Posted on October 19, 2026
The University of Georgia has received an $8 million federal grant to help restore salt marsh habitat along the southeast coast, including a proposed project site near the mouth of the Savannah River.
The three-year initiative is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries and will focus on restoring marshes from North Carolina to Florida.
Project includes site near Savannah River
One of four proposed restoration sites is Bird-Long Island, near the Georgia-South Carolina border at the mouth of the Savannah River.
Researchers will study how dredged sediment — material removed from navigational waterways — can be used to raise the elevation of salt marshes and help vegetation grow.
The approach could put sediment to use near where it is removed, rather than sending it to containment areas or disposing of it offshore.
Protecting coastal habitats
Salt marshes provide habitat for fish and wildlife, help filter pollutants, and reduce the effects of waves, storms and flooding.
UGA will work with partners including Florida Atlantic University, Audubon South Carolina and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to plan restoration projects in four locations across the region.
The three-year effort will include data collection, engineering designs, permitting and community outreach.
Once implemented, the projects could restore a combined 326 acres of salt marsh.
The initiative also aims to develop a model that could be used for future marsh restoration projects elsewhere.
