restoring fish habitats via artificial reef...
TRANSCRIPT
February 25, 2014 Pat Geer and January Murray
Restoring Fish Habitats
via Artificial Reef Restoration
“ALT” Deployment: 130’ GADNR Barge & Poles
Artificial Reef Program Goals
Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division
Restore Fish Habitats for Recreational Fishers
Deploy Donated Materials of Opportunity
Establish New & Maintain Existing Partnerships
Sapelo Saltwater Fishing Club
Savannah Steel Terminal LLC.
“ALT” Deployment: 130’ GADNR Barge & Poles
Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division
Offshore Reef Program
Environmentally Safe
Relatively Stable Materials
Do Not Degrade Quickly or Subside
30 Offshore Artificial Reef Sites
“DRH” 2012 Deployment & 2013 Diving
Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division
Regional Permit #36 Updated:
May 9, 2013: Navy Tower Coordinates
Sep. 1, 2013: Annual Compliance Report Submitted to USACE
Sep. 11, 2013: Addition of “BH” & “BL” Reefs Sites to RP36
Donations:
Northern Reef Staging Area = East Coast Terminal Company
Southern Reef Staging Area = City of Brunswick (Liberty Harbor)
485 tons Concrete Power Poles: ~377 tons = GA Power
~ 88 tons = GA Transmission
Hopper Barge (254’ x 54’ x 17’) by Savannah Steel Terminal LLC
330 Chicken Coops by Claxton Poultry Farms
Deployments:
“DRH” Reef = 274 Total Pallet Balls (Aug. & Oct. 2012)
“KTK” Reef = 39’ Steel Hulled Vessel (Sept. 2012)
“ALT” Reef = 130’ GADNR Barge & Power Poles (June 2013)
“KC” Reef = 254’ Hopper Barge & 330 Chicken Coops (Nov. 2013)
Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division
Offshore Reef Accomplishments 2012-2013
2012 Diving & Inspections:
8 GADNR Dive Team Members
3 of 30 Reefs were Inspected & Monitored (4 Dive Days)
2013 Diving & Inspections:
Buoy Inspections, Only “SAV” & “KBY” Reef Buoys Remain
4 Additional Staff Certified as GADNR Dive Team Members
12 of 30 Reefs were Inspected & Monitored (7 Dive Days)
45 General Contaminants Samples Collected via Diving (3 Reefs)
Dept. of Navy (DON) TACTS Coordination:
DON Notice of Availability of Real Property (Oct. 2012)
2013 Decommission of 8 Tactical Aircrew Training Systems Towers
(TACTS) to create essential fish habitat off of GA’s coast
Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division
Offshore Reef Accomplishments 2012-2013
Feb. 19th 2014 Deployment:
“SAV” Reef = Steel Deck Barge (110’ x 30’ x 7’)
Deployment Plans Before June 30th:
1 Reef Site *Contingent upon Available Funds & Materials*
Associate Biologist, Edward Leonard, Hired Feb. 17th
Attend ASMFC Artificial Reef Meeting Feb. 25th-26th
March / April Press Release: Reef Coordinate Updates
Diving & Inspections:
Assist with Coastal Arrays Diving Project (~18 Dive Days)
Inspect & Monitor ~10+ Reefs (~8 Dive Days)
Collect ~45 General Contaminants Samples via Diving (3 Reefs)
TACTS Coordination: 2014 & Beyond
DON Creates Deployment Plan
DON Seeks Deployment Funding
DON Transfer of Property to GADNR upon TACTS Deployment
Offshore Artificial Reef 2014 Plans
Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division
“SAV” Reef Deployment: 110’ Barge
Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division
Established/Permitted 1984-1999
13 inter-tidal & 2 sub-tidal
Types of Materials Concrete: Forms, FADs,
Pallet Balls, & Culvert
Metal: Culvert & Cages
Marked by Pilings Assessed Annually
Compliance =SSS & Fly-Overs
Renewed Interests:
Fuel costs
Closures of offshore species
2013 Activities: Obtained State & Federal Permits
2014 Plans:
Replace Timmons Pilings
Replace Signage: Timmons & 4 Mile
Deploy Power Poles to High Point
2015 & Beyond:
Annually Deploy Materials of Opportunity
Inshore Artificial Reef Restoration
Side Scan Sonar & Aerial Compliance Surveys
Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division