Marsh Madness Clean-Up

Every March, Keep Golden Isles Beautiful does a series of clean-ups along Georgia’s coast called Marsh Madness clean-ups. My family and I had the opportunity to attend one of these this past weekend on a dirt road that stretch alongside the East River marsh in Brunswick. Overall, it was a great turnout. This particular clean-up was lead by a Girl Scout troop, and there were plenty of people to divide and conquer the area. There was a surprising abundance of styrofoam, bottle caps, and ironically, shoes. I found a pair of tennis shoes along with a sock and a flip flop! It was extra windy this day, so we had to take extra care to properly dispose of the trash so that it didn’t end up going into the ocean directly.

This experience really showed me firsthand the importance of healthy marshes. Georgia’s marshes are full of diverse and abundant wildlife. Entire ecosystems depend on the marsh for shelter and food, from fiddler crabs to fish. Marshes also protect the coast from erosion and storm surge. They form a quite literal “barrier” around the land keeping sand and landscapes in place. With increased flooding due to climate change, our marshes are more valuable than ever by protecting the mainland from the severe winds and waters of hurricanes. I also like to think of marshes as the ocean’s filter. The marsh grasses are much like a filter in the sense that they catch pollution coming from the mainland. If the wind takes a cup, the marshes could catch it before it goes to our oceans. They also filter toxins, like chemicals, out of our waters coming from the mainland.

Sometimes, we overlook the marsh. I know I’ve been to the coast many times and held my nose as I’ve passed through the marsh to the ocean or back to the mainland. Yet, it’s important to remind ourselves of how much value these marshes have and how much we need to take action to protect them.

This month, I invite you to take action. If you live close to our coasts, get some mud boots and play in the marsh. Learn to identify critters in the marsh and enjoy the marsh in its full stinky splendor. Afterwards, get involved in a local beach clean-up to help conserve the marsh that you have a new found appreciation for. Like Sylvia Earl once said, “You have to love something before you are moved to save it.”