HomeMy Public PortalAboutCOTI_PR20091119_WaterStudy.pdfMayor Jason Buelterman
CITY COUNCIL
Wanda Doyle, Mayor Pro Tem
Charlie Brewer
Barry Brown
Eddie Crone
Dick Smith
Paul Wolff
CITY OF TYBEE ISLAND
City Manager
Diane Schleicher
Clerk of Council
Vivian Woods
City Attorney
Edward M. Hughes
P.O. Box 2749 – 403 Butler Avenue, Tybee Island, Georgia 31328-2749
(866) 786-4573 – FAX (866) 786-5737
www.cityoftybee.org
PRESS RELEASE: Contact: Michael Bodine
For immediate release (912) 786-4573, x126
New Study to Investigate Effects of Shore Birds on Beach Water Quality
Tybee Island, Ga. – (November 19, 2009) The City of Tybee Island has just begun a new research projec t,
“Runoff, Shore Birds and Beach Water Quality” to study possible sources of bacteria that are regularly
monitored by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources along Tybee’s beaches. The project is funded in
part from a $18,544 grant awarded to the City by the Coastal Management Program of the GA DNR and NOAA.
Partners in the project that will provide an additional $18,544 worth of funds and services include: the City of
Tybee Island, the local Surfrider Foundation Coastal Georgia Low Country Chapter, an d Coastal Environmental
Analysis. Marine scientist, Dr. Joe Richardson, of Coastal Environmental Analysis, will be coordinating the
research activities of this one year study that runs through September 2010. A final report of the study’s findings
will be submitted to the Coastal Resources Division of the GA DNR in early October 2010.
Tybee Island rarely experiences high enough beach water bacteria concentrations during GA DNR’s samplings
to cause swimming advisories to be posted. In fact, partially becaus e of Tybee’s good water quality ratings,
earlier this year, Tybee Island was designated the 2009 Number One “Healthiest Beach in the US” by Health
Magazine (July-August, 2009 issue). The City has long recognized the economic importance of clean beach
water and has been pro-active and progressive in protecting its beach and beach water. The City’s desire
parallels the mission of the Surfrider Foundation as an “organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment
of the world’s oceans, waves and beaches for all people, through conservation, activism, research and
education.”
Mayor Jason Buelterman notes, “Tybee Island continues to work with stakeholders and partner agencies to be
on the forefront of beach water quality initiatives. As a result of Tybee's v igilance and thanks to support and
guidance from the DNR, we consistently receive high marks for our beaches. It is great to also see the surfing
community step up to the plate to help ensure that the waters we all enjoy swimming and surfing in remain as
clean as possible. Many thanks are due to Dr. Richardson for his ongoing efforts on behalf of our beach
community."
This partnership with the Coastal Georgia Low Country Surfrider Foundation Chapter actually helped the City
obtain the GA DNR Coastal Incentive Grant Program grant and financial support for the project. According to Dr.
Richardson, “proposals that include volunteers in the activities of the proposed projects receive additional
consideration when they are evaluated by the proposal reviewers.” Members of the Surfrider group will be
trained and involved in gathering field data during the shore birds portion of the study that will compare beach
P.O. Box 2749 – 403 Butler Avenue, Tybee Island, Georgia 31328-2749
(866) 786-4573 – FAX (866) 786-5737
www.cityoftybee.org
water quality in areas of high shore bird density to control areas. Within this shore bird density stud y, additional
factors that will be considered are wave energy and tidal range. “Hopefully, we will be able to determine if
occasional spikes in beach water bacteria levels can be caused by congregations of shore birds resting on the
intertidal sand,” said Dr. Richardson.
Another source of bacteria that is often suggested as a cause of occasional beach water bacteria spikes is
surface and storm water runoff. To study this possible cause, water sampling and analysis is being conducted in
Tybee’s interior Horsepen Creek. This tidal creek receives much of the surface and storm water drainage from
the eastern portion of the island, and then it drains into Tybee Creek or Back River at the south end of the
island. From the south end inlet, water flows out and northward along the South Beach section of Tybee. Water
samples are being collected from Horsepen Creek and near the inlet during spring tides, neap tides, and
immediately following rain events. “As with the shore birds study, we are including additional possi ble factors
that might affect the bacteria levels in the creek to determine their relative importance,” according to Dr.
Richardson.
Ideally, this project will be able to help answer the question of what causes occasional higher than normal
bacteria concentrations in Tybee’s beach water. Sampling in the tidal creek and inlet began in October for this
one-year project, and the Surfriders and other interested folks are already adding their names to the list of
volunteers to help with the shore birds study that will begin this winter. If you are interested in helping with this
study, please contact Dr. Richardson at: joe@ceasurf.com.
About Tybee Island, GA.: The City of Tybee Island, Georgia is on the outermost barrier island off the Savannah area coast.
With a wild bird sanctuary, over three miles of ocean beaches and salt marshes on the back river, outdoor recreation
activities abound for visitors to the island. As a key defense point to the important Savannah port, Tybee’s Fort Screven,
Tybee Fort Theater, Fort Pulaski, and the Tybee Island and Cockspur Lighthouses combine with the unique architectures of
the island’s raised cottages to form a rich backdrop for history buffs. Attracting a strong artistic community, there are
several local supporting art galleries. Keeping the island interesting year round are several arts festivals, the Annual Pirate
Fest, the Beach Bum Parade, St Patrick’s Day celebrations, the Hot Rod Run, the Beach Bash, and the Christmas Parade, as
well as fireworks displays on Independence and New Year’s Days off the Parker Pier and Pavilion. The Marine Science Center
cooperates with Georgia’s DNR to protect threatened sea turtle species by searching for nests, protecting their eggs, and
making sure hatchlings make it to sea. For visitor information, stop by http://www.tybeevisit.com/, and to find more about
the City of Tybee Island, visit our web site at http://www.cityoftybee.org/.
About the Surfrider Foundation: The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization, composed of over 50,000
members and 80 chapters worldwide, dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches
for all people, through conservation, activism, research and education. The Coastal Georgia Low Country Chapter formed
during the summer of 2007 to promote the mission of the Surfrider Foundation throughout the coastal Georgia and Low
Country region. Active members in this chapter include not only surfers, but also people of all ages involved in skim
boarding, body boarding, sea kayaking, kite boarding, wind surfing, and other beach sports. The chapter is currently
involved in a variety of projects including beach clean ups, the Adopt-A-Highway program on a section of US Highway 80
across an extensive salt marsh leading to Tybee Island, providing service during Eastern Surfing Association Georgia District
Surfing Contests, hosting guest speakers for presentations regarding coastal environmental issues, and promoting the
Surfrider Foundation at large coastal public events. Through this new project, the local chapter is now involved in research
dealing with coastal water quality. For more information regarding the local Surfrider Foundation chapter, visit:
http://www.surfrider.org/coastalgeorgia.
About Coastal Environmental Analysis: Coastal Environmental Analysis, headquartered in the Savannah area, is an
environmental consulting, monitoring and research firm that specializes in water quality issues and studies in Georgia, South
Carolina and Florida. CEA conducts field and lab studies, assists in designing environmental studies, works with
municipalities and agencies to propose and acquire funding for environmental studies, and conducts contract studies for
clients that include individuals, businesses, municipalities, and organizations. Dr. Joe Richardson, Ph.D. in Marine Sciences,
has over 30 years of experience conducting marine biological and water quality research along the southeastern US coast
and the Bahamas. For additional information about CEA and some of its recent and current projects, visit its website:
http://ceasurf.com.
P.O. Box 2749 – 403 Butler Avenue, Tybee Island, Georgia 31328-2749
(866) 786-4573 – FAX (866) 786-5737
www.cityoftybee.org
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