Discovering Your Backyard Marsh

Georgia has an estimated 378,000 acres of salt marsh, one of the most extensive and productive habitats of its type in the U.S. that serve as the primary nursery for many species of fish, crabs, shrimps, and the birds that feed on them. The salt marsh provides storm protection, opportunities for recreation and improves water quality, but is also under threat due to sea level rise. The South Atlantic Salt Marsh Initiative brings together partners from North Carolina to Florida to identify strategies for sustaining one million acres of salt marsh across the four-state region, with Georgia’s marshes at its heart. Join Dr. Michelle Covi, marsh ecologist and 2026 chair of the SASMI Partnership Council, to learn more about the salt marsh in our own backyard and the work underway to protect and restore this vital habitat.

This program takes place at the UGA Aquarium on Skidaway Island, where we’ll begin with an overview of the South Atlantic Salt Marsh Initiative. After the presentation, we’ll head out to the Jay Wolf Nature Trail to discover the marsh up close, viewing the plant and animal inhabitants that make up this ecosystem. Bring clothes and shoes that can get muddy, along with your sense of wonder and adventure!

Registration is required for participants ages 3 and up and includes admission to the UGA Aquarium. Content is best suited for ages 13 and up, but all ages are welcome. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a registered adult. Tickets are nonrefundable.