July,
and October Quarterly
Continually
October inspection
will be performed
jointly with the
COPRS as a Quality
Assurance (QA)
inspection
Extraordinary Storm
Inspection
Cit y of Tybee As major storms or
hurricanes occur as
required
As Required When T ybee Island
anticipates seeking
emergency assistance
under PL 89-44.
Beach Profile Surveys
and Analysis
Cit y of T ybee Survey b y 20 Aug &
Complete analysis by
15 Sep in Advance of
Hurricane Season
Continually Once a year beginning
in 2006
Sand compaction tests
(cone penetrometer)
City of Tybee February At least 2 yrs.
following beach
nourishment
Till to 36” depth if
tests fail
Li ghting Ordinance Cit y of Tybee May 1 – October 31 Enforcement every
year
Send compliance
report to Brunswick
Office of USFWLS
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and the Corps by 5
November each year*
Sand fencing/planting
vegetation
Cit y of T ybee as required during the
year
as required to
maintain
as required to maintain
*Report should include:
(1) A copy of the ordinance enforced for the season,
(2) Method used to notify the public of the ordinance,
(3) Enforcement action implemented such as periodic inspections, results of inspection, and follow-up measures.
Corps of Engineers Responsibilities.
The following information summarizes the Corps responsibilities.
MONITORING
REQIREMENTS
RESPONSIBLE
AGENCY
TIMEFRAME DURATION OF
MONITORING
FREQUENCY
Review sea turtle nest
records for Tybee
Island and other data.
Corps, coordinates
with USFWS
At least 6 months
before each
dredging/re-
nourishment cycle
As Required As Required
5-Year Monitoring Corps thru 2005 As shown in the 5-
Year Monitoring
Program
As shown in the 5-
Year Monitoring
Program
QA Inspection Corps/City Jointly In October As Required Once a year
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1.2 Cost Shared Five-Year Beach Monitoring (Completed)
The Project Shoreline protection projects generally require a post construction-monitoring
program to evaluate the effectiveness of the project features. This portion of the monitoring is
cost shared under terms of the PCA and is performed by the Corps of Engineers. The South
Tip and Back River Beaches in particular should be monitored closely. The 5-year monitoring
plan as shown the OMRR&R Manual includes beach and h ydrographic surveys as well as
aerial photograph documentation.
Table 1—Local Sponsor-Funded Beach Monitoring Program
1.2 Non-Federal Monitoring Requirements
Beginning in the sixth year, 2014, (after the 5-year post construction monitoring b y the Corps of
Engineers) at least annually, the non-Federal Sponsor shall monitor the beach profile to
determine losses of nourishment material from the Project design section and provide the results
of such monitoring to the Government. After the 5-year monitoring period, the non-
Federal Sponsor may request the Government to conduct the surve ys and analyze the data.
However, financial arrangements must be made prior to enactment and the non-Federal
Sponsor must pa y the entire cost.
1.2.1 Quarterly Surveillance Report.
A quarterl y surveillance report will be submitted to the Savannah District Project
Manager and Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Protection Division. The
report will include an assessment of the beach fill, berm, dune, and groin performance of
the Project.
City of Tybee Island Shoreline Protection Project. The report is shown in Appendix I.
This visual inspection is separate from the profile-monitoring program. The surveillance
report meets the requirements of the Corps to perform quality assurance of the non-
Federal Sponsor’s responsibilities outlined in the PCA and this manual.
1.2.2 Quality Assurance Under Inspection of Completed Works Program
The Corps of Engineers performs a continuing quality assurance (QA) role on civil works
projects that have been turned over to the local sponsor for operation and maintenance. The
Tybee Island Project is part of this program. This program requires the Government to assure
that local sponsors are fulfilling their PCA and OMRR&R responsibilities.
The program requires the local sponsor to appoint a Project Superintendent and provide the
necessar y resources to comply with the requirements outlined in the OMRR&R Manual. The
Superintendent and the Corps will jointly inspect the project at least once a year. The Corps will
coordinate a mutuall y acceptable QA inspection date with the Project Superintendent. Refer to
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ER 1110-2-100 dated 15 Feb 95, “Periodic Inspection and Continuing Evaluation of Completed
Civil Works Structures” for further guidance. The Corps of Engineers ma y conduct the
inspections and write the report, on behalf of the Project Sponsor, provided appropriate
procedural and financial reimbursement arrangements are made.
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Appendix C
TYBEE BEACH RENOURISHMENT
A SHORT HISTORICAL PERSECTIVE
Players and Projects
The Players;
The City of T ybee: The City is ultimately responsible for the maintenance and operation
of the beach within certain limits placed upon it by the State and Federal Government. The
City is currentl y involved in an agreement called the Tybee Island Shore Protection Project
which is designed to provide flood control protection from hurricanes and storm damage. The
protective work includes re-nourishment of beaches to maintain a minimum beach template and
groins and fencing as required. The agreement establishes an operation and maintenance
program with specified tasks to be performed by Cit y personnel and cooperation with the
preparation of studies and specifications for future work. The responsibilities for the City are
established in the Project Operations, Maintenance, Replacement, Repair, and Rehabilitation
Manual.
The Cit y is also working with the State Government, the DNR and the NOAA to modify
the CZM plan in order to require the sand being dredged from the Savannah River Channel
for maintenance to be placed on the T ybee Island beach or near shore. Other beach sand
management projects are sponsored by the City when deemed necessar y.
Tybee Island Beach Task Force (BTF): The City by ordinance 2 -3-30 created the BTF for
the purpose of promoting the health, safet y, morals, convenience, order, prosperity and
general welfare of the Cit y and provide recommendations to the Mayor and Council of the City
regarding issues affecting the beach including but not limited to beach erosion and re-
nourishment. Ten to twenty members appointed by Mayor and Council are selected for their
knowledge and interest in protecting and promoting the natural characteristics of Tybee,
especiall y its beaches and shorelines. Functions and duties include the promotion of beach
preservation and maintenance; prevent erosion through re-nourishment while serving as
consultant to the Cit y on beach matters. The BTF coordinates with other entities to perform these
functions and lobbies county, state and federal entities on behalf of the City. Open monthly
meetings are held on the third Thursday at 12 noon at City Hall, with minutes and reports made
to the City.
Chatham County: To date little assistance has been provided by Chatham County to help
in the maintenance of the sand on Tybee Island beach. In 2014 however, the County has
promised $6 Million dollars of SPLOST. It is widely accepted that a high percentage
of beach visitors come from this county and there should be participation by them for the costs.
The City should be keeping records of the county traffic and start negotiations with the
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count y to establish a line item in the budget for this.
The State of Georgia: The state has been very generous in providing financial
assistance to Tybee for beach nourishment. In addition to assisting with the Shore Protection
Project funding the state has provided funds of $4.9 million in 1995 to install the South Tip
modular concrete erosion control units and nourish beaches in that area. The State also provided
$450,000 in 2002 to add to the dune fields at the North Beach. The state has created two bills to
require maintenance material from the Savannah River Channel be put on the T ybee Island
beach and near shore. The Georgia Ports Authority and the Department of Natural Resources
coordinates beach related situations as directed b y the state.
Department of Natural Resources (DNR): The DNR Coastal Resources Division is
responsible for implementing the Georgia Coastal Management Program in which Georgia’s
beaches are a major component. One of the enforceable authorities of the Georgia Coastal
Management Plan is the Shore Protection Act of 1979 that defines the sand-sharing system and
establishes management standards. The sand sharing s ystem is comprised of the beaches, sand
dunes, sandbars, and shoals that constitute a vital area of the state by protecting real and
personal propert y, providing essential habitat for wildlife, and playing an integral part in
maintaining the health and well-being of residents and visitors. Activities regulated by the
State include construction and maintenance of boardwalks, dune stabilization projects, beach
restorati on and re-nourishment, and other activities that may alter the natural topography or
vegetation within beach and dune areas. In addition the DNR establishes guidelines for the
placement and maintenance of sand fencing to provide for dune building and stabilization
while minimizing adverse impacts on wildlife. Recommendations are provided for native
dune vegetation when planting is needed. Coastal activities are coordinated with other state
and federal groups in accordance with existing laws and regulations while ensuring the
values and functions of the sand sharing system are not impaired. A representative of the
DNR, Coastal Division attends some of the BTF meetings to answer questions regarding the
State’s role in beach management and to act as a liaison between the City and the Department.
Georgia Ports Authorit y (GPA): The GPA operates the ports in the Savannah area as
well as three other Georgia locations. The GPA is included in the state Department of
Transportation and provides a large economic impact on this area. Being approximately 15 miles
from the port to the coast the GPA ( T h e G P A d o e s n o t p r o v i d e a n y
s u p p o r t t o m a i n t e n a n c e o f t h e N a v i g a t i o n C h a n n e l )along with the
federal government must maintain the river to allow continued commerce. The GPA
cooperates and assists the City with its beach maintenance and has a representative that attends
some of the BTF meetings.
The Savannah River Channel: Being one of the oldest Cities in the Country, Savannah,
growth has depended on the use of the river. A larger ship in the 1800’s required manipulation to
deepen the channel. Once breakwaters and jetties along with river depths of 20 feet or more,
sand flows from the north were restricted. Radical changes were observed to the coastline of
T ybee Island. Continued sand starvation spawned the construction of a seawall along most of
the Tybee beach front and over 130 wood, steel and rock groins. Studies of the area have
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resulted in estimating the losses of sand to Tybee beaches and near shore of 300,000 to
800,000 cubic yards per year. Annual maintenance of the river channel by the state and
federal government removes approximately 800,000 cubic yards of material which is wasted
beyond where it could assist the Tybee shore line.
Olsen Associates, Inc.: The City retains Erik Olsen, a coastal engineer to provide
professional advice on the requirements to maintain the beach. Mr. Olsen is responsible for
man y studies of the South Carolina, Florida and Georgia and a long range beach management
plan in 2001 for Tybee which has been the road map for continuing BTF recommendations.
Mr. Olsen provides input to other studies, reports and construction to the beach. He serves as
the Cit y representative on T.A.C’s established by the Corps for beach related issues.
The Federal Government: Through the Water Resources Development Act ( of
w h e n? ) the federal government entered a 50 year agreement with the City to help
maintain the beaches through 2023. Specificall y this agreement authorizes a beach re-
nourishment every seven years of approximately one million cubic yards and all the studies
and engineering to accomplish this work to keep the beach as designed. The federal
government contributes approximately 60% of the needed funding to do this work.
Although the work is authorized it is unfunded and much congressional coordination is
necessar y to obtain the funding. A scheduled re-nourishment has not happened on time to
date. The Federal Government is also responsible for the maintenance of the adjacent
Savannah Harbor Federal Navigation Project and expends $12 million per year of operations and
maintenance dollars to maintain a depth of 42 feet. This work includes upstream and offshore
disposal of materials that are predominatel y silty in nature.
The Arm y Corps of Engineers (Corps): The Corps is responsible for the
administration and operations of the federal government programs. For T ybee this work
includes st udies for this coastal area, engineering for construction and management of these
of these projects. They provide valuable input to our maintenance of the beach. They also are
the responsible agency for the maintenance of the Savannah River shipping channel. The Corps
attends BTF meetings.
Marlowe and Compan y: Howard Marlowe and others of his company are experts on
the political aspects coastal management and federal projects. Based in Washington
they are in constant contact with Congressional Representatives, Senators and their staff. They
help shape polic y and push for the necessar y funding for beach projects. The City r etains
this company at this time. (Have they renewed the contract?) They also provide beach
maintenance processes and procedures from their wealth of knowledge on this subject b y their
involvement with coastal organizations such as the American Shore and Beach Preservation
Association.
B. The Projects:
The Shore Protection Program: T ybee Island was included in the Federal Shore
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Protection Program under the WRDA in the mid 1970’s. This agreement with the Federal
Government authorizes sand re-nourishments ever y seven years through 2023. The Corps
administers and engineers this Program with coordination of the City, State and the DNR.
Although authorized, this Project must be funded from the Congress for each nourishment
and the studies and engineering required b y it. Three past projects have brought in 1975, the
North Federal Groin and 2,300,000 cubic yards of sand along the front beach; in 1986/87,
the South Groin and 1,000,000 cubic yards of sand at the north and the south ends of the
front beach; and in 1999/2000, built 8 rock groins at the back river and placed 1,300,000 cubic
yards of sand on the north front beach and the south end of the island. Another re-nourishment
was complete 2008. It is expected that the approximately 200,000 cubic yards lost per year
will be restored to Tybee’s beaches by these periodic renourishments. The BTF has requested
that the north end of the island also be included in this program as is all of the rest of T ybee. The
federal government as sponsor provides% of the funding and Tybee Island as the local sponsor
must provide the remaining 40% with the help of the County and the State/GPA.
GPA/State of Georgia: In 1994 while the channel was being deepened it was
expected that 2,000,000 cubic yards of material would be disposed on the north end of Tybee.
The poor qualit y of the material was responsible to the termination of this project and it was
replaced by a project funded by $5,000,000 of excess bond revenue from the deepening which
stabilized the south tip with 3 concrete modular groins with 50,000 cubic yards of sand fill.
Another 285,000 cubic yards of sand was placed from the south federal groin northward to 13th
Street.
HB 727: Burke Day, State Representative for Tybee has presented and had approved a
State Bill that requires all beach quality material removed from the State’s navigation channels
be used to repair the beaches and near shore areas that it damages. If it is not economically
feasible to use the dredged material, similar material can be obtained from approved barrow
areas. Georgia is attempting to have the law made a part of the NOAA Coastal
Management Plan that would require federal compliance. This Bill would combine the
current double costs of removing channel\ material by one program and returning it by
another.
Other: There are other methods of moving sand that is available in the area:
Trucking from on shore borrow areas to the beach. This method is high cost and
time inefficient.
On beach relocation. The removal of sand from areas with an abundance of sand
to sand starved areas. Have a quantity limitations and significant environmental
constraints. .
Smaller sized local dredges. To move sand off nearb y sand bars at 100% City
expense assuming cost can be equal. This would be flexible for a North Beach
Project (small scale). The City has been a long term critic of dredging sand from
Tybee Inlet.
Self contained sand sharing equipment. Could be used in the Tybee/Little Tybee
inlet to move delta sand back on shore.
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Sand stabilizing methods. Most of these uses intrusive on beach structures.
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Appendix D
Standard Conditions for Dune Crossovers
6/24/2003
Shore Protection Act O.C.G.A. 12-5-230
Standard Permit Conditions for Dune Crossovers
Onl y one crossover structure shall be allowed on a parcel. In considering the design and routing
of a crossover, the shortest route over the lowest area of the dunes shall be plotted to minimize
impacts to the sand sharing system. For new construction, no decks or viewing platforms will be
approved in the jurisdictional area. Previously permitted and grandfathered structures may be
maintained provided they are serviceable. Additionally, the applicant requesting the structure
must own 100% of the private lands through which the structure crosses or have the express
written permission of the owner.
The following standard conditions shall apply to dune crossovers:
The height of the structure shall be at least 36” above the grade of the sand dune
and the width shall be no greater than 6’ as measured from the outside posts, to
allow for sand movement or accretion in the d ynamic dune field.
The terminal point of the crossover shall be seaward of the seaward most dune but
shall not encroach seaward of the ordinar y high water line in the active intertidal
beach.
If the shoreline erodes and the crossover extends seaward of the ordinary high
water line, it will be the responsibility of the applicant to move the permitted
improvements back to the dry sand beach, landward of the ordinary high water
line.
The structure shall begin at the toe of the landward most dunes.
Heav y equipment is prohibited in the Shore Protection Act jurisdiction. This
project must be constructed using hand tools.
Clearing and grading of dunes is not authorized in conjunction with the
construction of this project; stockpiling of materials in the dunes is prohibited.
Vegetation ma y be cleared onl y for the width of the permitted structure. The
maintenance trimming of jurisdictional vegetation will only be allowed within 6”
of the sides of the structure and 7’ high over the structure.
No motorized vehicles are permitted on the crossover structure, except for
motorized wheelchairs for handicapped persons.
Any sand needed to restore the site to pre-project vegetated and topographic
conditions, or for backfilling, must be beach quality and obtained from an upland
source and not from the beach.
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Appendix E
Scrub-Shrub Trimming Guidelines
for Areas Within Georgia Shore Protection Act Jurisdiction
The goal of this proposal is to summarize data from numerous sources and to propose guidelines
for granting Georgia Department of Natural Resources Shore Protection Act Permits for
vegetation trimming or landscaping within State Shore Jurisdiction areas. Though derived
from the known habitat needs of the Painted bunting (Passerina ciris), a species of concern in
Georgia, these guidelines are intended to apply to all scrub-shrub habitats within Shore
Protection Act jurisdiction. Successful management of habitat requires the protection of
existing habitat. Breeding habitat loss is generally considered to be the greatest threat to the
painted bunting species (Muehter 1998, Lowther et al. 1999). A major concern for Atlantic
coast populations of painted buntings is the transformation of valuable wetland and scrub-shrub
habitats into intensive residential development. This is especiall y well documented along the
Atlantic coast. Current management practices can be modified or initiated to enhance the
population of this declining species. The goal of this plan is to identify:
• Habitat Management Goals specific to each site
• Habitat Management Considerations to be identified for each site
• Planning Tools to be utilized in Habitat Management
Habitat Management Goals:
Along the coast, natural beach dunes and scrub-shrub and grass y habitat are maintained
by storms, salt spray, and drought. In developed areas near coastal marshes, habitat should be
maintained as naturall y as possible, with special attention paid to the grass to shrub ratio found
so that it emulated the same ratio found in naturally occurring open savannah-like forests.
Mowed lawns are not conducive to the painted bunting, and in critical habitat areas, should be
discouraged. Wetlands, even those less than ½ acres in size, should be protected as important
feeding areas for nesting buntings and their young (Me yers 1999).
Active management may enhance nesting habitat. The maintenance of scrub-shrub
grasslands in transition areas such as beach dune habitats is critical. Areas that are vegetated
primaril y with waxed myrtle (Myrica cerifera), rattan vine (Berchemia scandens) as well as
native muhly grass (Muhlenbergia filipes) provide for painted bunting and other bird species
nesting and feeding habitat. Painted buntings use some areas if grasses and scrub-shrub habitat
are allowed to cover the area for four to five years and have successfull y produced young in this
habitat in coastal Georgia (Meyers 1999).
Habitat Management Considerations:
Known breeding habitat for the eastern populations of painted bunting must maintain
early t o mid-succession vegetation, with an emphasis on retaining a mix of open and wooded or
shrubby components. In the southeast, protecting beach scrub-shrub and coastal wetland habitats
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is important, not just for painted bunting habitat but for a wide variet y of bird species known
to utilize this habitat year round and is best accomplished by being left alone (Sykes 2004).
Ideall y, nesting habitat could be enhanced by using a template modeled after successful
nesting habitat on other barrier islands such as Nann y Goat Beach, Sapelo Island. The template
could be designed using aerial photographs of Nanny Goat Beach to roughly establish a ratio of
grassland to scrub-shrub that is present in known nesting habitat. An overla y would create
habitat that is approximately 50% grasses and 50% scrub-shrub.
On developed barrier islands, a dense shrub perimeter no less than 25’ along adjacent
propert y lines would be maintained to afford protection to the emergent grassland habitat
within the proposed cutting area. The objective would be to incorporate view shed corridors
for adjacent properties when identifying selected areas of Myrica cerifera to be removed. A
proposal could include the selective removal of Myrica cerifera followed by monitoring for
the natural succession of Muhlenbergia filipes, Berchemia scandens and Sageretia
minutiflora. Additionally, the removal of known invasive species such as Chinese tallow
(Sapium sebiferum) should be a mandator y component of an y proposed vegetation plan.
Additionall y, in an effort to enhance the value of the habitat, feral cats should be
trapped in a humane manner and be permanentl y removed from the area.
Planning Tools:
Using aerial photographs and detailed surveys of specific locations, templates could be
designed to emulate known nesting habitat while considering view shed corridors for adjacent
propert y owners. The plan would emphasize cutting a pattern that simulated the heterogeneous
clumps of shrubs as seen on Sapelo’s Nann ygoat beach. Long straight lines of shrubs would not
be recommended, because predator search patterns focus on and easily follow this type of
edge habitat. Clumps of heterogeneously spaced shrubs cannot be searched as easily b y
predators. A customized plan would identify specific stands of Myrica cerifera for removal
through selective cutting and the minimal application of localized herbicide. Early March is
the best time to maintain grassy areas. Mowing of grass y areas should be conducted no
more frequentl y than ever y other year.
Bibliography and References:
Lan yon, S.M., and C.F. Thompson. 1986. Site fidelity and habitat quality as determinants of
settlement pattern in male painted buntings. Condor 88:206-210.
Meyers, J.M. 1999. Effects of landscape changes on the Painted /Bunting populations in the
southeastern United Stat es from 1966-1996 (progress report). US Geological Survey, Biological
Resources Division, Reston, VA.
Meyers, J.M. 2004. Personal conversations.
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Meyers, J.M., D.H. White, and C.B. Kepler. 1999. Habitat selection, productivity and survival of
scrub-shrub neotropical migrator y birds in the southeastern United States (progress report). US
Geological Surve y, Biological Resources Division, Reston, VA
Muehter, V.R. 1998. WatchList Website, National Audubon Society, Version 97.12. Online.
Available: http://cristel.nal.usda.gov. Nature Conservancy 2002, Species Management abstract
for Painted Bunting; Online. Available: http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/pabu/h/weknow.html.
Sauer, J.R., J.E. Hines, G. Gough, I. Thomas, And B.G. Peterjohn. 1997. The North American
Breeding Bird Survey Results and Anal ysis. Version 96.3 Online. Patuxent Wildlife Research
Center, Laurel, MD. Available: hhtp://www.mbr.nbs.gov/bbs/bbs.html.
S ykes, P.W., Jr. 2003, 2004. Personal conversations.
S ykes, P.W., Jr., and J.M. Meyers. 1999. Annual survival in the southeastern coastal breeding
population of the Painted Bunting (progress report). US Geological Survey, Biological
Resources Division, Reston, VA. URL=http://cristel.nal.usda.gov. Winn, B. 2002-2004. Personal
conversations.
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Appendix F
DNR Guidance on Maintaining and Establishing Dune Paths
The Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division may allow the use of
a path through the state’s jurisdiction under the Shore Protection Act. O.C.G.A. 12-5-230 et.
Seq. The purpose of a path is to provide pedestrian access through the vegetated dune area of
the dry sand beach in areas of low traffic where public access does not exist and the
functionality of the dune system will not be degraded. The dune area is a fragile and important
habitat for many birds and other wildlife. A path may be recommended instead of a
crossover through areas with thick vegetative growth and presence of wildlife. The path
should meander through the vegetation avoiding significant trees and habitat and allowing for
the growth of a canop y over the path and is generally approvable if not greater than 3 feet wide
and 7 feet high.
The Department requires that paths be maintained using hand tools only. No heav y
equipment may be used. No vehicular access is authorized. The Department requires that staff
be on site to flag the footprint of the path before maintenance begins.
No alterations of the location or dimensions of the path may be done without prior
approval from the state. You must use all appropriate best management practices to protect the
habitat and dune system. All debris must be removed from jurisdictional areas. An y incidental
impacts associated with projects must be rectified by fully restoring areas to their
preconstruction topographic and vegetative states. If sand is needed to restore the project site, it
must be of beach qualit y obtained from an upland source rather than from the beach or dune
s ystem. You may be required to demonstrate proof of upland sand acquisition.
The Department must be notified prior to planning a dune path. Once staff has met on -
site to assess the request, a Letter of Permission (LOP) may be issued outlining specifications.
Each project must comply with all other Federal, State, and local statutes, ordinances and
regulations.
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Appendix G
Jul y 16, 2004
The Honorable Walter Parker
Mayor, Cit y of T ybee Island
P.O. Box 2749
Tybee Island, Georgia 31328
Attn: Mr. Bob Thomson
SUBJECT: Beach Cleaning
Dear Bob:
The Cit y of T ybee as wel l as Tybee Beach Task Force has inquired of Coastal Resources
Division in recent weeks as well as in the past about beach cleaning equipment — whether it is
allowed or not. We understand there is interest among the Cit y of T ybee Commissioners in
exploring this as a possible beach maintenance activity. We have studied available information
regarding beach cleaning equipment as well as researched this activity in neighboring states.
O.C.G.A. 12-5-248 (a) (1) provides that governmental vehicles ma y be utilized for beach
maintenance without a permit as long as those vehicles operate across existing cross-overs,
paths, or drives. Pursuant to Board of Natural Resources Rule 391-2-2, Appendix A, Tybee
Island’s three such existing access sites are the north, middle, and south access drives. Other
access points would need to be approved by the Shore Protection Committee. Furthermore, the
statute mandates that exempted vehicular activity must be conducted so as to provide protection
to sea turtles and birds. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. Section 12-5-248 (b), the Department would want
to issue a letter of authori zation, with the following conditions:
1. Cleaning may not occur in the dunes and can only occur during the da y.
2. Cleaning should focus on manmade debris and avoid natural debris, such as beach
wrack, as beach wrack is important to primary dune formation – an important component
to the ecology of the beach ecosystem.
3. During the nesting season (May 1 to October 1), cleaning can only occur after the sea
turtle patrol has completed their daily surve y of Tybee Beach for sea turtle nests and
hatchling emergence.
4. Cleaning may not occur within 20 feet of sea turtle nests.
5. Cleaning ma y not occur within 100 feet of a designated shorebird nesting area or
designated critical habitat.
6. Cleaning equipment must stay at least 10 feet from indigenous vegetation.
7. Onl y equipment with 10-psi or less tire pressure can operate on the beach.
8. Cleaning equipment must not penetrate more than two inches into the beach surface.
9. Cleaning equipment must effectivel y screen and return sand to the beach.
10. All material collected must be removed from the beach.
The above conditions are based on consultation with Florida's beach cleaning provisions
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and DNR’s Coastal Nongame Endangered Wildlife Program. We would request that the City of
Tybee notif y the Coastal Resources Division, Ecological Services Section in writing of your
intent to conduct mechanized beach cleaning. Please provide us the details of the activity,
including the equipment to be used, in order to evaluate the notice of intent, following which we
could then issue a letter of authorization. Correspondence will also keep all parties in touch and
informed.
We hope this responds to the City of Tybee’s inquiry regarding beach cleaning. Should
you have an y questions or need further information about this activity, please contact Brad Gane,
Assistant Director for Ecological Services, at 912-264-7218.
Sincerel y,
Susan Shipman
xc: Brad Gane
Jeannie Butler
Buck Bennett
Brad Winn
Mark Dodd
Lou Off
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Appendix H
Some locations have been slightly enlarged for display purposes only
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Appendix I
Georgia Department of Natural Resources Sand Fence Guidelines
Sand fencing is used extensively along the Atlantic Coast to build and stabilize dune fields and
control human access to the beach. Unfortunately, some sand fence configurations have been
shown to restrict or inhibit sea turtle nesting. The Management Plan for the Protection of
Nesting Loggerhead Sea Turtles and their Habitat in Georgia (II, B, 2, C) stipulates that
“fencing must be placed so as not to deter turtles’ access to nesting areas, and arranged to
prevent trapping nesting turtles”. The following sand fence guidelines are designed to provide
good dune building and stabilization performance, while minimizing impacts to sea turtles.
Standard sand fencing consists of 4’ wooden slats wired together with spaces between the slats.
Woven fabric t ype fencing has also been successfully used in dune restoration projects.
However, it is important that fabric fencing have a 40% to 60% open to closed space ratio to be
effective. Fabric fencing is susceptible to ultraviolet degradation causing it to sag and lose its
original shape. With sufficient maintenance, this problem may be avoided.
Guidelines for Sand Fence Placement:
1. Installation and repositioning of sand fences shall be conducted outside the marine turtle
nesting season (Ma y 1 – October 15) unless approved b y the USFWS or GADNR
Nongame-Endangered Wildlife Program.
2. Sand fence shall be installed in a temporary manner in accordance with the attached
conceptual drawing. Configuration 1 consists of 10 foot sections of fence spaced at a minimum
of 10 feet on a diagonal alignment to the shoreline (facing the prevailing wind). Configuration 2
consists of two 10 foot sections placed in an “open V” shape with the wider end facing the
shoreline. Minimum space between ends of the “V” is 10 feet, and minimum width between the
close ends of the “V” is 7 feet. For both configurations, the approximate angle of the fence to
the shoreline is 45 degrees.
3. Sand Fence shall not be placed in the inter-tidal zone. Sand Fence must be placed above
the highest spring high tide line, preferabl y adjacent to the primary dune.
4. Sand Fence shall not be placed within 7’ of a beach scarp.
5. Sand Fence shall not be placed in front of an existing fence until the existing fence is
completel y buried.
6. Sand fences shall not be placed to control pedestrian traffic seaward of the secondary
dunes. A post and rope fence may be used to restrict pedestrian access without impacting nesting
marine turtles.
7. If fence material is damaged, debris must be removed from the beach area b y the owner in
an expeditious manner.
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Appendix J
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
• Raise the level of the beach by approximately 3 feet this could be done with local funding,
by dredging, trucking or relocating sand from the accreting area of Estill Point. Note—this action
could have deleterious effects on the shorebirds in this area.
• Take further action to protect the shorebirds in this area in coordination with the beach
accretion issue.
• Develop public parking at Polk Street by using the public works area.
There are space limitations with this recommendation.
• Provide more police and lifeguard protection to the beach, especially in summer.
• Have rental property owners and/or brokers provide adequate information on rules and
regulations pertaining to the beach and its usage to short term renters.
• Clarify property ownership along this beach.
• The north end of the island should be considered for inclusion in the Shore Protection
Program.
• The old exposed sea wall and groins need to be removed in their entirety.
• Sand fencing should be installed at areas above the high tide line that have emerging dune
fields on going
• A study should be completed to see if the Federal North Terminal Groin needs to be
reinforced or possibly raised
• Further determine actions needed to protect the shorebirds in the north beach area including
the Piping Plover.
• Property ownership along this beach should be legally clarified.
• 5-Head Signal at US 80/14th Street
• US 80/Tybrisa/Inlet Ave. Intersection Improvements
• 14th, 15th, 17th Street Improvements
• Pier/Pavilion Improvements
• US 80/Butler Avenue Improvements
• Test shuttle system/remote parking
• Preference Survey for parking fees/tickets/toll
• Toll Feasibility Study
• Ensure hotels, condominium complexes and other short-term rentals
• have adequate information on beach and dune rules, usage and safety.
• Ensure hotels, motels and private rentals inform visitors of beach usage and safety
• Conduct on-going monitoring of the notches in the groin field
• Conduct public works review and plan for signage/structure maintenance
• Clarify the limits of construction for the Shore Protection Program
• Review dock policy and see if access through docks can be made
• Review old boat ramp for possible improvements – Part of future drainage project
• Review authority for keeping track of and cleanup of gas and oil spills at the boat ramp.
• Increase parking availability at Back River when city does drainage project at Alley III.
• Create outreach materials for citizens and tourists, particularly regarding environmental
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stewardship such as why dogs and feral cats are a threat to shorebirds, water quality, water
conservation, etc.
• The Tybee BTF must continue to work with the Federal, State and Chatham County to
secure adequate funding for beach re-nourishment.
• Evaluate the minimum height, width and location of the sand dune system that is needed to
protect the seawall from exposure. This will first include the identification and description of a
“design storm” that the sand dune system will be to have to withstand.
Using the design storm parameters (wind direction, duration, speed, wave height, wave direction,
erosion rates, etc.); develop a recommendation as to the height and width of the dune system that
would be large enough to withstand the “design storm”. Also recommend how to develop and
maintain the optimal sand dune system. The purpose of the recommendation would be to identify
the minimum beach width and dune height needed for different reaches of the beach. This would
allow the identification of where the beach has “excess” sand that could be relocated.
• Propose and evaluate alternatives to keep and store sand that ends up on places on the beach
as “excess sand.“ This excess sand can take the form of additional beach width or dune height.
Part of the evaluation will be to identify the impacts, both physical as well as environmental to
adjacent beaches and properties. Part of the recommendation will be to identify the optimum
technology and timing for the moving of the “excess” sand from the overbuild area to areas of the
beach that has seen excessive erosion, such as the Second Street area.
• Make a recommendation and obtain input from the Coastal Resources Division of the GA
DNR, Corps, and other appropriate state and Federal natural resources. The purpose of the
recommendation will be to identify the most cost efficient and environmentally sound way to
capture accumulated sand and relocate the sand to deficiency areas of the beach, thus delaying the
average re-nourishment cycle.
• Coordinate with the Corps in the development and execution of the Federal Shore
Protection project and the Savannah Harbor Channel Impacts Feasibility Study. This included the
review and comment on the Corps prepared Scope of Work and Schedule as well as any
preliminary and find Corps products and services.
• Monitoring, evaluation and any recommendation of the South End Campbell units. This
includes the monitoring of the sand volume and elevation from the south side of the Federal South
End Groin, around the South tip and north to the City of Tybee Island Boat Ramp.
Recommendations should be focused on the number and location of the Campbell Units, and
whether any of the units should be moved, replaced or removed.
• Evaluate whether the pier and pavilion impedes the natural flow of the sand.
• It is recommended that citizens of the six identified beach communities be chosen to work
with the Tybee Island Task Force, and City staff from Public Works, Planning & Zoning, and
others as identified, to hold a one-day workshop to further discuss such subjects as infrastructure,
parking, zoning, services, etc.
• The City of Tybee Island should agree to protect the areas where state protected shorebirds
are nesting (the north end west of the rock jetty). This would fit well with the state's conservation
goals. State nongame biologists can assist in sign placement and rope barriers to keep the public
away from beach nesting birds.
• Tybee's no-dog rule should be enforced particularly on the north end of the island due to
nesting and roosting shorebirds found there that are protected by the State.
• It is recommended that this Tybee Island Beach Management Plan be incorporated by
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reference into the next update of the Tybee Island Comprehensive Plan.
• Tybee Island should research the issue of public/private ownership of beaches, who owns
accreting areas of beach, and determine and set line of public/private ownership along the entire
beach. Once this line is set, publicly owned lands need to be held in trust so that these green space
lands are not used for private gain by development.
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Appendix K
Recommendation Matrix
DPW
Install sand fencing at areas above the high tide line that have emerging dune fields
BTF
Study to see if the North Beach groin needs to be reinforced
DPW
Conduct on-going monitoring of the notches in the groin field on South Tip Beach
DNR/WRD Responsibility
Review dock policy and see if access through docks can be made in Back River area
DPW
Review old boat ramp for possible improvements in Back River area - to be done with Ally III
drainage project including extra parking spaces.
DPW
Insure that the conditions at the sea wall are safe in Back River area
DPW
Improve North Beach Restrooms – partially completed.
City of Tybee Police and Fire Departments
Provide more police and lifeguard protection in all beach communities, especially in
summer
City of Tybee Police and Fire Departments
Station a seasonal lifeguard to supervise beaches between 19th Street and the Back River Groin
– station is there during the regular season.- Completed LTs and Supervisor ride ATV at Large
and respond to areas along the Back River and unprotected areas.
CRC
Create outreach materials for citizens and tourists regarding environmental stewardship, such
as why dogs and feral cats are a threat to shorebirds, water quality, water conservation, etc.
City of Tybee IT Department
Environmental/Wildlife Take further action to protect the shorebirds in the Savannah River
and North Beach areas
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City of Tybee/DNR, WRD
The City of Tybee Island should agree to protect the areas where state protected shorebirds are
nesting (the North End west of the rock jetty).
City of Tybee Police Department DNR, WRD
Tybee's no-dog rule should be enforced particularly on the north end of the island due to
nesting and roosting shorebirds found there that are protected by the State
City of Tybee/BTF
Investigate the nourishment of the Savannah River Beach and the north end of North Beach in
the Shore Protection Program
City of Tybee/USACE
Re-nourish Front Beach North Beach and Beach Business District in 2015 or as soon as
possible, Include South Tip Beach and Back River Beach in the 2015 re-nourishment
City of Tybee/USACE
The Tybee Beach Task Force must continue to work with the State legislature and
Chatham County to secure adequate non-Federal funding for beach re-nourishment
City of Tybee/State Legislature/Chatham County
Local Movement of Sand; Raise the level of Savannah River Beach by approximately 3 feet as
recommended by the Corps. This could be done by federal or local funding and by dredging,
trucking or relocating sand from the accreting area of Estill Point the Tybee Beach Task
Force along with City of Tybee Island staff and citizens need to come up with
recommendations for moving sand from accreting to eroding areas on the island such as the
north or south end to Second Street (to be approved by the State DNR that will not disrupt Sea
Turtle nesting and other environmental factors
City of Tybee Staff and Citizens
Tybee Island should consider the option of purchasing a small dredge that could be used to
move sand from flood tide deltas to eroding areas that are privately owned. This course of
action would need to be planned in advance and approved by the Georgia Department of
Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division
City of Tybee/DNR CRD & WRD
Property Ownership Section Clarify property ownership along Savannah River, North Beach and
Back River areas, and property east of the sea wall along Front Beach, Beach Business
District and South Tip Tybee Island should research the issue of public/private ownership of
beaches who owns accreting areas of beach and determine and set line of public/private
ownership along the entire beach. Once this line is set, publicly owned lands need to be held
in trust so that these green space lands are not used for private gain by development.
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DNR CRD- Construction of crossovers in all beach communities should be strictly limited to
those for public access or to those that serve entire neighborhoods. Private crossovers for
individual homeowners should be prohibited.
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Appendix K
Beach Access and Parking Locations
Location Number Name
Number of
Spaces
Type of Parking Access at
Site
1 North Beach Lot 280 pay & display Yes
A HWY 26 & 80 (curve) 0 None Small sand path
2 Fort Screven/Museum Lot 54 pay & displa y
No
3 Tybee Island Light Station 47 Free No
4 North of 3rd St on US 80 50 single meters No
5 2nd Avenue North of US 80 41 both styles of meters Yes
6 2nd Ave West 9 single meters Yes
7 3rd Street Access 14 pay & display Yes
8 3rd Street Access 14 Pay & display Yes
9 4th Street West of US 80 40 single meters No
10 US 80 from 1st Street to
Izlar
313 both styles of meters No
11 Center Street 21 pay & display Yes
12 5th Street West of US 80 27 single meters No
13 6th Street Beach Access 26 pay & display Yes
14 7th Street Beach Access 30 pay & display Yes
15 8th Street Beach Access 26 pay & display Yes
16 9th Street Beach Access 21 pay & display Yes
17 Memorial Park 48 Single Meters Yes
18 10th Street Beach Access 21 both styles of meters Yes
19 11th Street Beach Access 12 pay & display Yes
20 12th Street Beach Access 11 single meters Yes
21 13th Street Beach Access 18 pay & display Yes
22 14th Street Beach Access 29 both styles of meters Yes
23 14th Street West 6 Single meters
24 15th Street Beach Access 49 pay & display No
25 16th Street Lot 177 Pay and Display Yes
26 Tybrisa Street 46 pay & display No
27 Tybrisa West 15 Pay and display Yes
28 Inlet Avenue 25 pay & display Yes
29 Inlet Avenue Lot 16 Single meters Yes
30 South Beach Lot 2 210 pay & display Yes
31 South Beach Lot 1 177 pay & display Yes
32 17th Street Beach Access 15 pay & display Yes
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33 18th Street Beach Access 16 pay & display Yes
34 19th Street Beach Access 40 pay & display Yes
35 Butler Avenue 25 pay & display No
36 Butler Avenue East Side 127 Single meter Yes
37 Butler Avenue West Side 99 Single Meter Yes
38 Chatham Avenue 37 pay & display Yes
39 Fisherman’s Walk 25 pay & display Yes
40 Alley 3 15 pay & display Yes
41 Police Station Lot 200 pay & display Yes
42 Lovell Avenue 9 single meters Yes
43 Polk Street Access 11 single meters Yes
44 Bay and Beyers Street Access 2 single meters Yes
Total 2494