Weeks Bay Watershed Project Management Plan - Mobile Bay ...

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The azonal soils consist of soils that lack distinct genetically related horizons,
generally because of youth, resistant parent material, or steep topography.
These soils are normally well drained to excessively well drained and are
sands and loamy sands. This group makes up 23 percent (28,800 acres) of
the Watershed area. The major soils are Lakeland, Eustis, Klej, and
Lakewood.
F. LAND USE AND POPULATION GROWTH
The Weeks Bay Watershed Project area encompasses about 149,732 acres in
Baldwin County in southwest Alabama. Parts of the city limits of Fairhope,
Robertsdale, Foley and Loxley are located in the project area. In 1997, town
officials estimated populations to be 12,000, 3,200, 9,400, and 1,600,
respectively. Census results for Baldwin County in 2000 put population
numbers at 140,415, up 43% from the 1990 population of 98,280. The
Watershed is primarily rural, but it is within commuting distance from
Mobile, Alabama and Pensacola, Florida. Baldwin County is the second
fastest growing county in Alabama behind only Shelby County.
General land use in the project area, as estimated by the Baldwin County Soil
and Water Conservation District in 2000, is summarized in Table 1. The
dominant land uses are agricultural. Row crops and livestock production are
major farm enterprises. The principal row crops are cotton, corn, soybeans,
and vegetables. There are an estimated 550 farms, including silviculture
tracts, averaging 208 acres in size in the project area.
Table 1. Generalized Land Use in the Weeks Bay Watershed
Land Use Acres Percent
Cropland 51,000 34
Pasture and Hayland 11,400 7
Forestland 72,900 49
Urban and Other Uses 14,400 10
Totals 149,700 100
Weeks Bay Watershed Management Plan