JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga.-- Every year, Jekyll Island Authority hires a team to selectively clear along the Downing Musgrove cCausway.
This time, they mowed down the wrong plants.
"People need to be a little more conscientious and focus on what they're doing," Tony Sarubde said.
According to The Department of Natural Resources, 22 plants are protected under The Coastal Marshland Protection Act. The Silverling and False Willow are two of them.
They grow plentiful here, but by the time crews realized it and were ordered to stop cutting by DNR, it was too late.
"All of it should be kept the way it's supposed to be. Just natural," Sarubde continued.
An environmentalist in the area immediately spoke up and filed a complaint. He says the protected plants act as a buffer to the marshland and helps the water quality.
Others believe the environmental impact is much less.
"They'll grow back and I think everything will go back to normal," Vicki Branan said.
The Department of Natural Resources says because this was an accident and not malicious-- no one will be penalized. The affected plants are expected to start growing back in May.
