Nov. 13 – University of Georgia wins $8 million grant to restore marshes

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Official response and confirmed impact

November 13, 2026 – The University of Georgia plans to use an $8 million federal grant to restore salt marshes in Georgia, Florida, and the Carolinas.

Coastal salt marshes provide critical habitat for lots of animals, and protection from the dangerous tides and flooding that come with stronger storms.

Georgia is home to 368,000 acres of marsh, more than a third of the coastal salt marsh in the region.

But sea level rise due to climate change is eating away at it.

“That sort of creates that imperative to do something to make sure our future generations have the same marsh system providing these benefits,” said Mark Risse, the director of the Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant at the University of Georgia.

“We don’t want to see the marsh disappear.” His team plans to use dredged-up sand and mud to restore eroding marshes.

The US Army Corps of Engineers does regular dredging in coastal waterways and shipping channels to keep them deep enough for boats.