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Georgia Coastal Initiative
Georgia Coastal Initiative: Background
Threats on the Horizon
It’s tough to picture in our current economic downturn, but there is a tidal wave of growth headed straight for Georgia’s coast. The state’s 10 coastal counties jumped in population by 62 percent between 1970 and 2000, and conservative estimates call for a whopping 51 percent increase by 2030. This growth could bring a surge of poorly planned development, already the single largest threat to the region. SELC’s mission is to protect the public's interest in the public’s resources, which is not at odds with appropriate and lawful use of private property. But current development trends on the Georgia coast are highly disturbing.
Inappropriate development is occurring on privately owned hammocks that can only be accessed by bridges, which are built with the state’s permission but often lead to projects that damage the public's interest by polluting the marsh. Elsewhere on the coast, large tracts of open land are being scooped up for developments that will imperil sensitive resources. And the failure of state and federal regulators to enforce environmental laws is making matters worse.
A Strategic Conservation Plan
With generous funding from the R. Howard Dobbs, Jr., Foundation, Save Georgia’s Coast has begun executing a strategic plan that sets three conservation priorities: preserving healthy salt marsh systems, preserving healthy freshwater wetlands systems, and preserving the freshwater flows that feed the salt marsh and the wetlands. The coalition is also developing innovative ways to ensure that state and federal regulators fully enforce laws designed to protect these resources.