Where Rivers Meet the Sea 3/30/2003 - Mobile Bay National Estuary ...

RiversWheremeet theSeaA REPORT FROM THE MOBILE BAY NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAMMARCH 30, 2003Imagery courtesy United States Geological Survey

Mobile BayNational Estuary ProgramLee YokelRandy SimsRandy SimsWELCOMEMobile Bay and the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta are two ofAlabama’s greatest natural resources. We are truly blessed tolive in such close proximity to them and enjoy the benefitsthey provide. Our estuary is incredibly rich in its diversity ofplant and animal life.In 1995, Mobile Bay was deemed an estuary of national significanceby the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A managementconference of diverse interests was convened to createthe Mobile Bay National Estuary Program (Mobile BayNEP). The goal of the program is to promote the wise stewardshipof the water quality and living resources of the estuary.An environmental plan was developed to promote this goaland was completed in 2002. Today, the many members of theMobile Bay NEP work to accomplish the tasks outlined in theplan. All levels of government, environmental interests,business, researchers and citizens are working together.We hope this insert helps introduce you to environmentalstewardship and challenges within the Mobile estuary. Wehave included information on current and past initiatives thathelp protect our waters and living resources. Our topics are asdiverse as the writers who contributed to this document.Indeed, a healthy Mobile estuary is dependent upon everyone.Mobile Bay has a major impact on Alabama’s economy. Someof us depend on it for our livelihood and others for recreation.All of us depend on the estuary for the quality of life and senseof place it provides. The water and living resources of theMobile Bay and Delta are important to us all. These watersand living resources are part of our culture, but they do faceenvironmental challenges and pressures.It has been said we don’t own the lands and waters but simplyborrow them from future generations. We must act responsiblyand as good stewards of these precious resources so ourchildren and theirs benefit from the richness of nature wehave known. I hope you enjoy this insert and you find it useful.David Yeager, DirectorMobile Bay National Estuary ProgramDauphin Island Sea Lab:An Experiment in Science EducationIn 2002, the Mobile Bay NEP was pleased to join the CoastalPolicy Center of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL). A naturalmatch, the Coastal Policy Center assists local, governmentand business interests with comprehensive coastal resourceplanning. Collaborative partnering efforts of the Mobile BayNEP with the community, combined with the research and educationof DISL, help to span the gaps between science, planning,and concrete projects.DISL celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, a uniqueexperiment in science education. The 17 founding collegesand universities of Alabama (now 22) established the DISL asan educational summer field program for biology and geologymajors. The island location of the former Air Force base was anatural to house programs oriented towards the marine sciences.The summer program was well subscribed from the start, andhas grown to accommodate as many as 130 undergraduateand graduate students in each of three sessions. With theaddition of programs for K-12 and teacher-training, DISL hasbecome the largest summer marine educational program inthe nation. DISL’s most visible teaching tool is the Estuarium,a public facility among Alabama’s top twenty attractions.Dr. George CrozierLee YokelFAST FACTS• 1948 – Federal Water Pollution Control Act• 1969 – National Environmental Policy Act passed by the U.S. Congress• 1970 – Environmental Protection Agency created• 1971 – Dauphin Island Sea Lab established• 1972 – U.S. Congress passed the Clean Water Act and Coastal Zone Management Act• 1973 – Endangered Species Act passed by U. S. Congress• 1979 – Alabama Coastal Zone Management Act• 1987 – Amendments to the Clean Water Act created National Estuary Program• 1995 – Mobile Bay National Estuary Program (Mobile Bay NEP) established• 2002 – Mobile Bay NEP Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan approved2Lee YokelRandy Sims

HISTORY OF COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT IN ALABAMALife as we know it has alwaysbeen drawn to water. Over the lastcentury, there has been a dramaticexpansion of ocean going commerce,commercial fishing, and offshoreoil and gas exploration,resulting in population growthalong our coasts. Increaseddemands on our coastal resourcesthrough economic developmentactivities have resulted in degradedland and water resources, lossof wildlife habitats, increased pollution,and diminished publicaccess. We have a responsibility toprotect our coastal environment forfuture generations, and to strike anoften difficult balance betweeneconomic growth and protection ofnatural resources.The environmental movement ofthe 1960s drove the development ofseveral pieces of landmark legislationthat emerged in 1972, one ofwhich was the Coastal ZoneManagement Act. The Act was notstrongly regulatory in its languageand proposed the development offederal-state partnerships in whichfederal funds would be made availableto states designing CoastalZone Management (CZM) programsfor their coastal area thatwere “consistent” with minimumfederal standards. The CZM isadministered at the federal levelthrough the National Oceanic andAtmospheric Administration (NOAA).The state of Alabama entered theCZM program in 1979 with thedevelopment and approval of theAlabama Coastal Area ManagementProgram (ACAMP).The ACAMP defined Alabama’scoastal area as the upland continuousten-foot contour (ten feetabove mean sea level) seaward tothe limit of the state’s territorialwaters (three miles offshore).Establishment of the ten-foot contouras the ACAMP managementboundary represents one of thefirst balancing acts of the program,as early proposals ranged from aslarge as the two county area to assmall as the area seaward of themean high tide line.Since its initial adoption in 1979, theACAMP has witnessed an evolutionof governing bodies. Today, theduties of administering the ACAMPare split between two state agencies.The Alabama Department ofEnvironmental Management haspermitting, regulatory and enforcementauthority for the program andhas created a Coastal Programsoffice to fulfill these functions.Administration, education & outreach,planning and overall managementresponsibilities rest withthe State Lands Division of theAlabama Department of Conservationand Natural Resources.The ACAMP consists of comprehensivemanagement policies andguidance for the protection andenhancement of the quality, quantityand viability of coastal resourcesand the management of the uses ofthese resources. The purpose ofthe program is to promote, improveand safeguard the lands andwaters located in Alabama’scoastal area through a comprehensiveand cooperative programdesigned to preserve, enhance anddevelop such valuable resourcesfor the present and future wellbeingand general welfare of thecitizens of this state.The ACAMP and Mobile BayNational Estuary Program go handin-hand.In 2002, ADCNR enteredinto a memorandum of agreementwith the Mobile Bay NEP to serveas the state sponsor and championfor the NEP. This partnershipensures that the two programs willcontinue to work together to strikethe critical balance needed incoastal Alabama.FAST FACTS• Mobile Bay is a submerged rivervalley about 31 miles long andranging from 10 to 23 miles wide• The Mobile estuary is the sixthlargest drainage basin in theContinental U.S.• Five major rivers empty intoMobile Bay• The Bay and Delta combined are285,000 acres of open water• There are 35 boat ramps thataccess Mobile Bay• The first Mobile Bay ship channelwas dredged in 1830. The channeltoday is 45 ft. deep and 400 ft. wideOUR RICH SHIP BUILDING HERITAGEMore than one hundred years ago, when Dauphin Island was the home portof Mobile, a thriving ship-building business owned by the Collins family builtthe finest sailing vessels from here to the Florida Keys. The Mobile Shipyardwas located on Mon Luis Island and built its sleek, wood vessels until 1954.One of the reasons for the shipyard’s success was the standard of work theCollins’ put into each vessel. Most of the time, they were not able to keep upwith the demand. They built everything from pleasure boats to fishing vesselsused to trawl for fish, shrimp and oysters. They even built a 50-footschooner to aid the Confederate Army as a blockade runner against theYankees in Mobile Bay during the Civil War. This is just one of the manyexamples of the richness of the Mobile Bay area, and should serve as areminder that the Bay needs to be protected to preserve Alabama’s history,and its beautiful environment.Blair BatemanRandy SimsDiana Sturm3

Water QualityWATER QUALITY IN MOBILE BAY?Randy SimsDiana SturmDebbie JonesOne of the most commonly asked questions the MobileBay NEP faces is, “How clean is the water in the MobileBay estuary?” Unfortunately, such a simple question isdifficult to answer.A recently released National Coastal Condition Reportassessed the overall condition of Gulf of Mexico estuariesas between fair and poor based on seven indicators:water clarity, dissolved oxygen, wetland loss, nutrientenrichment, sediment and fish tissue contamination, anddiversity of bottom communities. In 1998, a report by theAlabama Department of Environmental Management(ADEM) rated the overall water quality in Mobile Bay asgood to fair. Assessing water quality is complex anddependent on the standards used. It may also be affectedby season among other factors. Water condition isimpacted not only by regulated industrial discharges(point sources) but by harder to control nonpointsources (see sidebar) Today, ADEM has identified 30separate stream segments in Mobile and BaldwinCounties that are impaired; chiefly due to low oxygen,pathogens and mercury. However Weeks Bay is listed asan Outstanding National Resource Water and portions ofthe Tensaw River are classed as an OutstandingAlabama Water. The picture is indeed a mixed bag.Historically, water quality was relatively unimpaired duringearly European settlement. An account from a Britishtraveler to the area late in the 19th century describedMobile Bay’s “neighboring shores as abounding withimmensely large oysters,” which, out of the shell, were“quite commonly as long as a man’s hand!” Becauseoysters are good indicators of a healthy environment, weassume the bay’s water quality was still very good.The first “point source pollution” probably emerged withthe first paper mill located on Three Mile Creek in 1856.Mobile’s abundant water supply was recognized then asan acceptable way of disposing of industrial waste. Bythe 1940s, pathogen contamination, presumably fromsewage, was on the rise. As late as the 1970s, fish killswere common throughout the State but declined to onehalfof those values by the 1990s. The vast majority ofthose kills were almost certainly attributed to low dissolvedoxygen in the water as opposed to chemical toxicity.There is seldom an adequate understanding of the factthat there is simply not very much oxygen in water –ever! The “jubilees” of the eastern shore are a naturallyoccurring manifestation of oxygen depletion.Dramatic improvements have been made in water qualitysince the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1970. Initialfederal efforts were aimed at point source dischargerson America’s waterways and creating financial incentivesto municipalities to assist cleaning up domesticsewage and industrial waste. Since the requirement topermit point sources, the number of permittees inMobile County has risen to over 400, while the level ofdischarges has decreased substantially. These effortshave been so successful that today the primary threat towater quality is nonpoint source pollution. Land andwater use practices, natural processes, coastal populationincreases, and other human uses can contributeimpacts larger than those regulated by discharge permits.We can safely say our water quality is not as good as itwas when European settlement began but it is much betterthan it was in the 1970’s. We can also safely say thatthere are areas of particular concern.Our challenge in the 21st centuryis to learn how to controlthe difficult issues of humanactivity and habitat alterationdirectly influencing Mobile Baywater quality.Mobile Bay NEPFAST FACTS• 1589 – Water closet invented by Sir John Harrington in England but the invention was ignored until 1778• 1868 – Mobile's first sewer installed in Conti Street• 1885 – British scientist discovered slow filtration through sand reduces bacteria in drinking water by 98 percent• 1952 – Alabama State legislature enacted "The Enabling Act" empowering municipalities to create entities thatcould acquire, purchase, maintain and operate water systems or any part thereof. As a result the MobileBoard of Water and Sewer Commissioners was created• 1968 – The Mobile Area Water and Sewer System was established as we know it today• 1977 – Clean Water Act Amendments• 2002 – Improvements and capital investment in sanitary sewer systems in Mobile, Daphne and Fairhope help reduceintroduction of bacteria and pathogens in area waterways. Agreement between the Mobile Area Water andSewer System and Mobile BayWatch resulted in a $60 million dollar upgrade by MAWSS over the next five years4 Randy Sims

CLEAN WATER ACTWHO IS MONITORING OUR WATER QUALITY?The condition of the water in a certain place – yourswimming pool, your faucet, underground, in the riversleading to the bay – is measured for healthiness to protecthumans and the many species living in our waterways.Just because the water looks clear, is it really clean?Many groups and agencies in South Alabama havemade it their mission to monitor the water and educateus on its quality.THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY(www.epa.gov/emap/nca/) is conducting the NationalCoastal Assessment, a five-year comprehensive monitoringprogram to survey the condition of the nation'scoastal resources. Types of data collected include watercolumn parameters, sediment chemistry and toxicity,benthic communities, fish, and tissue contaminants.THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY(water.usgs.gov/nawqa/) has a National Water QualityAssessment Program to develop long-term, consistentand comparable information on streams, ground water,and aquatic ecosystems. The Mobile Basin is a primaryresearch site.ALABAMA DEPARTMENTOF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT(www.adem.state.al.us/FieldOps/Monitoring/monitoring.htm)ADEM regulates discharges to state waters and thenmonitors waterways throughout the Mobile Bay area.ADEM partners with the other agencies and organizationsto manage the collection and integration of data on thewater column, sediment, bacteria, macro invertebrates,land use data, topographic characteristics, wetlandsand beach monitoring at a number of public recreationalareas. These samples are analyzed for bacteriologicalindicators of potential human pathogens.THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH(www.adph.org) issues Fish and Shellfish Advisories tothe public to understand both the benefits and risks ofdifferent types of seafood. Sampling of animals and waterprovides the information needed for issuing advisories.THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF ALABAMA(www.gsa.state.al.us/), established in 1848, gathers dataon a host of scientific parameters, such as shoreline erosion,water well usage, ground-water levels, and surfacewater quality. Three new conductivity sensors, purchasedby the Mobile Bay NEP, monitor wells in Gulf Shores andthe Fort Morgan Peninsula for saltwater intrusion.THE COASTAL ALABAMA CLEAN WATER PARTNERSHIP(www.ag.auburn.edu/dept/faa/aumerc/Extension/clean_water_partnership/Index.htm) is part of a statewideeffort working on TMDLs (see side bar). Local stakeholdersstrive to identify water quality improvement projectsthrough community participation.THE ALABAMA WATER WATCH(www.alabamawaterwatch.org) is a statewide volunteernetwork promoting citizen-led water quality monitoringprograms and increasing awareness of water resourceconditions and trends. Local monitoring is coordinatedwith the following groups:THE ALABAMA COASTAL FOUNDATION(www.alcoastalfoundation.org/) is a nonprofit organizationwith the area’s oldest volunteer water monitoring program,Coastwatch. ACF also began monitoring recreationalbeaches in 2002.THE DOG RIVER CLEARWATER REVIVAL(dogriver.southalabama.edu) is a grassroots group concernedwith environmental issues affecting Dog River.One of their main programs is organizing volunteer waterquality monitoring in the Dog River watershed.THE WEEKS BAYNATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE(www.weeksbay.org) has two water monitoring stationscontinually collecting data such as water temperature,pH, dissolved oxygen and salinity. Connected to thereserve is Weeks Bay Water Watch, an active volunteergroup with 34 monitoring sites in the Weeks Bay watershed.THE MOBILE BAY NEP along with the Dauphin IslandSea Lab and Weeks Bay National Estuarine ResearchReserve are establishing long term monitors in Mobile Bayas part of a multi-state network with Louisiana and Texas.A partnership has formed to study the impact caused bydams and the Causeway on the Mobile Tensaw Delta.Water temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen will bemonitored to determine the salinity regime, hydrologicalconditions, and better define habitats for a variety ofspecies. Current partners include ADEM, AlabamaPower, the Mobile Register, Mobile Bay Watch, TheNature Conservancy and the Scenic CausewayCoalition. More partners are needed.Industry, businesses, and municipalities are required tomonitor discharges and public water supplies. Thisinformation is reported to ADEM on a regular basis.Mobile Bay Watch, the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, MobileBay NEP, and the Coastal Alabama Clean WaterPartnership are developing internet accessible databasesto house research, monitoring information, industry data,and more.Diana Sturm, PhD, Program Scientist Mobile Bay NEPThe Clean Water Act (CWA) addresses pollution in waters of the United States through various grants, planning, voluntaryand regulatory programs. The Act envisions a cooperative effort between States and the federal government to assure thewaters of the United States support fishing and swimming uses. An important part of the CWA is the wastewater dischargepermitting program. Technology based treatment levels form the basic permit requirements, set for existing and new dischargers.Greater levels of treatment are required where basic levels are insufficient to meet water quality standards. TheAct largely uses voluntary, grant and loan programs to address nonpoint sources of pollution. Use of technology based bestmanagement practices is envisioned for nonpoint pollution.An important new thrust in implementing the Clean Water Act is the requirement for states or EPA to develop total maximumdaily loads for streams. (TMDLs, see sidebar). Recent court decisions have required EPA and States to focus great attentionon developing these TMDLs.The CWA also created the 404 wetlands program. Persons wishing to fill wetlands must obtain a permit and meet establishedcriteria. The Corps of Engineers issues permits and EPA oversees the program.Randy SimsTMDLTHE EPA DEFINES A TOTALMAXIMUM DAILY LOAD(TMDL) as, “a calculation of themaximum amount of a pollutantthat a water body can receiveand still meet water quality standards.”Water quality standardsfor Alabama are set by ADEM.They classify water bodiesaccording to use (such as publicwater supply, recreation, andOutstanding Alabama Waters.)ADEM also sets scientific criteriato ensure the water quality willcontinue to support that use.The TMDL program is designedto be locally driven by citizensand businesses. The programfollows a four-step process toclean up water quality. First,Alabama must develop a waterquality standard for all bodies ofwater from streams to rivers tolakes. Second, the State determineswhat bodies of water arenot meeting these standards forwater quality. Third, these waterbodies are prioritized. The Stateof Alabama, at the forefront, isnow working with local citizens,communities and industries todetermine the actions requiredfor healthy waters.NONPOINTSOURCE POLLUTIONNonpoint source pollution cannotbe traced back to a single pointlocation. Water running acrossthe ground picks up pollutantsfrom natural processes andhuman activity. Material maycome from households, marinas,agricultural lands, industrialsites, paved surfaces, or timberoperations. The water carryingvarious pollutants eventuallymakes its way to streams, riversand the Bay. Up to 50% of thewater pollution in the UnitedStates comes from nonpointsource pollution. Controlling nonpointsource pollution is one ofthe last remaining hurdles torestoring water quality in manyimpaired bodies of water. Theunique aspect of nonpointsource pollution is that everyonecontributes to it.5

Habitat ManagementTHIS PLACE IS FOR THE BIRDS!The Mobile Bay NEP area is critical habitat to manyNorth American songbirds because it lies between thetwo major flyways of North America, the MississippiRiver and Atlantic Ocean. Dr. Frank Moore, ornithologistat the University of Southern Mississippi, has recentlypointed out that the major river basins (Mississippi andMobile-Tensaw) serve as a natural funnel for songbirdmigration, providing stopover habitat, and a source forinitial re-nourishment after crossing the Gulf of Mexico.The estuary also serves as critical habitat for colonialnesting birds. Many local specialists have identified lossof avian nesting habitat as a matter of some concern.As the human population has grown along the Gulf ofMexico shoreline within South Alabama, the increase ofsingle and multi-family dwellings has resulted in the lossof trees and low shrubs that support the first landfall forthe northward migrating songbirds. Colonial nestingbirds, especially the wading birds, are good indicators ofthe quality of a habitat. These birds require extensivesaltwater and freshwater marsh habitat. Industrial andprivate development within the coastal area has causedhabitat loss over the past twenty years. This is particularlycritical along the Mobile and Baldwin County shorelines,specifically Dauphin Island and the Fort MorganPeninsula. Numerous groups including The Friends ofthe Dauphin Island Audubon Sanctuary, the NatureConservancy, Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, andthe Weeks Bay Estuarine Reserve have helped in theprocurement of land to be set-aside in its natural statefor these trans-Gulf migrants and colonial nesting birds.Critical wetland habitat has been added to the holdingsover the past two years. The Mobile Bay NEP has alsofunded an experimental enhancement of habitat onDauphin Island in conjunction with the AuburnUniversity Shellfish Laboratory and DISL.Historically, Cat Island, located near Bayou la Batre, hassupported a nesting colony of herons and egrets (average2500 adult birds). This island has been the site of the onlyTri-color Heron and Reddish Egret nesting within thestate of Alabama. During Hurricanes Frederic and Elenathe vegetation that supports the nesting colony wasreduced, but during Hurricane Georges in 1998 the nestingvegetation on Cat Island was almost totally removed bywave activity and overwash. This resulted in only a coupleof hundred adult birds nesting the following year, a dramaticand alarming decline.Through a grant from the National Fish and WildlifeFoundation to DISL, the vegetation on Cat Island hasbeen restored. In a unique effort, cuttings were obtainedfrom the vegetation remaining on the island, grown in acommercial nursery, and then returned to the Island.Over two separate occasions, landscape architecturestudents from Auburn University participated in therestoration project. In 2002, approximately 1500 adult heronsand egrets returned to establish nests on the Island.There have been other significant changes in the MobileBay NEP area that have enhanced avian habitats.Gaillard Island, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredgedmaterial disposal site, is the only nesting site of theBrown Pelican in Alabama. It also supports nesting ofherons, egrets, and a multitude of gulls and terns. Thenesting population of Brown Pelicans is truly one of theamazing stories of species recovery.The Alabama Department of Conservation and NaturalResources (ADCNR), State Lands Division recently purchasedover 40,000 acres of Mobile-Tensaw delta, whichadded to their other delta holdings, bringing the total toroughly 100,000 acres. Another major habitat acquisitionwas the 2,300-acre tract in the Grand Bay savannah.Setting this habitat aside via Forever Wild and WildlifeManagement Area programs guarantees long-term criticalhabitat for the abundant avian fauna found in theMobile estuary.Dr. John Dindo, Senior Marine ScientistDauphin Island Sea LabRandy SimsFAST FACTS• 1773 – American naturalist William Bartram sets out on a five year journey through the US Southeast to describe wildlife andwilderness from Florida to the Mississippi• 1874 – Othmar Zeider discovered the chemical formula for the insecticide DDT• 1903 – President Theodore Roosevelt created first National Bird Preserve, (the beginning of the Wildlife Refuge system), onPelican Island, Florida• 1907 – Alabama legislature established the Department of Game and Fish, predecessor of ADCNR• 1979 – Gaillard Island created as a dredged material disposal area• 1980 – Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge established• 1982 – First Brown Pelican nesting in Alabama on Gaillard Island• 1986 – Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve established• 1996 – ADCNR purchased 2736 acres to form the Grand Bay Savannah Nature Preserve• 1999 – Collectively Forever Wild, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Ducks Unlimited, The NatureConservancy, Alabama Wildlife Federation, Coastal Land Trust and others begin preservation of, to date, over 100,000acres of land in Mobile-Tensaw Delta• 2001 – Gulf State Park expanded to preserve 591 acres of Orange Beach Maritime Forest• 2002 – Alabama Coastal Birding Trail is established in Mobile and Baldwin Counties• 2003 – Bartram Canoe Trail is established in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta6Randy Sims

Randy SimsA HOME TO MANY – DELTA DIVERSITYDiana SturmWhile every state has witnessedspecies extinctions, such losses havenot occurred uniformly across thenation. States exhibiting high numbersof extinctions tend to boast highoverall numbers of species, fragileecosystems with at-risk flora andfauna and intense human impact.Unfortunately for Alabama, all three ofthese scenarios apply. According todata collected by the nation’s NaturalHeritage programs and The NatureConservancy, Alabama is the mostextinction-prone state of the mainlandUnited States, with 96 extinct species(83% of which are aquatic). Becauseof its ancient, complex geologicalterrain and waterways that span fourriver basins, Alabama is home to morespecies of animals and plants thanany state east of the Mississippi River.An estimated 15% of these speciesare in peril due to human alteration ofthe landscape.The Mobile-Tensaw Delta extendsnorthward from Mobile Bay to theconfluence of the Alabama andTombigbee Rivers, encompassingapproximately 250,000 acres. Thiswatershed is considered by many tobe the "best" remaining delta ecosystemof its kind in the country and is thesecond largest delta in the continentalU.S. It provides habitat for variousinvertebrates, fishes, waterfowl,migrant birds, as well as, other gameand non-game species.The biodiversity is rich. Historically,over a hundred species foundnowhere else in the world lived in thedrainage basin. Because the Delta isa melting pot of freshwater andmarine ecosystems, it supports aphenomenal diversity of at least 126fish species, 40 species of mammals,69 reptiles, 30 amphibians, and anuntold host of insects. The plant life isequally diverse to include ancientpygmy cypress, swamp tupelos, bottomlandhardwoods and beautifulswamp lilies. Sightings of formerlyrare species such as eagles, ospreys,and brown pelicans have becomecommonplace. The delta is alsoattractive to aliens, ecologicallydestructive exotic species such asnutria, feral hogs, and fire ants.Despite this knowledge and the obviousimportance of the Delta as a naturalfilter, sedimentation trap, and habitatfor rare plant and animal communities,we know very little about the biodiversitythat defines this uniqueecosystem. Algae and aquatic plantsare ecologically important as theysupport the entire food web and areoften sensitive indicators of ecosystemchange. Because algae and aquaticplants respond rapidly to a wide rangeof environmental stressors (such aschange in water quality, temperature,and salt concentration), they representlargely ignored warning signals ofhabitat deterioration and change.Over the last decade, scientists havebecome increasingly aware of thenegative effects human activitieshave had on aquatic, estuarine, andcoastal ecosystems. Some tell-talesigns of impact include declining biodiversity,occurrence and persistenceof harmful algal blooms, disappearanceand dying-off of critical habitat(seagrass beds) and accumulation oftoxic substances in the food chain. TheMobile Delta, and other watershedslike it, have been impinged upon andplagued by nutrient input from sewage,industrialization and human development.In Alabama alone, an estimated3.7 million acres of historic wetlandshave been destroyed, predominantly,around the coastal areas of the state.Heightened awareness among scientists,politicians and concerned citizenshas prompted recent efforts to conserveand protect the Mobile-TensawDelta. However, with the exception ofharmful phytoplankton blooms andseagrasses, very little attention hasbeen paid to algal and aquatic plantassemblages in this region.Researchers Kelly and Clinton Majorat the University of South Alabamaare beginning a project to determinealgal and aquatic plant diversity withinthe Mobile-Tensaw Delta. They aretaking note of native, invasive andrare species that may affect the area’sproductivity. They hope to identifyspecies that are sensitive to environmentalstress and then apply theinformation toward long-term monitoring,management and preservationof coastal regions and the speciesthat inhabit them. The Mobile BayNEP hopes that information collectedby these researchers and others willultimately support wise policy decisionsin the future. To learn more about thisproject and others funded by fundedby the Alabama Center for EstuarineStudies log on to www.southalabama.edu/aces/.Kelly M. Major and Clinton S. Major,Department of Biological Sciences,University of South AlabamaDiana SturmMobile Bay NEPFAST FACTS• Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve comprises over 6,000 acres of protected areas (1800 land 4200water bottoms) some 3000 of which were added in the last ten years• The Mobile Bay NEP, in cooperation with the ADEM Coastal Program, has undertaken major habitat mappingprojects of grass beds and wetlands in the Mobile Bay area• Over 300 species of birds have been recorded at the 160-acre Audubon Bird Sanctuary on the south side ofBienville Boulevard on Dauphin Island• The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has used recycled Christmas trees to promote shoreline and habitat stabilization.Keep Mobile Beautiful and Baldwin County recycle Christmas trees for mulch• Coastal wetlands help protect inland areas by absorbing the surge of large storms. All wetlands help protectadjacent properties by absorbing flood waters and heavy rainfall• Habitat fragmentation and destruction is a primary contributor to species decline and water quality degradationRandy Sims7

EcoKidsUPCOMING EVENTSApril 5 Dauphin Island Sea Lab Discovery DayApril 13 Alabama Environmental Council Bay AreaEarth Day Fairhope Pier Park157ECO CROSSWORDAcross:1. An estuary is called a _____ to the ocean because baby shrimp, crabs and fish live there.2. A place like Mobile Bay, where rivers meet the sea, is called an _____.3. Shrimp boats have large ______ called trawls, which they use to catch shrimp.4. Tiny plants and animals that live in the waters of estuaries and are food for larger animals are called _____.5. Many _____ bring thousands of gallons of freshwater into Mobile Bay each day.6. If you go _____ in the bay you might be lucky enough to catch a flounder, redfish or speckled trout.7. These crabs “fiddle around” in the salt marsh. The male crab has a giant claw that he waves to attract female crabs.8. Wetlands _____ the water that runs into the bay.9. Freshwater and saltwater combine in the bay to make _____water.Down:1. Saltwater enters Mobile Bay from the ______.2. These “large” birds wade through the water and spear fish with their long beaks.3. These animals live in a “bed” and filter many gallons of water through their bodies each day.4. A type of grassy wetland that provides food and shelter for animals of the estuary.8Diana Sturm1 383922 46April 23 Alabama Coastal Foundation Coastal Kids QuizMay 3 Mobile County Public Schools EnvironmentalStudies Center Open House4CHOOSE FROM:estuarynurserybrackishsalt marshplanktonriverscleanoystersnetsfiddler crabsGreat Blue HeronfishingGulf of MexicoCHECK OUT THESE WEBSITESDauphin Island Sea Labwww.disl.orgProject Catewww.projectcate.comMobile County Environmental Studies Centerwww.mcpss.com/enviro/enveddep.htmlFairhope K-1 Center Pelican’s Nestwww.fairhopeschools.com/K1%20Center/HomePage/k1_home.htmGulf Coast Exploreumwww.exploreum.net/Bellingrath Gardens & Homewww.bellingrath.org/Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, Gulf Shoressoutheast.fws.gov/pubs/facts/boncon.pdfTurtle Point Science Centerdgonza365.tripod.com/turtlepointSC/index.htmlHigh School Aquaculturewww.ag.auburn.edu/dept/faa/aumerc/Extension/Aquaculture/index.htmlAlabama Environmental Education Resource Databasewww.alenviroed.com/Legacy, Partners for Environmental Progresswww.legacyenved.org/Discovering Alabamawww.discoveringalabama.com/Alabama Wildlife Federationwww.alawild.org/educati.htmEnvironmental Education Association of Alabamawww.aces.edu/eeaa/Auntie Litterwww.auntielitter.org/Alabama 4-H Foundation, Incwww.alabama4hfoundation.org/environmental.htmlAlabama Environmental Education and Nature Centerswww.epa.gov/region4/water/wetlands/states/alcenters.htmlAlabama Museum Of Natural History, Tuscaloosawww.ua.edu/academic/museums/history/Alabama State Parkswww.dcnr.state.al.us/parks/parks_1a.htmlNational Institutes of Health Dept. of Health & Human Serviceswww.niehs.nih.gov/kids/home.htmEnvironmental Explorers Clubwww.epa.gov/kids/Environmental Education for Kidswww.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/Environmental Kidzwww.environmentalpartners.org/Environmentalkids.htmlEnvironmental History Timelinewww.environmentalhistory.orgThe Globe Programwww.globe.gov/globe_flash.htmlKids Do Ecologywww.nceas.ucsb.edu/nceas-web/kids/index.htmlNational Wildlife Federation Kidzonewww.nwf.org/kids/The Watershed Gamewww.bellmuseum.org/mnideals/watershed/watershed2.htmlNonpoint Source Kids Pagewww.epa.gov/OWOW/NPS/kids/The Learning Webwww.usgs.gov/education/NATURE Puzzles and Funwww.pbs.org/wnet/nature/fun.htmlUSGS Water Science for Schoolsga.water.usgs.gov/edu/index.htmlProject Wildwww.projectwild.org/Project Wetwww.projectwet.org/Project Learning Treewww.plt.org/The Green Frog Newsthegreenfrognews.com/Science at NASAscience.nasa.gov/Discovery Kidskids.discovery.com/Earth911www.earth911.org/master.aspNational Geographic Kidswww.nationalgeographic.com/kids/Backyard Junglewww.backyardjungle.org/MOBILE BAYNATIONAL ESTUARYPROGRAM4172 Commanders DriveMobile, AL 36615March 30, 2003

We started coloring these special wetland wild flowers for you. You can use crayons or colored pencils to create your own floral masterpiece.

Living ResourcesALABAMA’S SHRIMP: FROM PLANKTON TO PLATEShrimp are the most importantfishery in the Gulf of Mexico and,historically, have ranked second invalue in the US domestic fisherymarket. While only a few residentsof our area shrimp for a living, thelocal economy relies heavily onprocessing and wholesale/retailmarketing. Three species dominatethe Gulf commercial harvest;brown, white and pink shrimp. InAlabama, brown shrimp accountfor approximately 80% of all shrimpcaught while white shrimp comprise18% and pink shrimp theremaining 2%.Life HistoryThe overall life cycle is one of adultshrimp spawning offshore followed bya migration of larval forms into theestuaries where they grow andmature. The rates of growth and migrationvary among the three species.Brown shrimp live for approximatelyone year. At seven months of age,brown shrimp begin to spawn offshore.Young post-larvae enter theestuary beginning in March, anddevelop utilizing marsh edges andseagrass to hide from predatorswhile feeding on available planktonor decaying material. In the richestuary, post-larvae grow rapidly,approximately 0.02 inch/day. Whenshrimp range from 3 - 4 inches long(131 to 58 count) they begin theirjourney offshore. Adult brown shrimpprefer saltier water and will migrateabout 20 miles offshore to spawn,completing their life cycle.White shrimp have a similar life historybut differences include their1 1/2 year life span. Large numbersof post-larval white shrimp begin toappear in local estuaries in June.Some adult white shrimp even remainin the estuary and spawn. Becausepink shrimp are less abundant inAlabama, post-larvae are less commonbut begin to enter the estuary in April.Environmental FactorsWhile predation is a major cause ofdeath in shrimp, environmental factorssuch as temperature and salinityplay a large role in the success ofthe annual shrimp crop. The whiteshrimp spawning period is from Aprilthrough August, while brown andpink shrimp spawn year-round.Brown shrimp have two seasonalpeaks of spawning activity, (Augustthrough November and Aprilthrough June) while pink shrimphave a peak in the summer.Brown shrimp post-larvae appear inmarsh areas once temperaturesreach 68° F, usually March. Scientistsbelieve that offshore post-larvaeshrimp are able to “sense”the temperaturechange and utilize theirability to move up and down thewater column to allow ocean currentsto carry them into the estuary.These adaptations permit brownshrimp to take advantage of latespring and early summer watertemperatures to optimize survival.White shrimp prefer warmer temperaturesthan brown shrimp andwill spawn later to maximize theirgrowth during the summer. Pinkshrimp also prefer warmer watersthan brown shrimp. Their limitedability to handle cold temperaturesand their preference for hard, sandybottoms is important to understandingwhy large numbers are caughtoff Florida, but far fewer are caughtin Alabama.Salinity preferences vary amongshrimp species. As offshore larvae,brown and pink shrimp prefer saltywater. Shrimp settling into marshesare not so choosy and mayencounter a range of salinities asfreshwater and saltwater mix,depending on river discharge, rainor drought conditions in the estuary.As the shrimp age, their preferencefor saltier water increases and triggersthem to move back to the Gulf.White shrimp can tolerate broadersalinity ranges throughout their lifethan brown shrimp but, in general,prefer less salty water than anyother commercial shrimp and maybe found farther up the Bay.ManagementShrimp management in Alabama isbased on the 68-count law. Thisrequires that the Alabama MarineResources Division (AMRD) prohibitshrimping in waters where shrimpare smaller than 68 whole shrimp toone pound. Given the variety ofcounts that can be collected at differentsites, effective managementrequires an average legal count beobtained on a regional basis.To open waters to shrimping, biologistssample throughout the latespring. These data are used to createa growth curve. Like most animals,younger shrimp grow more quicklythan older ones resulting in a growthpattern that begins rapidly thendecreases in a curve. The regularityof their growth is predictable andactual sample data factors in anyweather-induced changes, competition,or food supply. Using thegrowth curve, the number of daysuntil shrimp become 68 count is predicted.Initially, the day predicted forlegal-sized shrimp is fairly rough butwith each additional sample, theprediction for opening day is finetuned.This method allows AMRD toannounce the initial brown shrimpopening, usually June, between oneand two weeks in advance.Unlike farmers, shrimpers areunable to enhance their crop. Thereis no magical fertilizer or irrigationscheme that will improve MotherNature’s bounty. Experienced shrimpfishermen prepare for all types ofseasons. It is the responsibility ofbiologists to follow accurately theshrimp season to permit the mosteffective harvesting of the resource.Leslie D. Hartman, Marine Biologist II,Alabama Marine Resources Division10 Jason McAllister

THE HISTORY OF HARVESTING BLUE CRABSFAST FACTSWhen you dig into a plate of crab claws at your favoriterestaurant, you are eating the blue crab Callinectessapidus. Each year, Alabama's blue crab fishermen catchapproximately 3.1 million pounds of crabs. AlthoughAlabama ranks fourth among Gulf Coast states in poundsof crabs landed, Alabama crab shops import andprocess an estimated 60% of the Gulf of Mexico bluecrab catch. This level of processing has made crabs thethird most valued marine fishery in Alabama.As early as prehistoric times, blue crabs were harvestedfor subsistence living. Evidence suggests NativeAmericans used spears to gig blue crabs in shallowwater and may also have used simple traps. During colonialtimes, some settlers survived only because of theirability to catch blue crabs. As early as 1850, recordsexist that indicate a market for soft-shelled crabs on theEast Coast of America.In 1870 L. Cooper Dize patented the first toothless dredgefor taking peelers or soft-shelled blue crabs. During thisperiod, fishermen wading with scoop nets or seines harvestedhard-shelled crabs. Gulf crab fishermen wouldwade out at night with a long-handled dip net and alantern, towing a skiff or burlap sack to hold their catch.Some fishermen would use a drop net - a metal framecovered with netting with bait attached in the middle.This device would be lowered to the bottom to attractcrabs to the bait. You can often see some recreationalcrab fishermen still using this today.The 1870s saw the evolution of the commercial crabbingindustry. Railroads permitted rapid shipping of hardcrabs away from the coast. The McMenamin Companyof Hampton canned the first crabmeat, and wooden rowboatswith fishing trotlines replaced seines and scoopnets as a means of catching crabs. A trotline is a longmain line with short lines, called snoods, baited andspaced approximately two feet apart. Upon setting theline, the fisherman would pull his skiff downwind alongthe line and dip out feeding crabs. With the availability inthe early 1900s of motor boats, the use of the snoods waseliminated and the bait tied directly to the main line.While trotlines remained the standard harvestingmethod in the Gulf into the 1950s, Benjamin F. Lewispatented the first crab trap as early as 1926. With minimalmodifications, this trap resembled those currently inuse. Traps are currently constructed of vinyl-coveredhexagonal mesh, box-shaped with several funnelshapedentrances that force crabs to turn sideways toenter. The narrowness of the end of the funnel preventsthem from exiting easily. Blue crabs are enticed to enterthe trap by the presence of bait, typically pogy.Currently 98-99% of all crabs caught come from crabtraps, with the remaining 1-2% caught in shrimp trawls.Even today, the crabbing industry continues to change.Crabbing has long been a part of the human culture. Asthe human population has grown, the industry haschanged to become more efficient. This efficiency, whilea boon to crab fishermen, must always be balanced bythe need to sustain a viable blue crab population.Management of the crab industry is a must for sustainingblue crab harvest.• 1640 – Isaac Walton wrote TheCompleat Angler about fishing andconservation• 1783 – U.S. diplomats made fishingrights in waters off Newfoundland ahigh priority in negotiations overindependence from Britain• 1871 – U.S. Fish Commission formedto study decline of coastal fisheries• 2001 – Oyster Gardening began, asuccessful partnership of the MobileBay NEP Auburn Marine Extensionand Research Center and the MS-ALSea Grant• 2002 – The AMRD supported by theMobile Bay NEP developed a derelictcrab trap recovery program. Manyorganizations and volunteers makethis a success• The seafood industry in Alabamagenerates $350 million dollars a yearat the wholesale level• The presence of exotic and invasivespecies such as the Australian JellyFish has provided interest in developingplans to deal with aquatic nuisancespecies. Many organizations areworking to identify the presence ofnuisance species, develop plans toprevent introduction and study waysto mitigate nuisance species impactCOSTS • THEN & NOW1883 soft shell crabs 1¢ each,10¢ per dzhard crabs 1¢ dz,10¢ per bushel1918 soft shell crabs 30¢ - 80¢ per dzhard crabs $1- $ 6 per barrel2002 soft shell crabs $2.50 - $3.00 each$24.00 per dzhard crabs $8.50 per dzTHE LIFE CYCLE OF A BLUE CRABRanging from Nova Scotia to Argentina, the blue crab reliesheavily on estuaries to complete its life cycle. This fresh/saltymix of water in estuaries creates an environment high in nutrientsand extremely suitable for growth of many marinespecies. Estuarine marsh and grass beds provide extensiveareas for blue crabs to hide from predators and remain safeduring molting.A molting crab is one that has shed its external skeleton and issoft to the touch. Male crabs molt throughout their life. Afemale crab will molt several times but, at sexual maturity, shewill have a final molt. Through pheromones in the water, a malecan sense a female is about to shed. He will actively pursueher and will cradle her as she begins to molt. While she is soft,he will transfer a packet of spermatophores to her and continueto carry her until she hardens. This is the female's only mating,although she may have multiple spawnings from this singleencounter.Development from zoeal to first crab stage takes approximately40 to 70 days. With luck, food, and shelter available in theestuary, a blue crab will molt until it reaches sexual maturity,usually within one year.Leslie D. Hartman, Marine Biologist IIAlabama Marine Resources DivisionLee YokelMobile Bay NEP11

ErosionDOG RIVER – A CLASSIC EROSION PROBLEMConfluence of Moore Creek and Dog RiverPhoto courtesy of dogriver.southalabama.eduOld-timers tell storiesof a pristine Dog Riverwith white sandbarsand deep reddish coloredwater. After a rain,modern day Dog Riverresembles chocolatemilk sprinkled withfloating trash andladen with invisiblebacteria. The recentdredging of a portionof the river to removeaccumulated sedimentfrom the river hasbeen a costly and controversial project. What happenedto Mobile’s river? To answer this question we mustunderstand how a river works, and how Mobile’s developmentaffects those natural processes.All of the water in a river comes from its watershed, theland area that it drains. In the case of Dog River, thewatershed is about 95 square miles. The upper parts of ariver are small streams fed by groundwater and runofffrom the land’s surface. Whenever it rains, some waterseeps into the ground to become part of the water table,and some runs off into the tributaries. Abundant vegetationforces runoff water to move more slowly, so more waterseeps into the ground. Naturally vegetated areas likewetlands act like huge sponges that soak up waterquickly and release it slowly over time. Vegetation alsohelps to clean water by filtering out sediment, trash, andremoving chemicals like fertilizers. Large intact wetlandsare valuable, but wetland strips along the sides ofstreams are also important.Wragg Swamp, a huge bottomland hardwood forest,historically absorbed the flow from tributaries and thenreleased it slowly into Eslava, Halls Mill, and RabbitCreeks. That swamp was the reason the water used to beso reddish in color yet so clear. When the malls and I-65were built, most of Wragg Swamp was drained, signalingthe end of those natural filters and beautiful water.In addition, many streamside wetlands have been lostand Mobile’s growth continues to replace vegetated surfaceswith impermeable roads, houses, parking lots, andbuildings. When it rains, the water hitting them cannotpenetrate into the soil to feed the groundwater. Instead,it runs off quickly into man-made ditches carrying waterrapidly to the nearest stream.In the headwaters, where the gradient is steep, waterruns faster and has more erosive power. Fast movingwater can transport larger particles than slow movingwater. Near the mouth of a river, the slope is no longercapable of carrying the material it transported in itsupper reaches. Deposition of sediment occurs naturallyin the lower part of a stream.In the Dog River watershed, the steepest tributaries arein west Mobile where development is rampant. Landclearance strips away protective vegetation so that duringrains, ditches and streams carry soil away from westMobile and deposit it when the water eventually slowsdown in the lower portion of Dog River. This includesanything washing from the streets and parking lots.The soil carried by stormwater is mostly sand, silt, andclay. Streams carry very small particles of silt and clayfarther downstream. Clay, because it stays suspended solong, is carried all the way into the wide part of Dog Riverwhere much of the clay settles out, causing the river toget shallow. Clay deposition is made worse by the saltwaterthat comes in from the bay causing the clay particlesto clump together and settle out in larger particles.It is important to understand that the filling in of an estuarylike Dog River is a natural process. Urbanization of thewatershed has accelerated the natural filling process byexposing land, increasing runoff and the speed of streamflow. To swim in Dog River today is also to accept thefact that the water has come from gutters throughout thewatershed. Each rainfall washes cigarette butts, beveragecontainers, automobile fluids, yard waste, fertilizer,pesticide, sewage, and sediment into the river.Wetlands and upland fringes along streams are importantbuffer zones between developed areas and the wateritself. Voluntary conservation easements, establishingwetlands in front of bulkheads, and leaving streamsideareas as “wild parks” in new subdivisions are wiseinvestments for future water quality. We can also reducerunoff by choosing permeable surfaces over impermeableones. The City of Mobile’s landscape ordinance requiringa percentage of any new development to be landscapedrather than paved is a positive step in this direction.Wide grassy swales slow and filter water better thanrock lined straight-sided ditches. Developers shouldmake every effort to clear the minimal amount of landnecessary for construction, to stage large projects sothat less land is exposed to erosion, and to implementbest management practices to reduce sediment runoff.Dog River is not the only area stream with erosion problems.Many Mobile Bay tributaries are subject toincreased development, habitat removal, and erosionproblems. The Mobile Bay NEP encourages the developmentof watershed groups and management plans toaddress the many pressures on area waterways.Mimi FearnAssociate Professor of Geography, University of South AlabamaFAST FACTS• 500 BC - forward – Greek coastalcities became landlocked afterdeforestation, which increased soilerosion. The siltation filled in thebays and mouths of rivers. One riverlocated in Southwestern Greece, theMaender, became so silted that itstwists and turns came to represent ariver wandering or meandering• 1388 AD -– English Parliamentpassed an act forbidding the throwingof filth and garbage into ditches,rivers and waters• 1899 – U.S. Congress passed theRiver and Harbor Act which prohibitedconstructing structures in navigablewaters without first obtaining a permitfrom the U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers• 1955 – 8% of shoreline around theMobile estuary is armored• 1977 – Soil and Water ConservationAct• 1997 – Research by Douglass andPickel of the University of SouthAlabama estimate approximately 29miles of armored shoreline in theMobile estuary or 30%• Local homebuilder associationshave developed innovative erosioncontrol mats to control sedimentrunoff on construction sites• The cities of Spanish Fort, Daphne,and Fairhope are working togetherwith the Eastern Shore Chamber ofCommerce to develop uniform sedimentcontrol ordinances• USA Graduate Student BeckyRoland is studying the establishmentof fringe wetlands as an environmentallypreferable alternative tobulkheads in the Dog River watershed• At best, silt fences are only 50%effective even when properly installedOn a personal level, would you throw trash, paint, oil, leaves, dirt into your own bathtub?If you don’t want to swim in it, then don’t throw it down on the street either. Those drainsalong the side of the road don’t go to “never-never-land,” but downstream into a river.The rivers in the Mobile Bay NEP study area drain into – Mobile Bay and the Tensaw Delta.Mobile Bay NEP12 Mobile Bay NEP

ARE OUR BAYS BECOMING BATHTUBS?Everyone agrees an investment of any kind isworth protecting, particularly when the investmentis a costly one. We all know how large the pricetag can be on land and homes. Yet, who wouldn'twant to live in a house overlooking the water? Manypeople on the water don't consider what stepsmay be necessary to protect their property from –the WATER! For, with water, often comes erosion.Inevitably, living on a shoreline may mean thegradual eroding of the land. This natural process isoften exacerbated by human activity. One popularway to prevent soil loss is bulkheading. The U.S.Army Corps of Engineers' Shore ProtectionManual defines a bulkhead as, “a vertical structureon a shoreline designed to prevent sliding of theland.” Aside from the primary purpose of protectingupland property, many homeowners constructthese "walls" for aesthetic purposes or – worse –to keep up with the Joneses.Bulkheads are normally constructed to stabilizeshorelines and protect upland areas from wavedamage by completely separating land from water.These retaining walls keep the sand and structuresbehind them safe from the erosion of tidesand waves. For property owners, bulkheading mayseem an ideal answer to preserving an investment.Actually, hard stabilization can accelerate theprocess of beach erosion. Building a wall along aneroding shoreline almost guarantees the loss of abeach. Dr. Scott Douglass of the University ofSouth Alabama (USA), fears we are turning ourbays into "bathtubs," constructing these walls upand down the bay, and leaving behind no intertidalfringe areas where we walk and submergedgrasses are often found growing.Bulkheads may create additional problems. If thestructure is not high enough to prevent overtopping(waves overlapping the top) the land behind thestructure will erode as if the wall were not eventhere. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers warnsthat groundwater and rain percolating through thesoil may build up pressure behind the wall, eventuallypushing both soil and wall over.Seawalls must be made of strong material to withstandthe battering of waves and debris. When thebulkheads are attacked by storm waves, sometimesas strong as hurricanes, they can weaken.As the beach narrows and the frequency of waveaction increases, the wall must be replaced witheven more massive structures to ensure continuedprotection.Bulkheads deny adjacent sites the sand naturallyeroded and transported from locations landwardof the seawall. Bulkheads also alter the naturaldeposition of new sand traveling in the tidal currents.Aquatic vegetation and many animals thrivein intertidal areas. When we take away from ourshoreline, we take away their habitat where manyjuvenile commercial species develop. Ultimately,the construction of your seawall not only affectsyou but also adjacent property, lending to a chainreaction of erosion, habitat loss, and bulkheads.One successful coastal engineering techniquehas been beach nourishment with headlandbreakwaters. Breakwaters are fixed or floatingstructures that protect a shore area by interceptingwaves. This method has proven successful locally.In 1998 a headland beach demonstration projectwas constructed in Mobile at the Gulf Pines GolfCourse on the USA's Brookley campus. The purposeof the project was to "determine the minimumengineering factors for design that would protectthe upland property while preserving valuableintertidal beach". The two offshore breakwaterswere successful in the establishment of vegetationin the intertidal water. The development haswithstood continued tests by recent tropicalstorms. A year and a half into the project, beachsand was accreting in some areas.Besides bulkheads, what other options are thereto protect property investments? There are severalother ways to achieve essentially the same resultwith fewer environmental impacts. Among these arevegetation management, groundwater management,beach nourishment, breakwaters, and appropriatebuilding setbacks. Studies suggest thesealternatives often work better and cost less in thelong run than traditional approaches. The MobileBay NEP has actions within their environmental planto work with local groups to address alternatives.Penny GrubTHE STEPS TO BEACH LOSS1. a natural intertidal zone prior hard stabilization; 2. the placement of a bulkhead begins to alter the beach andsubmerged vegetation just offshore; 3. as erosion continues at the site of the bulkhead, the beach is lost andsubmerged vegetation suffers; 4. in extreme cases, the wall begins to fail and erosion occurs behind the bulkhead.Mobile Bay NEP13

Human UsesMERCURY FELL ON ALABAMAWhat goes up must come down -from air quality to water quality.Various particles are carried intothe air by the wind, from smokestacks,exhaust pipes, natural phenomenon,and many other sources.This material can be found in dry airas well as rain which can wash intoarea waters.Mercury in the environment has beena major environmental issue for thepast 30-plus years. During 2001, theissue of seafood with high levels ofmethylmercury was raised in a seriesof articles appearing in the MobileRegister. Several area organizationstook the first major step to addressmercury concerns organizing TheMercury Forum, held May 2002. TheMississippi-Alabama Sea GrantConsortium (MASGC), Mobile BayNEP, The Forum: Industrial Partnersin Environmental Progress, and MobileBay Watch/Mobile BayKeeper sponsoredthe program. The Mercury Forumdemonstrated the ability of partnerswith diverse interests to worktogether to provide science-baseddata for both the public and policymakers. The following are SOMEfrequently asked questions thatresulted from the two day event.Q. I heard there is mercury in thewater and fish/shellfish. Where doesthe mercury come from?A. Mercury is released into theenvironment from natural processeslike weathering of mercury bearingrocks and volcanic eruptions. It isalso released by man’s activitiessuch as incineration of wastes, coalburning, mining and smelting. Thereare hundreds of other sources rangingfrom batteries and thermometersto drilling mud and municipal wastewater. Most mercury in water andfish is thought to come from atmosphericdeposition. After deposition,mercury may be converted by biologicalprocesses into methylmercury,which is taken up by livingorganisms and passed along frommicroscopic plants and animals tolarger organisms.Q. How does mercury get into fish?A. Some of the mercury in water orin the water bottom is converted tomethylmercury by bacteria and naturalchemical processes. Bacteria areeaten by small organisms which areeaten by larger organisms which inturn are eaten by even largerorganisms. At each step, the concentrationof methylmercury in theorganism increases. Concentrationsin large predator fish may be 10,000to 100,000 times greater than in thesurrounding water.Q. Is it safe to eat fish?A. Fish and shellfish are foodsources that are high in protein, lowin saturated fats, and are directsources of beneficial fatty acids.Hundreds of studies have demonstratedthe health benefits of eatingfish and shellfish. The concentrationof mercury in some fish is consideredunsafe (depending on the amountconsumed) by the Food and DrugAdministration (FDA) and EPA. Thelevel of consumption consideredsafe is a very conservative standardin order to protect those most at risk(primarily unborn and young children).Q. Will cooking reduce mercury infish?A. No. Methylmercury is foundthroughout the muscle tissue andthere are no specific areas of theedible flesh that have more or less.Similarly, there is no known marinadeor “soak” that would reduce mercury.Q. Are some fish or shellfish lowerin methylmercury?A. Yes. The amount of mercury infish and shellfish is dependent onthe age and size of the fish, what iteats and, in some cases, where itlives. Older fish that prey on largeamounts of other fish tend to havehigher levels. Short-lived fish thatfeed lower on the food chain tend tohave less mercury. Shellfish likeshrimp, oysters and crabs tend to below in mercury as well as younger(and usually smaller fish) of mostspecies. More information is neededon the mercury levels for many kindsof fish and for different ages of thesame kinds of fish.Q. What are the consequences ofeating fish with elevated methylmercurylevels?A. Mercury is a heavy metal thataffects the human nervous system.Most studies to date have concentratedon the effects on childrenborn to mothers who ate largeamounts fish or whale meat duringpregnancy. Some of these childrenscored slightly lower on standardtests and showed delayed development.There is little information onthe consequences to adults of eatingmoderate amounts of fish with mercurylevels commonly found in Gulfwaters. Clear evidence of nervoussystem impairment was obtained ina case where large quantities of fishwith very high mercury concentrationswere consumed in Japan.Q. I’m pregnant (or trying). Should Ieat fish?A. The FDA advises against eatingshark, swordfish, king mackerel andtilefish. The FDA further notes that“seafood can be an important partof a balanced diet for pregnantwomen and those of childbearingage who may become pregnant.”FDA advises that these women cansafely eat 12 ounces per week ofshellfish, smaller ocean fish or farmraisedfish. The EPA advises to checkstate consumption advisories.Q. Are high levels of mercury in fishpeculiar to the coastal areas of theGulf of Mexico?A. No. Elevated mercury levels insome fish have been known fromvarious locations around the U.S. forover 20 years. Currently there are2,242 consumption advisories, primarilyin specific fresh-water bodies,from 42 states. Most coastal statesfrom Texas to New Hampshire haveconsumption advisories for fish likelarge mackerel. There is nothingunusual about local fish or levels ofmercury in the Gulf of Mexico comparedto other locations around the U.S.The Mobile Bay NEP works witharea groups and agencies on themercury issue by providing fundingsupport to initiatives such as theMercury Forum, local research, andmonitoring stations within the SouthAlabama area.For fish consumption advisories in AL, logonto www.adph.org/risk/. To learn moreon forum recommendations and see thefull version of the mercury questions andanswers, log onto www.masgc.com. Tolearn more about mercury log ontowww.epa.gov/mercury/index.html.Questions and answers prepared by theAuburn University Marine Extension(AUMERC) and MASGC.Mobile Bay NEP14 Randy Sims

MONITORING AIR QUALITYIs anyone testing air quality inSouthern Alabama? The answer isa resounding Yes! The followingagencies are actively testing theair to find out exactly what is in itevery day. Many of these effortsare new so the data hasn’t beencompiled yet, be patient, we willhave the information soon.The primary monitoring agencyfor air quality is the AlabamaDepartment of EnvironmentalManagement (ADEM). ADEM regulatessources of air emissionsand routinely monitors ambientair quality statewide. In Mobileand Baldwin Counties, there arecurrently 2 mercury and nutrientrainwater deposition monitors, 3ozone monitors, 1 sulfur dioxideand 11 particulate monitors, and 1continuous mercury analyzer.The resulting data is used todetermine compliance with nationaland state air quality standardsand to produce things like theozone forecast (ozone, by theway, does not effect water quality).The Mobile Bay NEP initiated andcurrently supports sampling ofADEM’s four rainwater depositionmonitors. This program measureshow much mercury and nutrientdeposition occurs from rainfall.Our sites were coordinatedthrough the National AtmosphericDeposition Program. Samples arecollected weekly and analyzed.To see the data log ontonadp.sws.uiuc.edu/The Mobile Air Quality Studyinitiated 5 monitors in MobileCounty to sample and analyzetoxins deposited from dry air.Particles deposited on the groundduring dry weather can wash intothe Bay during rainstorms. WhileADEM controls the day-to-dayoperations of the monitors, thisproject is a partnership comprisedof Mobile County, Mobile BayWatch Inc. /Mobile BayKeeper,The Forum, the Mobile Chamberof Commerce and the City ofMobile. According to study partners,the condition of area airquality is unknown.Diana Sturm, PhD,Program Scientist Mobile Bay NEPTHERE’S STILL MOREIt is impossible to note all the contributions being made ona daily basis by so many people. It is also important to knowthat we all contribute to the integrity of our environment.We would like you to know of projects ongoing in our area.A Scenic Causeway Coalition consisting of many diverseinterests is working to have the Causeway designated aFederal Scenic Byway. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineersand Alabama Department of Transportation have studiesunderway to examine the feasibility of openings under sectionsof the roadway. This would help restore the interchangeof fresh and saltwater as well as improve biodiversity.The Cities of Mobile and Fairhope are investigating smartgrowth concepts and actively promoting the use of permeablepaving, rain gardens, and other environmentallyfriendly development practices. In addition, the Mobile BayNEP, MASGC, and AUMERC are supporting a HealthyCoastal Communities Initiative to educate local leadersabout smart growth concepts.Household Hazardous Waste Disposal activities sponsoredby local business interests, supported by the AlabamaCoastal Foundation and Keep Mobile Beautiful, as well asFAST FACTS• 100 AD – Occupational disease iswell known in ancient Rome.Workers in lead and mercurymines and smelters are knownto suffer from the metals• 1886 – First Audubon Society• 1892 – Sierra Club founded• 1936 – National Wildlife Federation• 1951 – The Nature Conservancy• 1963 – U.S. Congress passed firstClean Air Act• 1967 – Alabama EnvironmentalCouncil (formerly AlabamaConservancy) founded• 1970 – April 22 First Earth Day• 1972 – First bottle recycling billpassed in Oregon• 1972– Toxic Substances ControlAct required testing forhealth and environmentaleffects prior to a chemical’smanufacture or distributionlocal governments are becoming frequent events in ourarea and help reduce nonpoint source pollution.Public access to our water resources is being enhanced asseen in Mobile County with the recent purchase andplanned upgrades for Dead Lake Marina. The Village PointFoundation in Daphne has worked steadily to developBayfront Park. The Alabama Marine Resources Divisionhas several area boat launches, their most recent project islocated on Dauphin Island at Billy Goat Hole.Area environmental groups support a variety of activitiesthat include recycling, field trips, speakers, and activitiesthat affect our quality of life. Area businesses work with thecommunity to respond to community concerns.Today, 53% of the population nation wide lives within 50miles of a coast. This figure is expected to rise to 75% by2025, placing immense stress on our coastal areas. Wemust find ways to balance human use of our coastlines andthe preservation of their environmental quality and ecosystemintegrity. To learn more about the information providedthroughout this document and find ways you can help, logonto one of the many websites provided on the back page.You too can make a difference.Randy SimsRandy Sims 15

EnvironmentalGET INVOLVEDFIND OUT MORE ABOUTLOCAL CONSERVATION EFFORTSPartnersFederalEnvironmental Protection Agencywww.epa.gov/National Oceanicand Atmospheric Administrationwww.noaa.gov/Natural ResourcesConservation Servicewww.nrcs.usda.gov/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,Mobile Districtwww.sam.usace.army.mil/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,Daphne Ecological Field Officedaphne.fws.gov/news/news.htmU.S. Geological Surveywww.usgs.gov/StateAlabama Department ofConservation and Natural Resourceswww.dcnr.state.al.us/Alabama Department ofEnvironmental Managementwww.adem.state.al.us/Alabama Department of Public Healthwww.adph.org/Alabama State Port Authoritywww.asdd.com/Forever Wild Programwww.dcnr.state.al.us/agfd/forever.htmlGeological Survey of Alabamawww.gsa.state.al.us/Soil and Water ConservationDistrictswww.swcc.state.al.us/EducationalAlabama Center for Estuarine Studieswww.southalabama.edu/aces/Alabama CooperativeExtension Systemwww.aces.eduAuburn University Marine Extension& Research Centerwww.ag.auburn.edu/dept/faa/aumerc/BAMA Environmental Newswww.bamanews.com/Dauphin Island Sea Labwww.disl.orgEnvironmental History Timelinewww.environmentalhistory.orgFaulkner State Community CollegeMarine & Estuarine EnvironmentalEducationwww.faulknerstate.edu/meerLegacy, Incwww.legacyenved.comMobile County Public SchoolsEnvironmental Studies Centerwww.mcpss.com/enviro/enveddep.htmlMississippi-Alabama Sea GrantConsortiumwww.masgc.org/Project Cate Foundationwww.projectcate.comUniversity of South Alabamawww.usouthal.eduGet InvolvedAlabama Chapter of the Sierra Clubwww.alabama.sierraclub.org/Alabama Clean Water Partnershipwww.cleanwaterpartnership.orgAlabama Coastal Foundationwww.alcoastalfoundation.org/Alabama Environmental Councilwww.aeconline.wsAlabama Ornithological Societywww.bham.net/aos/Alabama Rivers Alliancewww.alabamarivers.orgAlabama Treasure ForestAssociationwww.atfa.net/Alabama Urban Forestry Associationwww.aufa.comAlabama Water Watchwww.alabamawaterwatch.orgAlabama Wildlife Federationwww.alawild.orgAudubon Societywww.audubon.org/Audubon Bird Sanctuaryon Dauphin Islanddauphinisland.org/bird.htmB.A.S.S.www.bassmaster.comCoastal Conservation Associationwww.joincca.org/Dog River Clearwater Revivaldogriver.southalabama.eduDucks Unlimitedwww.ducks.orgHummer / Bird Study Groupwww.hummingbirdsplus.org/Keep Mobile Beautifulwww.cityofmobile.org/html/departments/recycle/index.phpMobile Bay National Estuary Programwww.mobilebaynep.comMobile Bay Watch, Inc./MobileBayKeeperwww.mobilebaywatch.orgSouth Alabama Birding Associationwww.alaweb.com/~kenwood/saba/The Nature Conservancynature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/alabama/Waste Reduction and TechnologyTransfer (WRATT) Foundationwww.wratt.org/Weeks Bay Reserve Foundationwww.weeksbay.orgwww.ocrm.nos.noaa.gov/nerr/reserves/nerrweeks.htmlWolf Bay Watershed Watchwww.wolfbay.orgMOBILE BAY NATIONALESTUARY PROGRAM4172 Commanders DriveMobile, AL 36615March 30, 2003The staff of the Mobile Bay NEP wouldlike to thank everyone who generouslycontributed to this document.For copies and expanded versionsof stories go to our websitewww.mobilebaynep.com.Cherie ArceneauxPete BarberBlair BatemanCrystal BrowningHank BurchCasi CallowayJohn CareyBethany CarlJohn CarltonGeorge CrozierRose Ellen DeSimoneJohn DindoRobert DixonScott DouglassMimi FearnLynn GarrisLarry GoldmanAndree GonsoulinPenny GrubApril GutherieLeslie HartmanPhillip HinesleyJanis HeltonBob HowardNeil JohnstonRon JonesDebbie JonesAmy KingBill KovarikClinton MajorKelly MajorJason McAllisterSam MeadBarbara NolanSteve PerryTed PerryPublic Outreach Task ForceSusan ReesTim ReidJody ScanlanRandy SimsSusan SklenarDiana SturmRick WallaceDavid YeagerBurrul YokelLee YokelWilliam YokelLisa YoungPublication design • Janden Richards