News Briefs

CRD project featured on National Public Radio broadcast 
Marine Biologist Cameron Brinton was featured in nationally broadcast radio news story Jan. 18 about a CRD oyster restoration project in Liberty County. Reporter Emily Jones of the Atlanta NPR affiliate WABE-FM spent the day with Brinton on the water back in October as he and Georgia Southern University professor John Carroll placed pallets of bagged oyster shell on the banks of the North Newport River. In addition to being a restoration project, Dr. Carroll is monitoring the amount of carbon sequestration created by oyster reefs. Funding for Carroll’s research comes from Yamaha Motors’ Rightwater initiative. The national story was featured on the program “Here & Now” from WBUR-FM in Boston

Invites sent for CIG proposals 
CRD staff reviewed eight pre-applications for the upcoming Cycle 27 Coastal Incentive Grant (CIG). After prioritizing and scoring, staff selected five applicants to invite to submit a full application. Full applications will be due Feb. 9, 2024. The CIG Program is a competitive pass-through subgrant program made possible by a grant to CRD from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) through Congressional funding pursuant to the Coastal Zone Management Act. Each year, the CRD allocates a portion of its federal funding to the CIGs. These subgrants may be awarded to qualified county and municipal governments, regional commissions, state-affiliated research or educational institutions, or state agencies (except DNR), provided the project takes place entirely within the eleven-county service area of the program.

Career Academy students hold mini-reunion, aid DNR staff
The week before Christmas, five 2023 Career Academy students traveled to the coast to shadow DNR staff and volunteer during their winter break. The high school students worked with Wildlife Resources staff at Evans County PFA to sample and relocate fish for the Lake Longleaf Largemouth Bass project.  The group spent a day at the Richmond Hill Hatchery, helping harvest ponds and sort specimens. The students shadowed State Parks and Historic Sites staff at Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation and assisted with holiday tours, trail maintenance and museum management. The group of students finished off their coastal experience by joining Coastal Resources Division staff  for a marsh clean up day in McIntosh County wetlands and another day assessing aquatic barriers in tidal creeks around Chatham County. The week long “mini-camp” was organized and led by DNR Career Academy camp staff Jaynie Gaskin (CRD), Caleb Mills (WRD) and Allie Ellis (SPHS), with assistance from their colleagues and leadership.

Marine bio assists tournament
Marine biologist Donna McDowell acted as weighmaster for the Two-Way Sport Fishing Club’s Trout Tournament in Darien on Dec. 9. CRD provided Saltwater Information Program educational koozies, measuring tape decals, and saltwater regulation/tide chart pamphlets to participants. 

— STAFF REPORTS