GEMS - Cat Island

GEMS

Mississippi Department of Marine Resources
Coastal Preserves Program
1141 Bayview Avenue
Biloxi, MS 39530
(228) 374-5000

Narrative Description of the Site: 

The primary boundary of this 2,802-acre preserve follows the edge of the beach. This large barrier island is made up of subtidal estuarine habitat near shore, barrier island pond/lagoon complex with pine-oak maritime woodland inland, and sea grass beds and mollusk reef off shore.

This unique location provides excellent feeding, resting, and wintering habitat for numerous types of migratory bird species, such as the Brown Pelican, White Pelican, and cormorants. This area is also known to be rookery for the least tern and black skimmer.

Lands within this Coastal Preserve are either privately, locally, state or federally owned. Much of the property is considered tidal wetlands and is already owned by the state.

Date When Information Last Updated:  March, 1998

Location:  Harrison County

Area of Influence:  Barrier Island and Salt Marsh

3- Ecological and Cultural Characteristics

Habitat type:

A large barrier island with the following ecological communities are expected or known to occur on the island: estuarine subtidal 1) Mississippi sound-sand bottom (near shore) 2) barrier island pond/lagoon complex 3) tidal pass 4) barrier island sea grass bed 5) embayment sea grass bed 6) mollusk reef 7) Mississippi sound algae bed; estuarine intertidal 1) oligohaline or mesohaline marsh 2) barrier island high marsh; other 1) pine-oak maritime woodland.

Rare/Endangered Species:

Nycticorax nycticorax Black-crowned Night-heron
Pandion haliaetus Osprey
Falco sparverius American Kestrel
Sterna antillarum Least Tern
Charadrius alexandrinus Snowy Plover
Malaclemys terrapin pilea Mississippi Diamondback Terrapin
Alligator mississippiensi American Alligator
Paronychis erecta Beach Sand-Squares
Helianthemum arenicola Gulf Rockrose
Polanisia tenuifolia Slender-Leaf Clammy-Weed
Quercus myrtifolia Myrtle-Leaf Oak
Xyris flabelliformis Fan-Shaped Yellow-Eyed Grass

Breeding/Nursery Area: Least Tern Rookery, Black Skimmer Rookery

Migratory Species: This unique location provides excellent feeding, resting, and wintering habitat for numerous types of migratory bird species, such as the Brown Pelican, White Pelican, and cormorants.

4- Current and Potential Use of Site

Recreational Use:  Boaters and anglers use the area on occasional and seasonal basis for waterfowl hunting (sparingly) and fishing.

5- Management Status

Land Ownership:  Lands within this Coastal Preserve are either privately, locally, state or federally owned.

Existing Designations:  Mississippi Coastal Preserve

Management Status: Managed by the Department of Marine Resources Coastal Preserves Program.

Existing Monitoring Activities: Monitored by the Department of Marine Resources Coastal Preserves Program.

Acquisition Potential: Vaguely Active

Management Needs:  The State will manage the area as a coastal preserve. The DMR will have direct responsibility. Much of the property considered tidal wetlands, already owned by the State.

6- Sources of Information:  Toups, J.A., and J.A. Jackson. 1987. Birds and birding on the Mississippi.

7- Comments and/or Additional Information on Cat Island:

Email Coastal Preserves Manager

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