Our Georgia Coast
Our Georgia Coast is a campaign to expand awareness, deepen understanding, and promote ways to get involved in our coast’s preservation. By sharing the stories of Our Georgia Coast, we hope to amplify the efforts of our dedicated conservation partners and share new ways to get involved—building a groundswell of Georgians dedicated to keeping our coast flourishing for generations to come.
Keep Sapelo Geechee
In August, McIntosh County voted to change the zoning ordinance for the Historic Community of Hog(g) Hummock, changing protections in place for more than 30 years and worsening the threat of gentrification. OHM, along with the Hog Hammock Community Foundation, Sapelo Island Cultural and Revitalization Society (SICARS), and Save Our Legacy Ourself (SOLO), organized hundreds to comment in opposition. Together we are collecting signatures for a repeal petition so voters can have the opportunity to reverse the Commissioners’ dangerous decision.
Chemical Exposure Study
Glynn County is home to 25% of all the superfund sites in the state and another 18 hazardous waste sites. With our local partners at the Glynn Environmental Coalition, Community First Planning Commission, and Environmental Justice Advisory Board, we are collaborating with Emory University on a long-overdue study that shows residents have higher-than-normal levels of toxins. We’re advocating for better clean-up plans—and working to end the toxic legacy of pollution contaminating marginalized communities.
Georgia Coast Collaborative
In 2015, twelve conservation organizations came together to initiate the formation of the Georgia Coast Collaborative (GCC). By working collaboratively towards a set of shared goals, the groups in the GCC envision a future where awareness and celebration of our coastal resources, as well as citizen participation in community conservation, encourages leaders to take actions that reflect the area’s conservation values and results in improved quality of life for coastal Georgia’s future generations. As a tool to document progress toward this collective vision, members of GCC developed the Coastal Resource Asset Barometer (CRAB), an interactive website with facts and information about the health of our coast.
Georgia Water Coalition
The Georgia Water Coalition (GWC) is an alliance of more than 250 organizations committed to ensuring that water is managed fairly for all Georgians and protected for future generations. The coalition was formed in 2002 to bring together concerned citizens and groups from around the state. The members of the GWC work collaboratively and transparently with each other to achieve specific goals conservation goals. OHM serves on the leadership and legislative teams of GWC, advocating for sound state laws that protect our coast and water resources.
Okefenokee Protection Alliance
As the largest blackwater swamp in the United States, recognized through many prestigious designations and determinations, the Okefenokee is situated in Southeast Georgia and located only 50 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. In 2018, a mining company applied for permits to construct a heavy minerals mine next to the swamp and the National Wildlife Refuge. OHM joined group of more than 30 national, state, and local organizations to form the Okefenokee Protection Alliance (OPA). OPA was created in response to the alarming threats posed by mining close to the Okefenokee.
St. Simons Island Sea Turtle Project
The St. Simons Island Sea Turtle Project is a volunteer group dedicated to protecting Georgia’s sea turtles. Volunteers help monitor the number of nesting sea turtles and hatchlings on St. Simons Island during the summer nesting season and work throughout the year to raise awareness and educate the public on how we can care for this iconic coastal species.
Green Scene of Coastal Georgia
Green Scene of Coastal Georgia is a coalition of individuals and organizations who work together to promote sustainable practices and provide environmental sustainability education in the Golden Isles. Green Scene partners with area government agencies, environmental organizations, higher education institutions, businesses, and individuals to promote sustainability and green practices. The coalition has accomplished this with its annual Green Screen Film Festival, lecture series, and Green Drinks events.
Don’t Drill GA
OHM and many federal and statewide organizations have built a strong coalition in opposition to the federal government’s proposal to open the South Atlantic to exploration and drilling for offshore oil and gas reserves—practices that are extremely harmful to ocean species and which could transform Georgia’s natural coast forever. The Don’t Drill GA coalition is composed of a broad network of citizen leaders, organizations and associations working to educate local and state officials about the dangers of offshore energy operations, advocate for resolutions and positions opposing the practices, and lobby for our Governor and Congressmen/women to request that Georgia be exempted from all future offshore activities.
Coalition to Save Butler Island
The Coalition to Save Butler Island formed in response to a legislative proposal that would have allowed state-owned heritage sites to be divided and sold for private gain. This group of concerned citizens, environmentalists, naturalists, storytellers, and other stakeholders successfully defeated the proposed legislation (HB 906) in 2020. Meanwhile, the coalition continues to discuss innovative ways to protect the Butler Island Plantation House and celebrate the history and innovation of the enslaved Africans who worked and died there.
Island Managers
Since 2014, One Hundred Miles has organized an annual forum to bring together the island and natural resource managers working throughout Georgia’s coast. Every year, about 30 natural resource managers gather together to discuss challenges of sea level rise and share innovative solutions to these challenges. The annual forum, organized in various locations, is designed to engage and educate managers and to foster collaboration and conversation between those with first-hand knowledge of our unique resources.
Alice Keyes
VP, Coastal Conservation
Contact Alice
“We are grateful for all the work that our partners make possible and for the opportunity to strengthen our individual efforts.”
Contact Alice for more information about these collaborative working groups.
Here you see
