Defending the Georgia coast
Preserving one of the nation’s ecological gems
Admired around the world for its stunning beauty and rich biological diversity, the Georgia coast encompasses a lacework of barrier islands, mud flats, tidal creeks, blackwater rivers, freshwater wetlands, and 378,000 acres of salt marsh. More than 1,650 islands called marsh hammocks provide a secluded inland sanctuary for wildlife. These enclaves are sheltered by 14 barrier islands lined with more than 100 miles of white sandy beaches.
Georgia harbors one-third of the salt marsh remaining on the East Coast, most of which is held by the state as a public resource with incalculable value. These vast expanses of grasses and meandering tidal creeks serve as nurseries for marine life and as vital buffers against hurricanes and other large storms.
In addition, the ocean waters off the Georgia coast are prime calving grounds for the North Atlantic right whale — one of the rarest marine mammals on the planet and one of several endangered and threatened species that make their home in this region, along with manatees, wood storks, and sea turtles.
What’s at stake
Though it remains one of the last stretches of undeveloped coastline in the South, this special region faces a perfect storm of ongoing industrial and residential development pressures that put Georgia’s iconic coastal resources at risk.
The continued expansion of the Savannah Harbor and other industries looking to expand on the coast has spurred an influx of warehouses, mega-sites, data centers, and distribution centers, many of which are being sited in flood-prone areas. Given federal and Supreme Court actions slashing wetlands protections and limited state safeguards in place, gaps in protections for Georgia’s wetlands put coastal communities at greater risk for flooding impacts.
As local governments and planning agencies are increasingly faced with how to prepare for sea level rise and flooding in making land use and zoning decisions, SELC and our partners are collaborating with coastal leaders to update and improve city and county ordinances to ensure stronger wetlands protections are taken into consideration.
We know that one-size-fits-all policies don’t work on the coast, and working alongside leaders and local communities who need a real voice in planning decisions is critical for preserving its natural beauty and character. The Georgia coast is a living legacy of marsh, tide, and wildlife that cannot be replaced and the decisions we make today will impact the coast we leave behind for future generations.
Megan Huynh, , Senior Attorney and Leader of SELC’s Wetlands and Coasts Program
Twin Pines mine not worth the risk
Threats to Georgia’s coastal treasures
Alongside local partners, federal and state agencies, and private property owners, we advocate against poorly-sited projects and loopholes favoring development interests in efforts to preserve the ecological and natural integrity of Georgia’s coastline and iconic barrier islands. Included in this work are our recent efforts to make coastal communities more resilient to the ravages of climate change so the coast’s most vulnerable residents are better protected from flooding, storm surge, and storm damage.
Our advocacy helped secure a major victory, defeating a reckless plan to mine 8,000 acres on Trail Ridge, an ancient barrier island that is now the eastern rim of the Okefenokee Swamp. The Okefenokee is one of the largest and most celebrated wetlands in the country and home to both a National Wildlife Refuge and a National Wilderness Area. With this threat behind us, SELC and our partners are working to find long-term conservation solutions that protect the refuge from future mining proposals.
We push back against proposals that pose serious risks to coastal resources, surrounding communities, tourism and other local economies — including a commercial spaceport in Camden County that would launch rockets over residential areas and the Cumberland Island National Seashore. Following a series of successful legal challenges to harmful spring and summer harbor dredging projects, we are continuing to fight back against any new attempts that would unnecessarily put threatened sea turtles, fisheries, and other important marine life at risk.
Additional Resources
