Wolf Bay Plan Final - Mobile Bay National Estuary Program

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In 1990, the Coastal Zone Act and Reauthorization Amendments (CZARA) section 6217 waspromulgated to establish the Alabama Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution Program, alsoadministered by ADEM.3. Private StewardshipWolf Bay Watershed Landowners, particularly farmers, are interested in incorporatingconservation practices into management of their property. NRCS educates the landowners of theincentive programs and works with them to incorporate nonpoint source pollution controlmethods. Education and public participation are also an important part of private stewardship.The Private Stewardship Program, through NRCS, provides grants and other assistance on acompetitive basis to individuals and groups engaged in local, private, and voluntary conservationefforts that benefit federally listed, proposed, or candidate species, or other at-risk species. Diversepanels of representatives from state and federal government, conservation organizations,agriculture and development interests, and the science community assess applications and makerecommendations to the Secretary of the Interior, who awards the grants. The Private StewardshipProgram was initiated during Fiscal Year 2002, with grants first awarded during FY 2003.For Fiscal Year 2004, NRCS will award more than $7 million in Federal funding under the PrivateStewardship Program. A ten percent (10%) match of cash or through in-kind contributions isrequired. The program is available to private landowners and their partners.4. Tax Incentivesa. Conservation EasementsA conservation easement is a legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust (orgovernment agency) that protects open space by limiting the amount and type of developmentthat can take place, but leaves the land in private ownership. Each easement restriction is tailoredto the individual landowner’s need. When a landowner donates or sells a conservation easementto a land trust, he can continue to live on or work the land - in accordance with the easement’sprovisions - and can sell the land or pass it on to heirs. Donating the easement can result inreduced income and estate taxes.b. Gift of Remainder InterestA gift of a remainder interest in a personal residence or farm provides one with an income taxcharitable deduction for the present value of the remainder interest and permits one to escapeany potential capital gain tax on the built-in appreciation. The property owner can continue tooccupy the residence or operate the farm without disruption. Such a gift provides a deduction28
that frees up tax dollars into spendable income without causing any disruption in lifestyle. Taxes,insurance, and normal maintenance remain ones responsibility.c. Gift by WillA charitable contribution of a conservation easement or gift of property can be made by will. Thefull value of the gift is deductible from estate taxes.There is a current move, primarily on behalf of media and civic groups, to promote constitutionalreform. A large portion of this movement is to do away with the current property tax assessmentwhich is based on current use and set tax rate based on potential use. Such a change could leavemany farmers unable to pay taxes and would increase the potential for conversion to urbandevelopment. The rules already require rollback taxes for the previous three years. Estate taxproblems also exist because many heirs are left farmland and sell because they can’t pay thetaxes.5. Citizen InvolvementThe Wolf Bay Watershed Project (WBWW) has developed a variety of education and publicparticipation programs to encourage stakeholders to take the steps necessary to protect theirwatershed. WBWW hosts an active volunteer water quality monitoring program. Programs,such as the Clean Water Guardian Program and Backyard Wildlife Habitat, are also recommendedto include a variety of audiences, namely agricultural interests, builders and contractors, educators,students, homeowners and elected officials.6. Baldwin County Wetland Conservation Plan (BCWCP)Baldwin County estimates 470 square miles of wetlands exist in Baldwin County. In 1995, BaldwinCounty began mapping and assessing wetlands as part of EPA’s Advance Identification (ADID)of wetlands program. The ADID project mapped portions of south Baldwin County based on its“suitability for fill.” In 1999, the Baldwin County Commission developed the Baldwin CountyWetland Conservation Program to:1. Further develop a Wetlands Protection Overlay District (WPOD) and incorporate into theBaldwin County Planning and Zoning Regulations.2. Develop a Geographic Information System (GIS) wetlands data layer containing informationon wetland locations, types, and functional capacity for wetlands in Baldwin County.3. Research, design, and implement wetland restoration/construction projects at selected sitesthroughout the County.4. Develop a wetlands education/outreach program for area stakeholders.29
Page 2 and 3: EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThe Wolf Bay area
Page 4 and 5: 3. To protect groundwater resources
Page 6 and 7: C. Action Strategies for Protection
Page 8 and 9: B. Overview of ReportThis managemen
Page 10 and 11: II. DESCRIPTION OF THE WATERSHEDThe
Page 12 and 13: frequency of thunderstorms over coa
Page 14 and 15: productive agriculture soils. This
Page 16 and 17: The watershed is primarily rural, b
Page 18 and 19: G. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTCurrent Econ
Page 20 and 21: H. HYDROLOGYBaldwin County is depen
Page 22 and 23: Pathogens include disease-causing b
Page 24 and 25: waters and the prompt notification
Page 26 and 27: a. Conservation Reserve Program (CR
Page 30 and 31: 7. ADEM Source Water Assessment and
Page 32: the United States” except by a Co
Page 35 and 36: While there are no phase I or II mu
Page 37 and 38: V. ACTION STRATEGIES FOR PROTECTION
Page 39 and 40: B. EVALUATIVE CRITERIAIt is importa
Page 41 and 42: Issue: Homeowners, decision-makers,
Page 43 and 44: Action Strategy 4: Investigate effe
Page 45 and 46: Action Strategy 2: Develop a bacter
Page 47 and 48: 5. CONSTRUCTIONA survey of dirt roa
Page 49 and 50: Action Strategy 4: Encourage munici
Page 51 and 52: 7. FISHERIES:Fish and shellfish pop
Page 53 and 54: Issue: Homeowners are concerned abo
Page 55 and 56: Issue: There is a need for the gene
Page 57 and 58: Issue: Watershed residents need sup
Page 59 and 60: TABLE 2OAW CURRENT AND REQUESTED US
Page 61 and 62: TABLE 3WOLF BAY WATERSHED WATCH MON
Page 63 and 64: TABLE 4 - ADEM WATER USE CLASSIFICA
Page 65 and 66: TABLE 5SOD ACREAGE IN BALDWIN COUNT
Page 67 and 68: 67FIGURE 1
Page 71 and 72: Wolf Bay Watershed ProjectProposed
Page 79 and 80:
79FIGURE 13
Page 81 and 82:
81FIGURE 15
Page 83 and 84:
APPENDIX 1—STEERING COMMITTEE MEM
Page 85 and 86:
MASGCMBWMEEMOAMRDMS4NEMONEPNOAANPDE
Page 87 and 88:
pH— Numeric value that indicates
Page 89 and 90:
APPENDIX 4 - ACTION STRATEGIES (CON
Page 91 and 92:
Page 93 and 94:
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Wolf Bay Plan Final - Mobile Bay National Estuary Program

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