Habitat: Geography of St. Catherines Island
The geography of St. Catherines Island is rich with place names and was the site of significant historical events. Most habitation and sunsequent agriculture has been concentrated on the higher land of the island core to the west and northwest. Because of the unique history of St. Catherines, many historical and archaeological features have been relatively undisturbed and are preserved on this barrier island, including archaeological remains of a shell ring, numerous burial mounds and middens, a colonial structure (embedded within The Button Gwinett House), antebellum, tabby slave cabins and an overseer's house, and numerous structures from the "The Resort Era." Located near the main dock are facilities of the Wildlife Survival Center, dedicated to conservation of indigenous and exotic endangered species.
The side of St. Catherines Island fronting on the Atlantic Ocean is divided into three major beaches by two inlets. To the north, North Beach is separated from Middle Beach by Seaside Inlet and to the south, South Beach is separated from Middle Beach by McQueens Inlet. These beaches and the sandy margins of St. Catherines Sound to the north and Sapelo Sound to the south provide ~ 20 km ( 12.4 mi) of nesting habitat for loggerhead sea turtles.
The St. Catherines Island Sea Turtle Conservation Program was planned in 1990 and 1991 with the educational aspects initiated in 1992. A beach grid was established at that time and maintained annually with temporary markers placed every 100 m from the south tip of the Island to the northeast shoulder of the Island and semi-permanent markers (wooden posts) marking each kilometer. Most of this grid had to be resurveyed annually due to rapid beach retreat or erosion. This has led to some shortening of the beach and some inconsistency (0-20 m) in beach grid position from year to year. With the advent of GPS, the beach survey has been abandoned and replaced by GPS surveys each year.
