The Coastal Incentive Grant is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Resources Division. All grant applications must have approval by the governing authority in resolution form.

Grant funds will be used to contract with a goat management company for a trial period to remove overgrown vegetation in public rights of way and stormwater easements. Though goat herds are used by many public works departments around the United States including the cities of Atlanta and Augusta, their use is limited in coastal Georgia. Goats graze in places that mowers cannot access and they eat a wide range of unwanted vegetation.

They are also an ideal alternative to the noise and herbicide pollution of other methods of weed control. Before the goat herd arrives, a goat wrangler will come and survey the area for toxic plants and address any other concerns. Goats work within a location that will be contained by a mesh electric fence. Grant partners include the Savannah State University Biology Department staff and students who will be sampling and monitoring adjacent waterbodies to insure no impacts to water quality occur. 

Approval