The University of Georgia (UGA) has received an $8 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries to lead a major regional effort to restore threatened salt marsh habitats along the South Atlantic coastline. The three-year initiative will bring together scientists, universities, conservation organizations and coastal communities across North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida to develop strategies for protecting these essential coastal ecosystems.

The project is part of the South Atlantic Salt Marsh Initiative (SASMI), a regional partnership involving more than 300 organizations and stakeholders working to protect and restore salt marshes throughout the Southeast. Selected by NOAA from nearly 350 proposals nationwide, the UGA-led project is one of 16 habitat restoration initiatives receiving federal support.

Key Takeaways

1. $8 million in federal funding: UGA received an $8 million grant from NOAA Fisheries to coordinate a three-year salt marsh restoration initiative.
2. Four states involved: The project will focus on restoration opportunities in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
3. 16 projects selected nationwide: NOAA selected the initiative as one of 16 habitat restoration projects from nearly 350 proposals.
4. 326 acres targeted for restoration: The proposed projects have the potential to restore approximately 326 acres of salt marsh habitat across the South Atlantic region.
5. Innovative use of dredged sediment: Researchers will investigate how sediment removed from navigational waterways can be reused to raise marsh elevations and encourage vegetation growth.
6. Four proposed restoration sites: The project locations include 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.

UGA Leads Regional Salt Marsh Restoration Effort

The University of Georgia will coordinate the multistate initiative through UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant. The effort will combine scientific research, engineering, environmental planning and community involvement to develop practical approaches to restoring salt marshes.

Mark Risse, the project's principal investigator and director of UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in addressing the challenges facing coastal ecosystems.

“Working through SASMI allows UGA to bring science and multistate coordination together to restore these critical coastal ecosystems across state lines,” Risse said.

He noted that salt marshes serve as essential habitats and nursery grounds for fish and wildlife. They also help improve water quality by filtering pollutants and provide natural protection against storms and flooding by reducing wave energy.

Georgia contains approximately 368,000 acres of salt marsh, representing a significant portion of the nearly 1 million acres found throughout the South Atlantic region.

Repurposing Dredged Sediment to Rebuild Coastal Marshes

A central component of the initiative is evaluating the use of dredged sediment as a resource for restoring declining salt marshes.

Dredged sediment consists of material removed from navigational waterways to maintain channels and support maritime transportation. Traditionally, this material is placed in containment areas, deposited offshore or used for beach nourishment.

The UGA-led project will examine opportunities to keep suitable dredged sediment within coastal systems and apply it directly to nearby marshes.

The approach is designed to increase marsh elevation, helping coastal wetlands maintain the conditions necessary for healthy vegetation growth.

Salt marshes are increasingly threatened by rising sea levels, coastal development and pollution. As water levels rise, marsh vegetation can become stressed when the land cannot build elevation quickly enough to keep pace with changing conditions.

Adding suitable sediment could help restore degraded areas, improve growing conditions for marsh plants and enhance habitat for marine and terrestrial wildlife.

Researchers will evaluate how this restoration technique can be applied across different coastal environments while developing consistent practices that can be replicated at additional sites.

Universities and Conservation Organizations Join the Project

UGA will work with several major academic and conservation partners to coordinate restoration planning across the four participating states.

Key partners include:

• Florida Atlantic University.
• Audubon South Carolina.
• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Together, the organizations will lead state-based teams through a multiyear process involving planning, data collection, engineering design, permitting and community outreach.

The project will establish proposed restoration designs for four locations along the South Atlantic coastline.

These sites include:

• Bird-Long Island, Georgia: A proposed restoration location within Georgia's extensive coastal marsh system.
• Cape Lookout National Seashore, North Carolina: A coastal conservation area where restoration planning will examine opportunities to strengthen marsh habitat.
• Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, South Carolina: A protected coastal landscape that supports important wildlife and wetland ecosystems.
• Julia’s Island, Florida: A proposed restoration site that will contribute to the initiative's regional objectives.

By the end of the three-year project, each state is expected to have engineering designs prepared for its proposed restoration site. These designs will provide a foundation for future implementation.

Restoration Could Benefit 326 Acres of Coastal Wetlands

There are multiple environmental benefits to this restoration project.  Salt marshes provide nursery grounds for fish and wildlife, filter pollutants, reduce flooding and help protect coastal communities from storm impacts.

Once implemented, the four state-based projects have the potential to restore approximately 326 acres of salt marsh habitat across the South Atlantic region.

Although the initial initiative focuses on planning, research and engineering designs, its long-term significance extends beyond the individual restoration locations.

UGA and its partners aim to establish standardized restoration practices for using dredged sediment across multiple sites. Developing consistent methods could make it easier for coastal managers and conservation organizations to apply the approach in other locations.

The initiative also seeks to demonstrate how natural infrastructure can help communities adapt to environmental changes.

Unlike conventional infrastructure that relies primarily on constructed barriers and engineered structures, natural infrastructure uses functioning ecosystems to provide protective and environmental benefits.

Healthy salt marshes can reduce wave energy, help limit shoreline erosion, support biodiversity and provide natural buffers against flooding.

Establishing a reusable restoration blueprint could therefore benefit coastal communities throughout the Southeast and potentially other regions of the country.

Trawl-o-Ween Highlighted the Importance of Marine Conservation

Alongside large-scale restoration efforts, public education remains an important part of protecting Georgia's coastal environment.

UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant regularly provide opportunities for residents and visitors to learn about the marine ecosystems surrounding the state.

One example was Trawl-O-Ween, a hands-on educational outing held on October 30, 2026, aboard the university's 43-foot research vessel, the R/V Sea Dawg.

Eighteen passengers boarded the vessel at the UGA Marine Extension dock on Skidaway Island to explore marine life in the Skidaway and Wilmington rivers.

Led by Captain Todd Recicar, the vessel traveled into the Wilmington River, where the crew dragged a 26-foot trawl net along the river bottom for approximately 15 minutes.

Marine educator Shannon Matzke helped passengers examine the catch and learn about the variety of animals living beneath the water's surface.

The catch included a gar, Atlantic brief squid, portly spider crabs, mantis shrimp, shrimp and a female blue crab holding a white shrimp in its claw. Passengers also had an opportunity to see and touch a smooth butterfly ray.

Before the trawl, aquarium curator Lisa Kovalanchik guided participants in measuring water temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen. The information contributes to long-term monitoring records shared with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Participants helped identify, count and record the collected marine animals. Some fish and shrimp were retained to feed animals at the UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium, while others were returned to the river.

The event demonstrated how hands-on educational experiences can help people better understand the diversity of coastal marine life and the importance of protecting its habitat.

Recycling Fishing Gear Supports Cleaner Coastal Waters

The Trawl-O-Ween outing also introduced participants to Trawl to Trash, an initiative focused on keeping discarded fishing equipment and other debris out of coastal waterways.

After returning to shore, passengers learned how recycled shrimp nets could be transformed into reusable trash collection bags.

Participants made their own bags, which are designed to help collect litter along Georgia's coastline.

The activity connected marine education with practical conservation efforts, demonstrating how discarded materials can be repurposed to support cleaner waterways.

Far Reaching Benefits

For Matzke, the importance of these experiences extends beyond identifying marine animals.

She explained that opportunities to interact with marine life can create a sense of wonder and curiosity, encouraging people to develop a deeper understanding of coastal ecosystems and a desire to protect them.

That same connection between education, science and conservation is reflected in UGA's regional salt marsh restoration initiative.

The $8 million NOAA grant represents an important investment in research, collaboration and long-term coastal conservation.

Through SASMI, UGA and its partners will examine how dredged sediment can be used more effectively to restore salt marshes while developing engineering designs and standardized practices that can be applied across multiple states.

Ultimately, the project reflects a broader conservation goal: preserving the coastal ecosystems that support wildlife, sustain marine resources and help protect communities for generations to come.

Related Resources 

The following resources provide additional information about the organizations, research initiatives and conservation topics discussed in this article.

1. University of Georgia – Learn about UGA's research, environmental programs and coastal conservation initiatives.
2. UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant – Explore marine research, coastal education and Georgia Sea Grant programs.
3. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – Find information about ocean science, coastal ecosystems and environmental conservation.
4. NOAA Fisheries – Learn about marine habitat conservation, fisheries management and restoration projects.
5. South Atlantic Salt Marsh Initiative – Explore regional efforts to protect and restore salt marshes along the South Atlantic coastline.
6. Cape Lookout National Seashore – Find information about North Carolina's protected coastal environment.
7. Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge – Learn about South Carolina's coastal wildlife refuge and wetland habitats.
8. Georgia Department of Natural Resources – Explore Georgia's wildlife, fisheries and natural resource conservation programs.