A new plan to preserve Georgia’s marshes: Give them space to migrate

Decades ago, construction crews dug a deep pit near Midway, Georgia, leading to a public park today. The park, located over 15 miles from the ocean, experiences high tide twice daily. However, while one side is filled with marsh grass, the other side has eroded, losing about six to eight feet of land to the advancing tide. Phil Odom, chairman of Liberty County's Consolidated Planning Commission, has observed this erosion firsthand.

In response to the erosion, local leaders are considering a new approach to preserve Georgia's marshes. Rather than constructing barriers or using concrete to stabilize the land, they aim to restore the natural growth of marsh grasses, which have roots that can hold the soil in place. This method, known as a living shoreline, seeks to mimic nature and make the solution blend seamlessly with the environment.

Georgia is home to a significant portion of the connected marsh habitat along the Southeastern U.S. coast, making it crucial to protect these areas. As sea levels rise due to climate change, the marshes will need to migrate inland. However, they require space to do so. A new action plan proposes protecting not just the marshes themselves but also the adjacent land, identifying over 56,000 acres of land in Georgia where marshes are likely to migrate.

This plan, spearheaded by a coalition of conservation groups, scientists, government agencies, and coastal communities, aims to help stakeholders make informed decisions about land use in the face of rising sea levels.