Jekyll Island, GA

Jekyll Island is a 5500-acre barrier island with unique history and characteristics. This state park is situated on the southern coast of Georgia and is home to one of the most popular historical tourist destinations in the state. There is pristine natural beauty, affordable and diverse tourist, entertainment, and recreation opportunities, and easy access to plentiful amenities.

The people that live, work, and visit this area all claim that the island has a special qualities that cannot be found in many other places. They all feel connected to the land and the unofficial motto: “Island Life for the Average Georgian” is being resonated in many ways. This quote from the 2011 conservation study sums it up well: “Georgia law specifically designates Jekyll Island as a State Park, meaning that the land and its flora and fauna belong to all citizens of Georgia.”

Jekyll Island faces many issues with the main one being that the island is being “loved to death.” Statistics and demographic studies show that the population in Georgia is increasing, which will lead to an increase in visitors to the island. The threat of sea level rise, an increase of high-level flooding, and the potential for more frequent devastating hurricanes and storms all have the potential of causing significant pressure on the island.

Learn more by watching a presentation from the 2019 ESRI Geodesign Summit.

Our team conducted a carrying capacity study for the Jeykll Island Authority, (JIA). The JIA is a self-supporting state agency responsible for the overall management and stewardship of Jekyll Island. We assisted with visualizing existing data, creating new information, and showing them what potential changes would look like. We created a suitability model that allowed them to see areas that might be suitable or vulnerable for development, as well potential impacts on existing infrastructure such as buildings, roads, and utilities.