University of Georgia secures $8 million NOAA grant to plan restoration of 326 acres of salt marsh across four states using dredged sediment | World News
The University of Georgia has received an $8 million grant from NOAA Fisheries to lead a three-year initiative to restore salt marsh habitat along the South Atlantic coast. The project will cover areas from North Carolina to Florida and will assess whether dredged sediment can help restore marshes threatened by rising sea levels, coastal development and pollution.The initiative was one of 16 habitat restoration projects selected from nearly 350 proposals submitted nationwide. It was proposed by UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant through the South Atlantic Salt Marsh Initiative, a collaboration involving more than 300 partners. According to the University of Georgia, it could support restoration of 326 acres across four states.
UGA received $8 million to plan salt marsh restoration across four states
The University of Georgia will use the NOAA Fisheries grant to lead a three-year regional effort focused on salt marshes along the South Atlantic coast. The initiative will extend from North Carolina to Florida and bring together organisations working in each state. The project was one of 16 habitat restoration efforts selected by NOAA from nearly 350 proposals submitted across the United States.UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant proposed the work through the South Atlantic Salt Marsh Initiative (SASMI). The collaboration includes more than 300 partners seeking to protect and restore marshes along the coastline. Georgia contains 368,000 acres of the nearly 1 million acres of salt marsh found across the region.
How will dredged sediment help restore salt marshes
The project will assess whether sediment removed from navigational waterways can be used to restore nearby salt marshes. This material, known as dredged sediment, is usually placed in containment areas, dumped miles offshore, or used for beach nourishment.The UGA-led initiative will examine how dredged sediment can be kept within the coastal system and applied directly to nearby marshes. This would raise marsh elevation, allowing plants to grow and helping to improve the habitat. The project will assess the approach at proposed restoration sites across the four states and develop engineering designs for each location. These designs will guide the future implementation of the restoration work.
Importance of salt marshes for coastal ecosystems and wildlife
Salt marshes face several pressures, including rising sea levels, coastal development, and pollution. Mark Risse, the project’s primary investigator and director of UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, said, “Working through SASMI allows UGA to bring science and multistate coordination together to restore these critical coastal ecosystems across state lines”“Salt marshes serve as vital nursery grounds and habitat for fish and wildlife. They filter pollutants and protect communities from storms and flooding by buffering wave energy.”
Which four sites could benefit from the salt marsh restoration project
The initiative identified four proposed restoration sites: Bird-Long Island in Georgia, Cape Lookout National Seashore in North Carolina, Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge in South Carolina, and Julia’s Island in Florida. At the end of the project, each state is expected to have engineering designs for its proposed site.Once implemented, the state-based projects have the potential to restore a total of 326 acres of salt marsh across the region. UGA and its partners also aim to develop standard restoration practices that use dredged sediment across multiple locations. They hope the approach will provide a reusable blueprint for marsh restoration and help build resilience in coastal communities across the Southeast.
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