The Coastal Assets Division of the Georgia Division of Pure Assets introduced final week the discharge of its annual report measuring the well being of Coastal Georgia’s ecosystem.
The report, commissioned by DNR, exhibits a rise from final yr in total scores, notably in fisheries and chicken indices.
The Coastal Georgia Ecosystem Report Card scored the state’s coastal atmosphere at a “A-” or 81%, which a four-point improve from final yr.
“This yr’s annual report card — launched on Earth Day — exhibits Coastal Georgia’s ecosystems proceed to thrive, largely due to considerate stewardship, science-based resolution making, and hanging that cautious stability between conservation and growth,” stated Jan Mackinnon, a CRD biologist who oversaw the report, in an announcement launched by CRD. “Constructive will increase in crimson drum abundance, wooden storks, and bald eagles all contributed to larger scores over final yr, and everybody who cares about our pure assets might be pleased with that.”
CRD biologists attribute the rise in crimson drum abundance to environmental components which will have decreased juvenile mortality.
These issue vary from wind route to salinity to water temperature, which may all play important roles within the survival charges of crimson drum, stated Jared Flowers, CRD’s analysis and surveys unit chief.
“Crimson drum scores on this yr’s report card are literally extra in step with what we typically see,” he stated. “Final yr’s rating was a relative abnormality, however we do see cyclical patterns on this fishery with highs and lows. CRD’s Marine Sportfish Inhabitants Well being Survey screens this gamefish and can proceed to assemble knowledge to assist inform any future administration selections.”
Bald eagle well being elevated 5 factors from final yr, displaying estuaries and the coastal atmosphere are supporting a meals internet crucial for this necessary predator.
Bald eagle nesting outcomes for 2021 have been virtually equivalent to the 2020 figures, which was an above common yr on the coast for the species.
The dying of nesting bushes, primarily from saltwater publicity, and eagle mortalities from automotive collisions whereas the birds feed on roadkill proceed to fret officers at DNR.
“Curiously, surveys detected an elevated variety of eagles nesting or exhibiting behaviors related to the institution of nesting territories on comparatively small lakes within the midst of in depth growth, particularly alongside the margins of Savannah,” stated Bob Sargent, a chicken biologist with the Wildlife Conservation Part of DNR’s Wildlife Assets Division. “As a rule of thumb, most eagle pairs in Georgia keep away from nesting close to man-made constructions and human-associated disturbances.”
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates there are 316,000 bald eagles within the decrease 48 states, a fourfold improve since 2009. Georgia nest totals grew from about 100 in 2007 to greater than 200 in 2015 and seem to have remained above 200 yearly since.
The report card scores 12 totally different indicators on a zero to one hundred pc scale, with an “A” being between 80 and one hundred pc.
The scoring standards have been developed in 2014 by the Integration & Utility Community, the College of Maryland Heart for Environmental Science, which additionally compiled the report card for CRD.
The report card undertaking is funded by the Workplace for Coastal Administration of the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Information for the report card is supplied by DNR’s Wildlife Assets, Coastal Assets and the Environmental Safety divisions.