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

SPENDING ESTIMATE PER CALENDAR YEAR OF PROJECT
DURATION:
AL-12
2008 $ 500,000.00
2009 $ -
2010 $ -
2011 $ -
GOAL: The goal of the Alabama CIAP is to conserve, and restore natural coastal habitat and wildlife
through data analysis, research, and on-the-ground conservation activities.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this project is initiate, design, and answer research questions relating
to restoring historic hydrologic conditions on the Mobile Bay Causeway. Such
research will assist decision-makers in determining infrastructure needs associated
with this roadway.
The Mobile Bay Causeway (30˚ 40’ 10.2” N, 87˚ 56’ 25.41” W) was constructed in 1927 to link Baldwin
County to Mobile County. It was the last section of roadway constructed to link US Highway 90 between
Jacksonville, Florida and Sacramento, California. Large areas of open water/marsh habitat were filled
with dredged material in certain locations in to order to provide a base for the roadway. The filled areas
may restrict hydrologic inputs north and south of the Causeway. The environmental impact of this dikelike
structure is altered water flow between these two areas, resulting in less mixing of salt and fresh
waters. Several studies have investigated general opportunities to restore some of the land crossings
through the construction of bridges. Specifically, in 2001 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
published the Upper Mobile Ecosystem Restoration Project – Proposed Modification to U.S. Highway 90 (Causeway)
as a 206 project. As a follow-up to this report, the USACE published a Preliminary Restoration Plan in 2003.
Little activity has taken place on this project since these reports were published.
In addition to maintaining the right-of-way, the State of Alabama is an active stakeholder on the Mobile
Bay Causeway. Specifically, the four of the five divisions within the Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources maintain conservation facilities The State Parks Division operates Meaher State Park;
Marine Resources Division maintains numerous boat ramps on the Causeway; and the Wildlife and
Freshwater Fisheries houses the District 5 field offices; and the State Lands Division owns and manages
several hundred acres along the Causeway including the newly-opened Five Rivers Alabama’s Delta
Resource Center.
State of Alabama Final Coastal Impact Assistance Program Plan
State of Alabama Tier One Project Descriptions
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