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

In Liberty County, Georgia, local leaders are testing a way to fight coastal erosion by restoring marsh grasses instead of building walls or seawalls. The idea is that the grasses' roots hold soil in place, mimicking how marshes naturally protect the coast. These "living shorelines," built by companies like Zulu Marine, are becoming a more popular alternative to concrete barriers as sea levels rise.

The bigger issue is that marshes need room to move inland as seas rise. Georgia's coast holds more than a third of the connected marsh habitat in the Southeastern U.S., and sea levels there are projected to rise one to two meters over the next 75 years. Marshes can naturally shift and survive being flooded daily, but only if they have open land to migrate into. When they hit a road, building, or other development, they simply disappear, leaving the coast more exposed to flooding.

A new plan from a coalition of conservation groups, scientists, and government agencies has identified more than 56,000 acres of Georgia land where marshes are likely to migrate — land that's currently open to development. The plan isn't binding and doesn't restrict what anyone can do with their property. It's meant as a guide to help landowners and local officials think ahead about whether to build close to the water's edge or leave room for the marsh to shift over time. For homeowners along the Georgia coast, it's a signal that decisions about nearby undeveloped land could affect how well your area holds up against rising water in the coming decades.