Project Summary

1. Project Identification

Name	Latham River Restoration
Region	Southeast
State	Georgia
Location	State Route 50 near Jeckyll Island, Glynn County
Date of this update

2. Problem(s) addressed (check one or more)

Habitat Restoration/Protection
Wetlands
River systems
Beaches/Dunes
Offshore areas
Mangroves
Assisting Species at Risk
Pollution Mitigation
Non-Point Source Pollution
Other (describe)

3. Project Description (100 words or less. Please include qualitative information, e.g. acres of habitat restored, miles of steam reopened to migration, and legislative authorization, e.g. WRDA, ISTEA, CWA/NEP, CZMA, etc.)

In the early 1950's the Georgia Department of Transportation constructed a causeway on State Route 50 to Jekyll Island, Glynn County, Georgia. During construction, the Latham River which flows through the island was blocked at two locations causing a diversion of the natural tidal drainage and negatively impacting the tidal river marshes adjacent to the causeway. That portion of the river north of the causeway now flows out the original mouth into Jekyll Creek. The other portion of the river is connected to Jekyll Creek by a man made outlet constructed south of the causeway.

Since the channel flow was redirected away from the southern marshes, several problems have developed. Sedimentation in the Jekyll Creek section of the Atlantic Intercostal Waterway (AIWW) has increased, resulting in increased dredging frequencies and associated costs. The increased frequency of dredging and the need to place these sediments into nearby sites has decreased their long term capacity. At the current shoaling rates, new disposal areas will soon be needed, or the diking of open marsh sites will be necessary to maintain the AIWW to its authorized depth.

One of the objectives is to restore the natural tidal fluctuations of the Latham River to pre-causeway conditions and reduce the sedimentation problem. This proposed project is being partially constructed using the COE authority under Section 1135 of WRDA 1986. Additionally, the Georgia Department of Transportation, using its authority and funding under ISTEA, is expected to contribute to the restoration by demolishing the current causeway and replacing it with bridges, which will aid in the restoration of the original tidal flows. The NMFS, FWS and EPA are providing technical advice and consultation at the federal level, and the Jeckyll Island Authority and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources are providing state level technical support. The project is expected to take two years to construct and will include a continuing monitoring and an educational program.

It is anticipated that this project will provide greater flushing of the Latham River which should improve ambient water quality and avoid future fish kills. The dredging costs of that section of the AIWW adjacent to Jekyll Creek will be decreased significantly due to reduced sedimentation. Reduction in the amount of dredging will increase the life cycle of the existing dredged sediment placement areas. It is also anticipated that there will be an increase in shellfish and finfish spawning and rearing areas as well as a reduction in the threats to manatees, and woodstork roosting and feeding areas.

4. Goals/Benefits (quantify where possible using measures of success list) Was a cost-benefit study conducted for this project? yes/no If yes, provide a summary of findings.

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5. Partners (include each participant's responsibilities - funding, permitting, etc.)

• Federal

  Lead -	COE: Funding, planning, reports, monitoring, dredge and fill
  Other -	FWS: Planning, reports
  	EPA: Planning, reports, monitoring
  	NOAA: Planning, reports, monitoring
  	NMFS: consulting and advising

• Non-Federal

  State government -	GA-DOT: Planning, reports, channel and bridge construction
  	GA-DNR: Planning, quarterly, monitoring, educational activities
  	Jekyll Island Auth.: Planning, quarterly, educational activities
  	Audobon Society: educational activities
  Local government
  Private industry
  Public interest groups
  Educational Facility
  Other partnerships

6. Funding/Contributions (organization and amount)

• Cash

  Federal
  Non Federal	State government
  	Local government
  	Private industry
  	Public interest groups
  Total

• In-Kind Services (hours, equipment, or other forms of assistance and estimated dollar value)

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• Volunteers (number of people and hours, and estimated dollar value)

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7. Legislative authorities used by each participant

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8. Value added by Coastal America Partnership including Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) goals achieved through this collaboration (500 words or less)

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9. Project Status

Initiation date
Completion date
Current stage

10. Contacts

• Project Manager

  Martin Cooley
  Study Manager
  Savannah Dist Off.
  US Army Corps of Engineers
  PO Box 889
  Savannah, GA 31402-0889
  (912) 652-5811
  (912) 652-5787 (fax)

• Participating Agency/Organization Contacts: (e.g. volunteer groups, conservation groups, state agencies, and other federal agency contacts)

11. Any additional information/comments

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This page was last updated on Saturday, 24-Jun-2000 11:48:49 EDT
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comments to lawrencea@fas.usda.gov