Those concerned with protecting Georgia’s 387,000 acres of salt marshes (and the $2 billion they bring to Georgia’s coastal economy) won a major victory this month.
A guest column by John Shibley, former president of the Georgia Conservancy, details a recent decision by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division that rescinded some of the protections of the Coastal Marshlands Protection Act of 1970 and the Erosion and Sedimentation Act of 1975.
"One of the most effective practices for protecting our resources under the Act is the 25-foot buffer around waters of the state within which land-disturbing activities are restricted," explains Shibley.
"In April, however, Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division removed the requirement for a buffer in marsh conditions, and thus, "[the] EPD’s approach left hundreds of thousands of acres of Georgia marshes vulnerable to the contamination the [Erosion and Sedimentation] Act was adopted to prevent."
The Georgia Court of Appeals, however, came to the rescues of the buffer requirement, deciding that the requirement "protects all waters of the state, including marshes."
Read the full story: Court of Appeals’ ruling protects Georgia’s marshes; let’s hope state leaders will do the same next year
Louisiana Approves Coastal Restoration Master Plan
The latest update to a state-mandated coastal protection and restoration plan calls for wetlands restoration and new levees to protect communities from flooding.
Manchin’s Permitting Bill, Supreme Court Case Could Dramatically Alter the Clean Water Act
The future of the Clean Water Act could look much different after fossil fuel interests and the Supreme Court done with it.
Baltimore Plans 'Floating Wetlands' to Revitalize Inner Harbor
The National Aquarium wants to recreate the tidal marshes that once lined the city's waterfront.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment
The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.
Satanic place names
From streams and lakes to valleys and canyons, I mapped more than 1,000 places named after the Devil.
California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal
Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.
Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states
Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority