In 1992, the Governor of Georgia appointed a two-year, 25-member Coastal Zone Advisory Committee, representing a diverse cross-section of the coastal Georgia citizenry, to provide public input throughout the development of the Georgia Coastal Management Program.  A new Coastal Advisory Committee was appointed in 1994 by the Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources to review the draft Program Document, to assist with public education throughout the program development process, and to provide technical assistance.  In 1997, the committee was expanded to increase participation from interested local governments.  In 2003, the Committee was revamped and re-authorized by the Commissioner of DNR as the Coastal Advisory Council (CAC) with a set of by-laws and an appointed membership. 

Most recently in 2019, with the term of Governor Brian Kemp, the CAC was re-appointed with a 20-member Council. The CAC is charged with providing advice to the staff of the Georgia Coastal Management Program in the development of programs and projects to guide the conservation and management of natural, cultural, and historic resources within the coastal area, serving to communicate issues and activities of the Georgia Coastal Management Program to individual constituencies and provide feedback to the Program to improve the use of information for coastal management, the CAC will facilitate public understanding of the value and vulnerability of coastal natural resources and of the mission of the Georgia Coastal Management Program, and provide advice regarding theme setting for the annual Coastal Incentive Grant Program at the annual meeting.

Click here to view the August 2019 amended and adopted CAC By-laws.

Click one of the links below to access the associated CAC meeting summary:

• Spring 2020 Meeting Summary
  • Spring 2020 presentation on the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program, Year 1
• Winter 2020 Meeting Summary
  • Winter 2020 presentation on Shore Protection Act Updates
  • Winter 2020 presentation on Georgia's Red Drum Escapement and Tagging Projects
• Fall 2019 Meeting Summary
• Summer 2019 Meeting Summary
• Winter 2019 Meeting Summary
• Fall 2018 Meeting Summary
• Summer 2018 Meeting Summary
• Spring 2018 Meeting Summary
• Winter 2018 Meeting Summary
• Fall 2017 Meeting Summary
• Summer 2017 Meeting Summary
• Spring 2017 Meeting Summary
• Winter 2017 Meeting Summary
• Fall 2016 Meeting Summary
• Summer 2016 Meeting Summary
• Spring 2016 Meeting Summary
• Winter 2016 Meeting Summary
• Fall 2015 Meeting Summary

Click one of the links below to access CAC Letters:

• 2015 CAC Letter to EPD on Marsh Buffer Rules

The following is a list of Coastal Advisory Council Members and their respective affiliations.

• Local Government Representatives include;
  • John Hunter (City of Brunswick)
  • Shawn Jordan (McIntosh County)
  • Dr. Clay Montague (Camden County)
  • Vacant
• Regional and State Representatives include;
  • Vacant
  • Ben Carswell (Jekyll Island Authority)
  • Vacant
  • Mark McClellan (Georgia Forestry Commission)
• Environmental Organization Representatives include;
  • Stacia Hendricks (Little St. Simons Island)
  • Christi Lambert (The Nature Conservancy)
  • Charles McMillan (Georgia Conservancy)
  • Ashby Worley (The Nature Conservancy)
• Research/Academia Representatives include;
  • Dr. Chester Jackson (Georgia Southern University)
  • Dr. Tate Holbrook (College of Coastal Georgia)
  • Katy Smith (University of Georgia Marine Extension)
  • Dr. Steve Vives (Georgia Southern University)
• Citizen-at-Large Representatives include;
  • Alton Brown
  • Dorset Hurley
  • Scott Hendricks
  • Buddy Sullivan