Georgia's Coastal Plains region includes about 60% of the state Long ago this area was part of the A rt ocean and
completely covered by water. An important feature of Georgia's coast is the salt marsh. Georgia's salt marshes play a unique
role in maintaining the delicate balance of nature so vital along our coastal estuaries
In 1970, the State of Georgia established the Coastal Marshlands Protection Act to protect the marsh and estuarine areas, and
to regulate the activities within these public trust lands that is held for the citizens of Georgia
Georgia's salt marshes have been identified as one of the most extensive and productive marshland systems in the United States. It
is production almost beyond comprehension, producing nearly twenty tons to the acre four times more productive than the most
carefully cultivated corn This is so very important for ALL BUT ONE of the reasons tisted. That is
As the grass die and decompose, they become a source of fuel, similar to
peat, that can be used in and
Salt marshes act as buffers against offshore storms, absorbing wave and
current energy and reducing storm damage.
The marsh grass serves as a nursery ground for young fish, shellfish, and
crustaceans, which in turn support larger fish
The plants in Georgia's salt marshes produce more food energy than any
estuarine zone on the eastern seaboard providing a rich base for many food
chains