Baldwin County Wetland Conservation Plan - Alabama Department ...

Baldwin County Wetland Conservation Plan Final Summary Document
• Society of Wetland Scientists Annual Meeting. BCWCP presented a talk entitled: “The Baldwin
County Wetland Conservation Plan: Development and Implementation” at the annual
meeting in New Orleans in early June 2003. The presentation was well-received and
generated a worthwhile discussion.
• Baldwin County Surveyors Association Monthly Meeting. BCWCP staff was the guest speaker at this
organization’s monthly meeting. BCWCP presented the methodology of the wetland
validation project and its potential applications with respect to surveying and engineering
practices in Baldwin County.
3.3.4 Other BCWCP education activities include:
1. Wetland Maps. By far the most successful method of conveying information to the public
was through the creation and distribution of wetland maps. Wetland maps were provided to
the public free of charge and approximately 400 wetland maps were created and distributed
throughout the project period. These maps consisted of color infrared photography, tax
parcel data and the Baldwin County Digital Wetland Layer (BCDWL) and were extensively
used by local realtors and developers for obtaining preliminary wetland locations. Also, these
maps were provided to potential property owners so that they would gain the most
information about a parcel prior to purchase. Figure 33 is a sample wetland map produced
by BCWCP staff. Upon requesting these maps, BCWCP staff took advantage of the
opportunity to educate and inform the public about the importance of wetland resources.
Also, the BCDWL is used in maps for review by the Baldwin County Planning Commission
and the Baldwin County Commission during review of site plan applications for zoning and
subdivision requirements. Planners and other staff in the Baldwin County Planning and
Zoning Department use the BCDWL daily for site plan review. The BCDWL has been
provided to municipal governments upon request. Finally, the Baldwin County Highway
Department utilizes the data for future road projects in order to minimize wetland impacts.
2. Wetland Information Booth by the Sonora Homemakers Club at the annual Baldwin County Fair. In
April 2001, BCWCP project staff made a presentation to the Sonora Homemakers Club
(Club) on countywide wetland activities. Each year the Club picks a specific issue to focus on
when preparing a booth for the annual County Fair held in September of each year. This
year the Club chose the issue of wetlands for its focus area. BCWCP staff provided literature
and map products to the Club for use at its fair booth. The Club’s booth won a blue ribbon
during the judging portion of the fair.
3. Fire Suppression Planning by the Alabama Forestry Commission Utilizing BCWCP Products and
Analyses. BCWCP staff met with staff from the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) in
October 2001 to discuss the possibility of utilizing County wetland information to help aid
the acquisition of additional fire suppression equipment. Fires in wetlands present unusual
and sometimes difficult circumstances which hinder containment and control. First, wetland
fires tend to smolder and burn longer than fires in non-wetland areas, which presents a
greater hazard to nearby structures. Second, accessing burning wetlands proves difficult since
traditional fire fighting equipment is not able to get into these areas. AFC was pursuing grant
programs which would allow the purchase of appropriate wetland firefighting equipment. To
demonstrate the need for this equipment, AFC staff requested that BCWCP staff perform
analysis on identified wetland areas and their proximity to vulnerable structures in particular
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