Wolf Bay Plan Final - Mobile Bay National Estuary Program

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Issue: Nonpoint source runoff from silviculture operationsAction Strategy 1: Determine % of watershed in timber, amount of $ raised, get list of timberingoperations.Action Strategy 2: Work with Forestry Commission to encourage and install BMPsAction Strategy 3: Encourage participation in Sustainable Forestry Initiative and ISO certifications.Responsible Parties: ADEM, Alabama Pulp and Paper Council, AFCPartners: WBWP, ACES, NRCS, SWCD, LandownersFunding Sources: Farm Bill Conservation Programs, 319 ProgramTimeline: 2 nd Quarter, 2005Evaluation method 4Issue: Conversion of agricultural and silvicultural land to residential landAction Strategy 1: Develop or adopt a workshop for estate attorneys, landowners, municipalities,etc. on incentives to preserve land.Responsible Parties: ACF, WBWPPartners: Hand Arendall, NRCS, farmers, Elberta Co-Op, attorneys, municipalities, CPAsFunding Sources: In KindTimeline: 2 nd Quarter, 2005Evaluation method 1Action Strategy 2: Work to develop an incentive based program to conserve land, i.e. riparian buffers,conservation easements, land trusts, etc.Responsible Parties: UnknownPartners: ACF, WBWP, Hand Arendall, NRCS, farmers, Elberta Co-op, Forever Wild, Coastal LandTrustFunding Sources: In KindTimeline: 1 st Quarter, 2005Evaluation method 1Action Strategy 3: Provide education and outreach to the general public on estate taxes, property taxassessments and conservation easements and its connection to land use.Responsible Parties: ACF, WBWPPartners: Hand Arendall, NRCS, farmers, Elberta Co-opFunding Sources: In KindTimeline: 3 rd Quarter, 2005Evaluation method 1Action Strategy 4: Work with community to develop and provide incentives to preserve familyfarms.Responsible Parties: ACF, WBWPPartners: NRCS, farmers, Elberta Co-opFunding Sources: In KindTimeline: 1 st Quarter, 2006Evaluation method 146
5. CONSTRUCTIONA survey of dirt roads was conducted by the volunteers of the Wolf Bay Watershed Watch and Figure 16illustrates the location and extent of unpaved roads in the Wolf Bay Watershed Project Area. Of the 250miles of roads, 49 miles are dirt or gravel and are maintained by the City of Gulf Shores, City of Foley,Town of Elberta, Baldwin County Commission and private citizens. Unpaved roads can be significantcontributors of water quality degradation if not properly designed and maintained. Discharges of sedimentladen waters into our waterways and wetland habitats diminishes channel capacity, causing more frequentand severe flooding; destroys aquatic and riparian habitat; and has other adverse effects on water qualityand water-related activities. Erosion of unpaved roads occurs when soil particles are loosened and carriedaway from the roadway base, ditch, or road bank by water, wind, or traffic. After being dislodged, erodedsoil particles are carried into the roadway drainage system. These systems should be designed to alloweroded particles to settle out before discharging into our waterways. Sediment control is usuallyaccomplished through gradients of slope and vegetative buffers. Over time, the particles that settle outbuild up and reduce the carrying capacity of the drainage system and can cause increased flooding,erosion, and discharges of sediment. Therefore, proper maintenance reduces both environmental impactsand maintenance costs.The Baldwin County Commission has implemented several programs and documents to combat theseenvironmental and monetary costs. In 1998 the Baldwin County Environmental Advisory Board (BCEAB)was charged by the County Commission to identify unpaved roads that caused the largest impacts.Using data collected as part of the County Road Maintenance Cost Records and site visits, The 25 MostEnvironmentally Damaging Dirt Roads in Baldwin County was developed to provide priority andrecommendations for county-maintained roads. From this list, Crawford Road was the only road listedfor the Wolf Bay Watershed Area. As a result of this study and the availability of adequate right-of-way,it was paved and stormwater management was addressed. Also, dirt roads are graded on a routine cycleand after prolonged rainy periods. Ongoing since 2001, the implementation of the Erosion and SedimentControl Initiative of the Coastal Impact Assistance Plan (CIAP) has provided funding to accomplish threeprimary goals at the county level: 1) Best Management Training (BMP) training and certification of staff,2) acquisition of alternative BMP technologies such as hydroseeders and hay bale shredders, and 3)paving of portions of dirt roads which cross sensitive habitats (Hill-top to Hill-top Program). In 2003 theBaldwin County Commission developed a BMP Policy document for construction and maintenance ofcounty-maintained roads. The result of these programs and documents has lead to a marked improvementin both water quality and transportation. As unpleasant and damaging as unpaved roads are, they providea necessary function for the residents and commerce of Baldwin County. Therefore, adaptation andexpansion of managing techniques by stakeholders will prove to be the most efficient way of tacklingimpacts and costs from unpaved roads.47
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 28 and 29: In 1990, the Coastal Zone Act and R
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: Action Strategy 2: Develop a bacter
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 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

Wolf Bay Plan Final - Mobile Bay National Estuary Program

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