State of Alabama FINAL Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP ...

SPENDING ESTIMATE PER CALENDAR YEAR OF PROJECT DURATION:
AL2-11
Year 1 $ 10,000,000.00
Year 2 $
-
Year 3 $
-
Year 4 $
-
GOAL: Using CIAP funding, the State of Alabama will acquire and conserve sensitive habitat throughout
the coastal area and its associated watersheds.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this project is to acquire approximately 5,000 acres of conservation
land in the Red Hills of the southeastern plains region of Alabama
The objective of this project is to acquire 5,000 acres of conservation land in the Red Hills of the
southeastern plains region of Alabama. Although this property is located outside of the coastal counties, it
is located with the NOAA-sponsored Coastal Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP) approved
boundary. This boundary is determined by hydrolologic unit codes (HUCs) with tidal influence.
The tract is readily manageable and strategically located to initiate a regional conservation project to
protect the biodiversity of Alabama’s Red Hills Region. The tract supports upland deciduous forest, mixed
mesic slope forest and scrub/shrub, and forested wetlands that are transected by 7.3 miles of small creeks
that feed the larger Big Flat Creek. Big Flat Creek is the most upstream tributary to the Alabama River on
the eastern bank below its first impoundment, Claiborne Dam. During the summer dry season the salt
wedge from the Mobile-Tensaw Delta system is known to reach as far upstream as Claiborne Dam. These
streams provide un-impounded headwater habitat for numerous catadromous and anadromous species.
There is a significant potential to acquire several adjacent large tracts in the near future. The project area
lies within 40 miles of Alabama’s largest holding of state owned conservation land- the Mobile Tensaw
Delta Wetland Conservation Area, which comprises approximately 112,000 acres of publicly owned and
managed land. Lastly, the target tract is known to support the federally listed as Threatened Red Hills
Salamander and about 25 percent of the tract is designated salamander habitat. The property will be
managed by the SLD and deed will be restricted according to program requirements.
AUTHORIZED USES
o This project meets the criteria set forth in Authorized Use #1: projects and activities for the
conservation, protection, or restoration of coastal areas, including wetland.
o Justification: This project meets Authorized Use #1 because it will acquire land for conservation
within the coastal area of Alabama.
o Cost Sharing: Cost sharing is not applicable to this project.
o Partnering: This project will utilize 100% of CIAP funding.
State of Alabama Final Coastal Impact Assistance Program Plan
State of Alabama Tier Two Project Descriptions
- 242 -