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the altamaha initiative: spring 2001
Georgia's Valuable
Wetlands: A Guide for Coastal Landowners Project Needs Statement: The United States Supreme Court handed down a decision on January 9, 2001 that eviscerates federal control over dredging and filling of small, isolated intrastate wetlands. The Army Corps of Engineers had broadened its regulatory reach to include those waters of the United States in 1986. This was done in an effort to protect migratory birds and their interconnected wetland habitats. The Court's ruling stated that the Corps overstepped its authority. Unfortunately, the result of this decision creates a legislative vacuum for wetland protection, leaving these areas vulnerable to development. We believe that the Court erred in its ruling and overlooked the vast significance of intrastate wetlands in interstate commerce, and that the federal government does still have the authority under the Constitution to regulate these wetlands. Therefore it is of the utmost urgency and importance to mobilize state governments in the protection of their wetlands. Projections of intense population growth and ensuing development in coastal Georgia further threaten these areas. Using McIntosh County as a model, we endeavor to make a survey of existing state regulation of wetland resources. We will research the effects of wetland depletion in order to propose model legislation for the State of Georgia. We will also prepare a brochure for landowners to explain the ecological importance of wetlands and present some economic incentives for protecting their wetlands. Action Plan/Time Line
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