the upper altamaha initiative:
fall 2006
coastal buffer guidebook
Katherine Rowe, Jennifer Spangler, Teela James (not pictured)
Coastal Riparian Buffer Guidance Manual: A Companion to the Model Coastal Buffer Ordinance, January 2007, Katherine Rowe, Jennifer Spangler, Emily Franzen. UGA River Basin Center. Prepared for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division Coastal Nonpoint Source Management Program to provide specific guidance in implementing the model coastal riparian buffer ordinance (below.) (PDF)
Model Coastal Riparian Buffer Ordinance for Georgia's Local Governments, January 2007, Katherine Rowe, Jennifer Spangler, Emily Franzen. UGA River Basin Center. Prepared for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division Coastal Nonpoint Source Management Program. (PDF)
The state of Georgia is currently seeking final approval of their Coastal Nonpoint Source Program in order to continue to receive funding under both the Coastal Zone Management Act and the Clean Water Act 319(h). One of the most effective ways to address nonpoint source pollution is to preserve and maintain riparian buffer zones. To support this effort, the River Basin Center has drafted a model ordinance that local governments along the Georgia coast can use as a template to protect coastal buffers. In recognition of the fact that not all kinds of development significantly damage buffer zones and that property owners may wish to develop the buffer to some extent, the ordinance attempts to accommodate low impact development that does not compromise the effectiveness of the buffer. To that end, the model ordinance needs to be accompanied by a technical document that details allowable development activities. The goal of this project is to develop that document, the Coastal Riparian Buffer Guidance Manual.
The manual is intended for use by developers and homeowners and will provide detailed descriptions and illustrations. Issues that will be addressed in the manual include docks, decks, paths, plant materials, plant maintenance, sight lines, paving, grading, boardwalks, stream crossings, and storm water management. The manual will provide enough detail that users will understand what can and cannot be done in the buffer zone and be able to develop a conceptual master plan for a project.
Currently, the City of Tybee Island has expressed an interest in adopting a coastal buffer ordinance and has requested a tailored ordinance for their municipality. Given this interest and their potential to influence other coastal communities, particular attention will be paid to Tybee Island's development issues. It is hoped that other coastal communities will adopt the ordinance and consequently use the accompanying manual.
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