Adopt a Wetland

UGA Shellfish Laboratory

Adopt-A-Wetland

Program Goals
The Coastal Georgia Adopt-A-Wetland Program is a hands-on education program that promotes wetland conservation through volunteer monitoring. The University of Georgia Marine Extension Service coordinates the program from Skidaway Island, Savannah. The goals are to:
1. Educate the public on the importance of wetlands
2. Increase public awareness of water quality issues
3. Train citizens to monitor and protect wetlands
4. Collect baseline wetland health data

Wetlands - Critical Ecosystems
Georgia’s relatively small coastline (~100 miles) contains one third of the total amount of salt marsh on the East Coast and approximately 90 miles of sandy beaches. Salt marshes and coastal wetlands are critical ecosystems performing many ecological functions. They help to filter pollutants and to protect our coastal areas from damaging floods. Also considered essential habitat, they provide a nutrient rich environment for larval fish and shellfish including many commercially important species (e.g. mullet, sea bass, oysters, blue crab and shrimp). Our beaches are home to several threatened species (e.g. sea oats and nesting loggerhead turtles). Wetlands also allow for many diverse recreational activities such as photography, fishing, and kayaking.

The State of Georgia’s Wetlands
The Coastal Marshland Protection Act and the Shore Protection Act provide the Georgia Department of Natural Resources with the legal authority to protect tidal wetlands and beaches. Clearly, these environments need protection, however, in recent years wetlands have come under increased pressures. Acres of salt marsh grass have been lost to the “dead marsh” phenomenon. Marsh die-off events occurred throughout the southeast region after a prolonged drought period. It has been theorized that drought conditions encouraged habitat alterations including changes in the water chemistry of marsh mud, the spread of diseases, and changes in the food web. Additional losses are occurring due to the population explosion in coastal Georgia. Urbanization inevitably leads to wetland loss and causes adverse impacts to flood control, water quality, aquatic wildlife habitat, aesthetics and recreation.

What Can I Do?
The Coastal Georgia Adopt-A-Wetland Program invites you to form your own monitoring group and “adopt” a wetland. Our current volunteer groups include school classes 5th grade and up, civic organizations, individuals, families, neighbors, friends, clubs, and companies. Your group should contact the Coastal Georgia Adopt-A-Wetland Program to schedule a free training workshop. During the training session instruction will be provided on the water quality monitoring and/or biological-sampling methods used to determine wetland habitat health. The workshops involve hands-on activities and certificates are awarded upon completion. All the supplies your monitoring group will need to collect data for an annual period are provided on a loan basis. All the data collected by volunteers is compiled by the Marine Extension Service and added to the Environmental Protection Division’s water quality database maintained at the Atlanta Adopt-A-Stream office. Each group is provided with an annual report summarizing the data collected at their respective sites. While monitoring we ask that you adhere to our safety recommendations and immediately report any emergencies such as oil spills, marsh-die off events, and fish kills to our “Coastal Wetland Emergency Team”. Volunteers are also encouraged to participate in the statewide annual cleanup event called “Rivers Alive”.

Monitoring Levels
Various monitoring options are available, some involving more of an effort than others. We will help you to select the most appropriate level of monitoring for your group.

Visual Survey
What A visual and physical evaluation of wetland conditions.
Why Critical water pollution, habitat damage and “die off” can be detected through a visual survey.
When Quarterly.

Chemical Monitoring
What An evaluation of wetland health based on water quality (e.g. salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature and settleable solids).
Why Salinity concentration can affect the distribution and abundance of marsh organisms. The pH tells us if the water is acidic or basic and changes can indicate a pollution event. Oxygen and temperature are related to the respiration and biological activity or marsh organisms. Measurements of settleable solids are used to indicate an excess of sediment or other material in the water that can be a response to erosion. Solids can clog fish gills, deplete oxygen levels and suffocate sessile organisms.
When Monthly.

Biological Monitoring
What An evaluation of wetland health based on the abundance and diversity of plants and animals.
Why Changes in the composition of a plant and animal inventory can indicate habitat health. Healthy ecosystems usually contain great diversity. Typically, stressed habitats support less species with a greater number of individuals. Biological monitoring is also important in determining the spread of invasive species.
When Quarterly.