Attachment 1 Natural Resources Site Inventory Fort Frederica North Marsh Property St. Simons Island, Glynn County, Georgia Conducted February 16 and February 22, 2011 Stacia Hendricks, Naturalist, Little St. Simons Island Jacob Thompson, Nongame Conservation Section Biologist, Georgia Department of Natural Resources Susan Shipman, Retired Director, Coastal Resources Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources Flora The 10 acres of upland is characterized by pine forest with live oak, characteristic of an early successional maritime forest ecosystem. It is unknown if this was a farmed area or whether it is a fire-adapted community. There are several very large loblolly pines, one of which appears to be in excess of 100 years old. A few of the pines show evidence of turpentining. If left alone, most parts of the upland will eventually succeed to a mixed live oak-pine maritime forest. Species of flora documented on the upland highest portion of parcel during in situ inventory: Trees: Loblolly Pine - Pinus taeda Slash Pine - Pinus elliottii Saw Palmetto - Serenoa repens Water Oak - Quercus nigra Live Oak - Quercus virginiana Sweet Gum - Liquidambar styraciflua Southern Red-cedar - Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola American holly - Ilex opaca Red Bay - Persea borbonia Southern magnolia - Magnolia grandiflora Cabbage Palm – Sabal palmetto Shrubs: Dwarf Palmetto - Sabal minor Yaupon - Ilex vomitoria Wax myrtle - Morella cerifera Highbush Blueberry - Vaccinium corymbosum Farkleberry - Vaccinium arboretum Horse Sugar - Symplocos tinctoria Staghorn sumac - Rhus typhina Vines: Poison Ivy - Toxicodendron radicans Crossvine - Bignonia capreolata Muscadine Grape - Vitis rotundifolia 1 Saw Greenbriar – Smilax bona–nox Cat Greenbriar - Smilax glauca Sarsparilla Vine – Smilax pumila Graminoids: Switch cane - Arundinaria tecta Giant cane - Arundinaria gigantia Hairy Bedstraw Galium pilosum Slender leaf Wood Oats - Chasmanthium laxum Witch-grass - Dichanthelium spp. Broom-sedge - Andropogon virginicus Bushy Bluestem – Andropogon glomeratus Switch Grass - Panicum virgatum Nutrush species – Scleria spp. Saltmarsh/Brackish Marsh Plants: Sand Cordgrass - Spartina bakerii Big Cordgrass - Spartina cynosuroides Saltmeadow Cordgrass - Spartina patens Black Needlerush – Juncus roemerianus Silverling - Baccharis halimifolia False willow - Baccharis angustifolia Common Rush - Juncus effusus High-tide Bush - Iva frutescens Marsh Fimbry – Fimbristylis castanea Other Plants: Spanish Moss - Tillandsia usneoides Cinnamon Fern - Osmunda cinnamomea Resurrection Fern - Pleopeltis polypodioides Largeleaf Pennywort – Hydrocotyle umbellata Violet – Viola sp. Native Strawberry – Fragaria sp. Unidentified Asteraceae Invasive Species: Honeysuckle – Lonicera japonica Coral Ardisia - Ardisia crenata The tidally influenced marsh portion of the tract is dominated by extensive acreage of black needlerush. The high marsh is characterized by saltmeadow cordgrass, broom sedge, sliverling, and waxmyrtle. The marsh hammock on the northern edge of the parcel is vegetated with red 2 cedar, dwarf palmetto, cabbage palm, false willow, yaupon, loblolly pine, saw palmetto, waxmyrtle, switch grass, and live oak. This area is also noteworthy for its tidal water features. Fauna Birds Pine Warbler - Dendroica pinus Carolina wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus Yellow rumped warbler - Dendroica coronata Golden-crowned kinglet - Regulus satrapa Ruby-crowned kinglet - Regulus calendula Yellow-bellied sapsucker - Sphyrapicus varius Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus Tufted titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor Red-bellied woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus Redtail hawk – Buteo jamaicensis Turkey vulture - Cathartes aura Marsh hen – Gallinula sp. Red-winged blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis The birds noted above were observed on site visually or through calls or wells. The Colonial Coast Bird List documents sightings in an American Ornithological Union species format for birds in the coastal region of Georgia (Attachment 4), many of which are likely using the Fort Frederica North Marsh Tract as residents or seasonally during migration. Mammals Eastern Gray Squirrel or Flying squirrel - Sciurus carolinensis or Glaucomys volans White-tailed deer - Odocoileus virginianus Marsh rabbit - Sylvilagus palustris Common raccoon - Procyon lotor Nine-banded armadillo - Dasypus novemcinctus The mammals noted above were observed on site visually or by tracks or scat. Additionally, the tract’s upland forest habitat is suitable for the Seminole and brown bat, both species of concern. These species nest in Spanish moss. 3 ST. SIMONS LAND TRUST PRESERVING THE NATURAL AND SCENIC CHARACTER OF OUR ISLAND BOARD OF DIRECTORS LEE RICHARDS, CHAIRMAN BOB ATWOOD GREER BROWN CHUCK CANSLER February 18,2011 ELLEN M. DEMPSEY JOHN DUNHAM TOM FLICKINGER FRED FREYER JIM JONES LETTER OF INTENT. SHERRI JONES FRANCES McCRARY To: Glynn County Board of Commissioners DON MYERS ED RALSTON SUSAN SHIP~'\AN This is to confinn the St. Simons Land Trust's intent to sell to Glynn County the GORDON T. STROTHER Property known as .the Ft. Frederica North Marsh Property consisting of BROOKE B. SUMERfORD approximately 20 acres (10 upland and 10 marsh) for its Fair Market Value. SANDY TURBIDY ADVISORY COUNCIL This Property was acquired by the Land Trust in 2007 to prevent development FRANCES MCCRARY, on land adjacent to Fort Frederica National Monument and to protect valuable CHAI~ historic, archeological and ecological conservation values. LOVICK P. CORN AD. PETE CORRELL NANCY COVERDELl The National Park Service has agreed to manage the Property under and MARTHA ELUS agreement with Glynn County following its acquisition. BRAD FOSTER BIll JONES lit The Fair Market Value at the time oftransfer, which is contemplated to be in REP. JERRY KEEN GEORGE LANE III late 2011, is considered to be $3,000,000. .' BUFF LEAVY , DAVIS LOVE III Uris action has been authorized by the board of directors ofthe St. Simons Land ROBIN LOVE Trust. JEANNE MANNING JIM MANNING LESLIE D. MATTINGLY "JAMES T. MILLS JR. COLLEEN NUNN SENATOR SAM NUNN Lee Richards ROY RICHARDS Chainnan BEN SLADE SUSAN CORN WAINRIGHT , STAFF LEE RICHARDS. CHAIRMAN LEE,.R1CHARDS@$OUTHW!RLCOM DANA POPE. DIRECTOR DEVELOPMENT & MEMBERSHIP DPOPE@S$LT.ORG . SUSAN CROWLEY, BUSINESS MANAGER [email protected] PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER P.O. Box 24615 ' 1624 FREDERICA ROAD, SUITE 6 ' ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GA 31522 (912) 638-9109 • FAX (912) 638-9160 . WWW.SSLT.ORG NATURAL RESOURCES OVERVIEW FORT FREDERICA BOUNDARY STUDY SAINT SIMONS ISLAND GLYNN COUNTY, GEORGIA Prepared for: SAINT SIMONS LAND TRUST Prepared by: WETLAND AND ECOLOGICAL CONSULTANTS, LLC June 25, 2010 WEC Project No. 02-041510 Natural Resources Overview June 25, 2010 Fort Frederica National Monument Boundary Survey WEC Project No. 02-041510 BACKGROUND The Saint Simons Land Trust (SSLT) is working in conjunction with the National Park Service (NPS) at the Fort Frederica National Monument (FOFR), located on Saint Simons Island in Glynn County, Georgia. The project purpose is to potentially acquire several properties adjacent to FOFR and transfer these properties to the NPS for incorporation into the Monument. These properties include five Tracts: Katz; North Marsh (SSLT); Christ Church (Dodge Home); Stevens; and Humphlett (Figures 1,2,3,4a and 4b). The boundaries of a National Park may be expanded by enabling legislation as authorized by Congress, or through provisions of the statutory authorities of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (LWCFA). In order to comply with the LWCFA, the boundary adjustment must meet one or more aspects including: • Protection of significant resources and values, or to enhance opportunities for public enjoyment related to park purposes; • Address operational and management issues, such as the need for access or to make boundaries consistent with logical features such as topography or other natural features, or roads; and • Otherwise, protect park resources that are critical to fulfilling park purposes (NPS, March 2008). Adjustment to the FOFR limits requires a boundary study in order to satisfy federal requirements; the boundary study includes a Natural and Cultural Resources Overview and Assessment. The scope for this work was developed through conversations with Mary Beth Wester, Superintendent, and Denise Spear, Cultural Resources Specialist, both with FOFR. This report addresses the Natural Resources study items identified by FOFR staff, and the Cultural Resources Assessment is included as an attachment. METHODS The methods employed for this report are as follows. Wetland and Ecological Consultants, LLC (WEC) reviewed background materials provided by the SSLT and FOFR to gain an understanding of the background information and level of study 1 Natural Resources Overview June 25, 2010 Fort Frederica National Monument Boundary Survey WEC Project No. 02-041510 required. WEC then performed several telephone interviews with Mary Beth Wester (FOFR) and SSLT to reach an agreement on basic study items and anticipated level of reporting. WEC then performed a field visit on May 17, 2010. At the onset of this field work, Mr. John T. Vermont of WEC met with Mary Beth Wester and Denise Spear at the FOFR office to review maps, boundaries, background information, and also to discuss the particular study items NPS desired to be addressed under this work. Mr. Vermont then performed the field study over the remainder of that day. Basic field tools employed included soil auger,