Leaf decomposition is a vital component of the nutrient cycle of forested streams. For small order streams in particular, this kind of autochthonous input is essential to provide fuel for the organisms living within its channel. On isolated land masses like islands, the nutrient cycles in these streams are subject to more intense changes when faced with stressors like increased salinity. With sea level rise projected to increase significantly by 2100, it is essential to understand how stressors like salinization may affect freshwater ecosystem processes. As a barrier island with a history of unsustainable agricultural practices, Sapelo Island, Georgia, is at risk of saltwater intrusion. In an effort to understand the risk to the freshwater systems of Sapelo Island, we examined the impact of acute salinity on the microbial community of decomposing leaf litter. A series of experimental trials measuring biological oxygen demand (BOD) of colonized leaf material subject to various levels of salinity was conducted over 12 hour and 24 hour intervals. Previous studies have demonstrated increased metabolic activity in response to acute exposure to salinity, however there is insufficient evidence to confirm what degree of salinization this response occurs. Our study strives to help fill this knowledge gap.