South Atlantic Salt Marsh Initiative (SASMI)
Working to Protect One Million Acres of Nature’s Coastal Shield
What Are Salt Marshes and Why Do They Matter?
Salt marshes are vital coastal wetlands that flood and drain with the tides, creating a rich and dynamic ecosystem. The South Atlantic region of the U.S. is home to approximately 1 million acres of salt marshes, which serve as nature’s frontline defense—protecting shorelines, communities, and military installations from extreme storms, reducing flooding, filtering runoff, and improving water quality. These wetlands also provide critical habitat for fish, birds, and other wildlife.
Photo credit: Mark Bias
What is SASMI?
The South Atlantic Salt Marsh Initiative (SASMI) unites the U.S. Department of Defense, federal and state agencies, over 360 scientists, conservationists, community leaders, and partners across North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida—all dedicated to safeguarding and restoring this essential coastal habitat.
In May 2023, SASMI released its visionary blueprint:
Marsh Forward: A Regional Plan for the Future of the South Atlantic Coast’s Million-Acre Salt Marsh Ecosystem.
The plan sets forth strategies to enhance the long-term health, resilience, and abundance of the region’s salt marshes, ensuring they can continue to protect both nature and people for generations to come.
LegacyWorks Group’s Role in SASMI
LegacyWorks Group is honored to serve as the fiscal sponsor and project manager for a multi-state grant funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s National Coastal Resilience Fund—supporting the planning of on-the-ground projects identified in the SASMI Plan.
The grant fuels planning efforts for at least 20 salt marsh resilience projects, many of which will be located within sentinel landscapes—areas surrounding military installations that are jointly managed for conservation, community resilience, and national security.
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North Carolina Coastal Federation
Gullah/Geechee Legacy
South Carolina Coastal Conservation League
Audubon South Carolina
Georgia Conservancy
Northeast Florida Regional Council
These projects will help buffer storm surges, combat sea level rise, and preserve marsh habitat
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Planting native marsh grasses
Building living shorelines
Establishing oyster reefs
Conserving land to allow for marsh migration
Photo credit: Kaitlyn Hackathorn
Join Us in Marshing Forward
The organizations implementing the SASMI Plan are now seeking funding partners and in-kind support to bring these projects to life. By supporting SASMI, you’re investing in a more resilient coastline, thriving ecosystems, and safer communities.
To learn more or get involved, please contact:
“This grant money will kickstart important projects to restore and conserve one of the country’s largest stretches of contiguous salt marshes – a habitat that’s vitally important for our communities, economies and way of life. ”
“These projects will provide much-needed benefits to vulnerable populations living near the marsh, while conserving the ecosystem itself.”