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

More documents

Recommendations

Info

52 B. HABITAT PROTECTION AND RESTORATION 1. Ensure protection of fish and wildlife habitat, including submerged grassbeds, fringe marsh, shorelines, and other wetlands and upland forest through land acquisition, educational, and incentive programs. Strategy: a. Provide educational programs for the general public and K-12 on economic, social and environmental benefits of wetlands. Discussion: Develop workshops and tours and distribute literature that addresses the importance of wetland protection and the effects of wetland loss in Baldwin County. Written materials will be provided to the print media for publication. Public service announcements will be written and submitted to radio and television stations. K-12 will be targeted in partnership with the Master Environmental Educators. Responsible Parties: Watershed Project Coordinator and CAC Cooperators: FWS, ADID, Mobile Bay NEP, ADCNR Coastal Section, State Lands Division, ACF Potential Funding: Existing resources can be utilized to cover workshop costs. A nominal fee may be charged to workshop participants to cover program costs. Schedule: on-going Progress: Two workshops targeting real estate professionals, developers, citizens, and local government officials have been held on the benefits and functions of wetlands. b. Utilize existing programs to provide cost-share to landowners for habitat restoration activities such as EQIP, Wetlands Reserve Program, CRP, WHIP, National Coastal Wetland Conservation Grants Program, and Partners for Wildlife. Pursue funding to establish new cost-share opportunities for habitat protection and restoration activities. Discussion: Assist NRCS and FWS in informing landowners of the availability of federal cost-share assistance for habitat protection. Many programs are available to assist landowners in habitat restoration and protection activities, however, many landowners are not aware that programs are available or do not rank habitat protection as a management priority. Develop educational programs that include literature, workshops, and press releases on conservation options. Write grants to fund additional programs that will provide cost-share at a higher rate, increasing the incentive for landowners. Responsible Parties: Watershed Project Coordinator, CAC, Baldwin County SWCD, NRCS, FWS Potential Funding: EPA, Gulf of Mexico Program Weeks Bay Watershed Management Plan
53 Schedule: On-going Progress: Working in partnership with the NRCS and FWS, the Watershed Project has promoted several cost-share projects located in the area. These include stream crossings, livestock exclusion devices, and other agricultural BMPs. c. Provide information to the general public on tax incentives and other benefits that can be achieved through the use of conservation easements for the protection of private lands and identify and establish an appropriate organization to manage conservation easements in the Watershed. Discussion: Hold workshops for the general public on conservation easements and other land protection strategies. Assistance may come from Land Trust Alliance, Alabama Forest Resources Center, and Coastal Land Trust. Determine the organization responsible for managing conservation easements in the Watershed or establish a new land trust organization. Develop goals for an easement program and criteria for accepting easements. Develop easement monitoring and violation policies. Responsible Parties: WBNERR, Weeks Bay Reserve Foundation (WBRF), Watershed Project CAC Cooperators: Coastal Land Trust, FWS, Trust for Public Land, Land Trust Alliance, Forever Wild, SWCD, Alabama Forest Resources Center. Potential Funding: WBRF, Baldwin County ACES Schedule: Second Quarter, 2000 Progress: Workshop on Conservation Easement Basics was held in May 2000 with over 90 participants including local attorneys, realtors, landowners, and interested citizens. Follow up workshops are planned. Currently, efforts are underway to produce literature, a workshop and funds for conservation easement projects. d. Develop criteria for prioritizing land for acquisition in the Watershed. Identify subwatersheds with significant habitat restoration needs and rank valuable parcels for acquisition or other forms of protection. Discussion: Develop ecological indicators that can be used to identify valuable habitats in the Watershed. Examine aerial photographs to identify subwatersheds with significant habitat loss. Identify possible areas for restoration based on their potential benefit for fish and wildlife and/or to mitigate water quality effects from adjacent land use activities. Prioritize areas for habitat restoration and important parcels for protection. Develop report and map to justify ranking and distribute to land protection organizations. Responsible Parties: The Nature Conservancy, Watershed Project Coordinator Cooperators: FWS, ADEM, WBNERR, WBRF Potential Funding: EPA 319 Program Weeks Bay Watershed Management Plan
Page 1 and 2:
Weeks Bay Watershed Project Managem
Page 3 and 4:
Executive Summary The Weeks Bay Wat
Page 5 and 6:
i TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION
Page 7 and 8:
iii List of Abbreviations ACES ACF
Page 9 and 10: 1 I. INTRODUCTION The Weeks Bay Wat
Page 11 and 12: 3 II. DESCRIPTION OF THE WATERSHED
Page 13 and 14: 5 Figure 2. Weeks Bay Watershed Map
Page 15 and 16: 7 Although summer thunderstorms are
Page 17 and 18: 9 The azonal soils consist of soils
Page 19 and 20: 11 The Baldwin County Land Use Plan
Page 21 and 22: 13 of corn, cotton, hay and wheat a
Page 23 and 24: 15 Table 3. Alabama Water use Class
Page 25 and 26: 17 Citizen water quality monitoring
Page 27 and 28: 19 farms are irrigated regularly an
Page 29 and 30: 21 Table 4. Greater Than 10% Potent
Page 31 and 32: 23 Figure 6. Possible Violations of
Page 33 and 34: 25 Phosphate concentrations are usu
Page 35 and 36: 27 Figure 7. Possible Violations of
Page 37 and 38: 29 treatment of wastewater sludge,
Page 39 and 40: 31 The flood storage capacity lost
Page 41 and 42: 33 implementation of programs to de
Page 43 and 44: 35 B. Non-Regulatory has developed
Page 45 and 46: 37 Some of the highlights of the WB
Page 47 and 48: 39 V. STRATEGY FOR PROTECTION The g
Page 49 and 50: 41 A. NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION act
Page 51 and 52: 43 Progress: As part of the CIAP, f
Page 53 and 54: 45 quality. If a problem is discove
Page 55 and 56: 47 Amnesty Day event. Any county re
Page 57 and 58: 49 Schedule: Second quarter, 2001 P
Page 59: 51 ensure data quality. Water Watch
Page 63 and 64: 55 Progress: From CR 32 north, a no
Page 65 and 66: 57 Discussion: Develop materials to
Page 67 and 68: 59 will be identified. Easement pro
Page 69 and 70: 61 b. Contribute and monitor the BC
Page 71 and 72: 63 D. MANAGEMENT PLAN IMPLEMENTATIO
Page 73 and 74: 65 needs. The coordinator will be t
Page 75 and 76: 67 Progress: Work plans have been s
Page 77 and 78: 69 LITERATURE CITED Alabama Agricul
Page 79 and 80: 71 Project Advisory Committees Appe
Page 81 and 82: 73 Appendix II Week Bay Watershed R
Page 83 and 84: 75 4. UT to Magnolia River Strategy
Page 85 and 86: 77 Use-support status for waterbodi
show all

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

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?