Coastal Plain Marsh is highly vulnerable to climate change due to altered hydrology that lowers water levels and allows tree and shrub invasion.
Potential changes in groundwater and seepage lake levels could have severe consequences for these communities. Higher temperatures, longer growing seasons, and corresponding increases in evapotranspiration will result in more water leaving the system. This could be exacerbated by anthropogenic demand for groundwater resources. However, projected increases in annual precipitation may offset some of these losses. If water tables drop, tree and shrub invasion is likely along with conversion to non-wetland species.