Jekyll Island Conservation Plan Nears Completion
As this newsletter reported a few months ago, the 2004 Jekyll Island Master Plan Update recommended the creation of a conservation plan to manage, conserve and protect Jekyll Island's natural resources and help guide development decisions.
After several false starts, the Jekyll Island Authority (JIA) has finally released a draft of the recommended Conservation Plan and is accepting public input on it until February 11. Thanks to input from readers like you, the Conservation Plan will be redrafted and will then be discussed at a public meeting on February 23.
The importance of creating a first-rate Conservation Plan for Jekyll Island State Park cannot be overstated, as that document will be the primary means of protecting the island's natural resources against a wide range of threats and stresses, including those associated with real estate development. For this reason, the Initiative to Protect Jekyll Island is encouraging concerned citizens to read the draft plan and share their impressions -- brief or detailed -- with the JIA's Conservation Plan Committee. A copy of the plan is available here and comments can be sent to Jay.Exum@aecom.com and tnorton@jekyllisland.com.
The draft conservation plan has a number of positive features -- such as its extensive inventory of Jekyll's natural resources, comprehensive outline of the threats to the island's wildlife and vegetative communities, and natural resource management prescriptions.
However, if the plan is to reach its full potential, it must provide adequate means for realizing its objectives. With that fact in mind, the Initiative to Protect Jekyll Island has identified a number of problems including:
- Inadequate administrative procedure to assess the environmental impact of development proposals.
- Insufficient authority given to conservation staff members to amend or block development proposals that are at odds with conservation objectives.
- Insufficient attention to clarifying the 65% of Jekyll Island required by law to remain in its natural condition.
- Neglect of the concept of Jekyll Island's carrying capacity and how it relates to conservation objectives.
- Inadequate provisions for conservation staffing and for securing the funds needed to implement CP strategies and secure the plan's goals.
Details of this constructive criticism are available here. We need to make the Jekyll Conservation Plan a document of which we can all be proud!
Email your comments and attend the public hearing on February 23rd!
Quick Links
The Georgia Water Coalition is working to collect 5000 signatures to let our elected leaders know that we want our rivers and communities protected from water grabs.
The Board of Natural Resources did not strengthen regulations for Interbasin Transfers on Wednesday, read about it in the Macon Telegraph. Now the Georgia Water Coalition will be asking the General Assembly to step in. Click here to sign the petition.
Sierra Club Meetings
Smart Energy Team Meeting, Monday, February 7th, 6:30p.m. refreshments, 7p.m. start, Colleen Kiernan - colleen.kiernan@sierraclub.org or Erin Glynn - erin.glynn@sierraclub.org Wildlands & Wildlife Committee Meeting, Tuesday, February 15th, 7:00p.m., Phil Zinsmeister - Chair, pzinsmeister@oglethorpe.edu RAIL Committee Meeting, Monday January 24th, 6:45 p.m., Jim Dexter - Chair, call 678-313-2407, jimdex@aol.com Atlanta Inner City Outings (ICO), Tuesday, February 22nd, January 25th, 7:30p.m., contact Allison Williams adwilliams8@yahoo.com |
Environmental Events
A 1200 megawatt coal-fired power plant is a minor source of hazardous air pollutants? -- February 7th
If you like courtroom television, consider attending the live version as the State of Georgia defends its acquiescence with LS Power's request. The out of state power company is trying to reclassify itself from a major to a minor source of hazardous air pollutants to avoid more stringent requirements.
Our attorneys and experts are not aware of any coal plant of this size being a "minor source" of any pollutants anywhere else in the country.
February 7th at 9:30am at the Office of State Administrative Hearings. 230 Peachtree Street NW, Suite 850, (map)
Atlanta Green Drinks -- February 9th
Network with green professionals and friends at H. Harper Station, 904 Memorial Drive in Reynoldstown (map). Click here for more information.
The March Window is coming and we need volunteers! -- February 23rd
The Georgia Chapter sends out its annual appeal to all of our members in March -- almost 10,000! Come to a mail party and stuff and address some envelopes with us. Wednesday, February 23rd 2pm-9pm and Thursday February 24th 2pm-5pm.
Please email Naseem at naseemg.sierraclub@gmail.com if you can come by for a bit! Snacks provided!
Georgia River Network's Weekend for Rivers - February 25th-26th
Join us for two days of informative workshops and conference sessions, as well as field trips, networking opportunities, awards and a great party! At the Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell. Click here for more information.
Sierra Club 101 is back! Mark your calendar!
Attention, Members! You joined the Sierra Club to help protect the
environment -- now what? Sierra Club 101! Come learn about the Sierra
Club and how to get involved in our local efforts. Open to members and
non-members alike--bring a friend! Refreshments provided. March 12, June 11, Sept 10, Dec 10th, 10:30-12. RSVP to sybil.cypress@gmail.com
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