Wolf Bay Plan Final - Mobile Bay National Estuary Program

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3. To protect groundwater resources as well as address the regulations of well water protectionin the watershed.4. Ensure protection of fish and wildlife habitats as well as sensitive habitats such as wetlands,marshes, bogs, grady ponds, long leaf pine flatwoods, and white cedar stands.5. To preserve family farms and the agricultural/rural heritage of the watershed whileprotecting water quality.PROGRAM PARTNERSHIPS OBJECTIVESProgram Partnership Objectives are similar to Cooperative Efforts but the success of these action strategiesare dependent upon external partnerships.1. Cooperate and develop relationships with local municipalities, government officials,governmental agencies, large landowners and businesses.2. Develop better relationships with contractors, developers, utility companies, farmers,businesses and homeowners through the Clean Water Partnership, or any way possible.3. Promote planning and zoning that will protect ecologically significant areas.4. Work with Baldwin County to identify unpaved roads within the watershed and prioritizepaving schedule.The recommendations in this report are based on the best available data and factual informationprovided by the following agencies:Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES);Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, State Lands Division, CoastalSection (ADCNR);Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division (MRD);Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM);Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH);Baldwin County Commission/Planning and Zoning Department;City of Foley;City of Orange Beach, Community Development Department;Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL);Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB);Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS);South Alabama Regional Planning Commission (SARPC);U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS);United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE);Weeks Bay Watershed Project;Wolf Bay Watershed Watch (WBWW).4
TABLE OF CONTENTS Page #EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...........................................................................................................................................2Objectives ......................................................................................................................................................3I. INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................................................................7A. Purpose of Plan................................................................................................................................7B. Overview of Report .........................................................................................................................8C. Perceptions or Why Do We Need a Watershed Plan? ......................................................................8II. DESCRIPTION OF THE WATERSHED ...............................................................................................................10A. Location ........................................................................................................................................10B. Environmental Importance ..............................................................................................................10C. Climate .................................................................................................................................................11D. Physical and Geologic Features .......................................................................................................13E. Soils ......................................................................................................................................................13F. Land Use and Population Growth ..................................................................................................15G. Economic Development ....................................................................................................................18H. Hydrology ...........................................................................................................................................20III.ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS ........................................................................................................................21A. Current Environmental Monitoring ................................................................................................22B. Needed Environmental Monitoring .................................................................................................24IV. CURRENT MANAGEMENT METHODS ...........................................................................................................25A. Non-Regulatory .................................................................................................................................251. Incentive Programs ........................................................................................................................252. Alabama Nonpoint Source Management Program ..................................................................273. Private Stewardship .......................................................................................................................284. Tax Incentives ..................................................................................................................................285. Citizen Involvement ......................................................................................................................296. Baldwin County Wetland Conservation Plan ............................................................................297. ADEM Source Water Assessment and Protection Plan.............................................................30B. Regulatory ...........................................................................................................................................301. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program ..................................................302. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Programs ......................................................................313. Baldwin County Health Department Septic Tank Permits ......................................................324. Baldwin County Commission ......................................................................................................335. Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Program ................................................................................346. Coastal Zone Regulations .............................................................................................................357. Coastal Consistency .......................................................................................................................358. Section 401 Water Quality Certification ......................................................................................369. Wetland Conservation Provisions ...............................................................................................36V. ACTION STRATEGIES FOR PROTECTION ........................................................................................................37A. Objectives ............................................................................................................................................37B. Evaluative Criteria .............................................................................................................................395
Page 2 and 3: EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThe Wolf Bay area
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 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 69 and 70:
69FIGURE 3
Page 71 and 72:
Wolf Bay Watershed ProjectProposed
Page 73 and 74:
73FIGURE 7
Page 75 and 76:
75FIGURE 9
Page 77 and 78:
77FIGURE 11
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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