Coastal Restoration in Georgia
Coastal restoration and conservation of areas like tidal marshes are critical strategies to safeguard infrastructure, boost local economies, and protect communities.
What difference do healthy coastal habitats make for communities in Georgia?
Coastal wetlands have a multi-billion-dollar economic impact, from tourism to fishing
Healthy coastal wetlands support a variety of recreational activities such as fishing, bird watching, kayaking, and paddle boarding, attracting tourists and generating significant revenue for local economies. In 2023, visitors to coastal Georgia spent approximately $1.4 billion on ocean recreation activities that year, contributing to 18,950 jobs, $603 million in labor income, $938 million in value added, and $1.8 billion in total economic output.1
Fishing and crabbing in Georgia directly employ thousands and support a vibrant sport fishing industry.2 Coastal wetlands are vital for the life cycles of many commercial fish and shellfish species. Nationally, over 75% of these species rely on wetlands for food or habitat at some stage of their life cycle. In the southeastern U.S., including Georgia, this dependency is even greater, with nearly all commercial catch species relying on estuarine and coastal wetlands.3
The commercial fishing industry in Georgia, including shrimp, blue crab, and other seafood, is crucial to the coastal economy. It supports over 1,000 jobs and generates millions in revenue. In 2017, it produced $15 million in direct sales and had an economic impact of over $40 million annually.3
In 2022, saltwater recreational fishing trips in Georgia supported 3,217 full-time or part-time jobs and generated $310.6 million in sales.4
Learn more: 2024 Marine Economy Report: Georgia (NOAA)
Coastal wetlands provide storm protection, reducing storm surge impact and saving on property damage costs
Many studies have shown that coastal marshes protect inland areas, absorbing some of the brunt of a hurricane’s force as it comes ashore,6,7 while remaining largely intact in structure and function.8
Salt marshes act as natural buffers, absorbing floodwaters and reducing the impact of storm surges on inland areas. “During Hurricane Ian in 2022, dunes, barrier islands, and salt marshes reduced the wave energy associated with storm surge and reduced damages in many places” in Georgia.5
Research focusing on the northeastern United States estimated that during Hurricane Sandy, coastal wetlands prevented over $625 million in property damages, reducing damages by more than 10% on average in areas where wetlands remained intact.9
Salt marsh vegetation stabilizes shorelines and prevents erosion. A 2013 study on living shoreline projects at Sapelo Island and Little St. Simons Island showed reduced erosion rates and sediment buildup behind constructed oyster reefs, indicating effective shoreline protection.2
Coastal wetlands improve water quality
Salt marshes offer invaluable water filtration and treatment for numerous major rivers flowing through Georgia. Marsh grasses have been shown to reduce nutrient pollution by >90% and provide over $6,000 in nutrient reduction services per acre per year in eastern Florida.2
Each adult oyster in oyster reefs, which play a crucial role in enhancing the health and stability of coastal ecosystems, filters approximately 48 gallons of water per day and each hectare of oysters can reduce water treatment costs that would otherwise be borne by state and local governments by $6,000 to $10,000.2
Coastal wetlands help naturally remove and store carbon
Protecting and restoring coastal ecosystems like tidal marshes that capture and store “blue carbon,” can sequester 10 times more carbon per acre than terrestrial forests,17 and if left undisturbed, can store this carbon for a millenia.10 Georgia’s 368,000 acres of tidal marshes, the largest on the U.S. Atlantic seaboard, highlight the state’s significant carbon mitigation potential.11
Americans overwhelmingly support public funding for
coastal restoration
92% of voters nationwide (88% GOP, 94% IND, and 96% DEM) support “restoring coastal wetlands to help reduce the risk of flooding to communities, provide wildlife habitat, and help address climate change.”12
Source: Survey of 1000 registered voters conducted in June 2024 by bipartisan research team New Bridge Strategy (R) and FM3 Research (D). Commissioned by U.S. Nature4Climate.
What can be done with more funding for coastal restoration?
Purchase land for coastal conservation
Conserving undeveloped, natural areas helps maintain a coastal floodplain’s capacity to absorb and gradually release excess water, enhance water quality, support wildlife, and allow ecosystems to migrate in the face of climate change.13
Expand construction of living shorelines
, combining technology with oysters and native plants, offer better protection to communities than conventional methods and support diverse habitats for species like shrimp, crabs, and sea trout.14
Expand coastal wetland restoration
Routine dredging and dams restricting sediment flow in Georgia’s coastal waters lead to beach erosion and under-nourished salt marshes. Funding for improved dredge material management is crucial. For example, a project near Jekyll Creek in St. Simons Sound is piloting a sediment management technique called thin-layer placement, spraying 5,000 cubic yards of sediment onto five acres to support marsh grass growth and enhance resilience against rising sea levels. 15, 5
Increase community involvement and education
Educational programs about the many benefits provided by living shorelines and coastal restoration are necessary to build support for these solutions among property owners and businesses, who may be more familiar with “gray infrastructure” methods like bulkheads and seawalls.16
Click for References
1. Gazal, A., & Burns, 2023. Water. Retrieved from https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/6/1054.
2. Georgia Department of Natural Resources, 2013. Living Shorelines Along the Georgia Coast. Retrieved from https://coastalgadnr.org/sites/default/files/crd/CZM/Wetlands-LS/LivingShorelinesAlongtheGeorgiaCoast.pdf.
3. Environmental Protection Agency, 2016. Wetland Functions and Values. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-02/documents/wetlandfunctionsvalues.pdf.
4. University of Georgia, 2023. Economic Impact of Saltwater Recreational Fishing in Georgia. Retrieved from https://gacoast.uga.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/EconomicImpactofSaltwaterRecreationalFishinginGeorgia-508.pdf.
5. University of Georgia, 2023. Natural Infrastructure Publication. Retrieved from https://gacoast.uga.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-NaturalInfrastructurePublication-WEB-508.pdf.
6. Costanza et al., 2008. Ecological Applications. Retrieved from https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecs2.4821#ecs24821-bib-0013.
7. Shepard et al., 2011. Ecological Applications. Retrieved from https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecs2.4821#ecs24821-bib-0050.
9. Narayan et al., 2016. Coastal Wetlands and Flood Damage Reduction Report. Retrieved from https://conservationgateway.org/ConservationPractices/Marine/crr/library/Documents/CoastalWetlandsandFloodDamageReductionReport.pdf.
10. U.S. Nature4Climate Science Page. Science. Retrieved from https://usnature4climate.org/science/.
11. Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Wetlands. Retrieved from https://coastalgadnr.org/Wetlands.
12. U.S. Nature4Climate 2024 Survey. Support for Implementing Natural Climate Solutions. Retrieved from https://usnature4climate.org/2024/08/07/support-for-implementing-natural-climate-solutions-in-the-united-states-is-strong-and-growing/.
13. The Nature Conservancy, 2023. Georgia Impact Report. Retrieved from https://www.nature.org/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/documents/TNC_GA_AnnualReport_2023_HighRes_Spreads.pdf.
14. The Nature Conservancy, 2019. Coastal Nature Fights Climate Change. Retrieved from https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/georgia/stories-in-georgia/coastal-nature-fights-climate-change/.
15. University of Georgia, 2023. Natural Infrastructure Publication. Retrieved from https://gacoast.uga.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-NaturalInfrastructurePublication-WEB-508.pdf.
16. Georgia Coastal Research Council. Living Shorelines. Retrieved from https://www.gcrc.uga.edu/living-shorelines/.
17. McLeod, E., Chmura, G. L., Bouillon, S., Salm, R., Björk, M., Duarte, C. M., Lovelock, C. E., Schlesinger, W. H., & Silliman, B. R. (2011). A blueprint for blue carbon: Toward an improved understanding of the role of vegetated coastal habitats in sequestering CO2. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 9(10), 552-560. https://doi.org/10.1890/110004
Make the case for coastal restoration
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Contact experts on coastal restoration:
Below is a list of organizations that specialize in coastal restoration within our coalition. Send us an email and we’ll direct you to the correct person to communicate with.
Explore our “Science for Decision-Makers” page
The “Science for Decision-Makers” section highlights key research on nature-based solutions in the U.S., including strategies like coastal restoration, complemented by blog articles, case studies, videos, and infographics that summarizes the research and explain the impact it can have on real-world situations.
What is the science?
See the climate mitigation potential of coastal restoration in our Science page.
What else can be done?
- See how forests are benefiting communities in Georgia
- Explore other states