(February 03, 2020) --

The Mobile Bay National Estuary Program (MBNEP) is seeking input and feedback from citizens living along the Western Shore of Mobile Bay as a comprehensive plan to manage the care and use of its lands, habitats, shores, and waterways are developed. This focus area includes a complex of the three watersheds stretching along and draining into the Bay, from the industrial waterfront portions of the City of Mobile south to the Dauphin Island Causeway.

Anyone who lives, works, or plays in the Western Shore Complex is encouraged to attend, learn about the planning process and collection of data, and to express concerns and insights. Public input is critical to ensuring viewpoints of the people who know the area are addressed, problems are analyzed, and solutions and funding sources to pay for them are recommended.

The public is invited to Community meetings at locations along the Western Shore at dates and times listed below to provide opportunities to identify priorities and express hopes and concerns for maintaining or improving the quality of waters, habitats, and life there. Along with scientific studies to assess water quality, shoreline and habitat condition, and land use impacting Mobile Bay, public engagement is necessary to develop management strategies that include public priorities and address public concerns.

Community Meetings

  • Thursday, January 23 | 5:30-7:00 pm Elk’s Lodge, 2671 Dauphin Island Parkway, Mobile, AL
  • Monday, February 3 | 5:30-7:00 pm Pelican Reef, 11799 Dauphin Island Pkwy, Theodore, AL
  • Monday, February 10 | 5:30-7:00 Hollinger’s Island Baptist Church, 2450 Island Road, Mobile, AL

“We know Mobile Bay is a very special place to so many people,” said MBNEP Director Roberta Swann. “This Plan is about ensuring the Bay continues to provide recreational, scenic, economic, environmental, and other benefits to all who care about it. The Mobile Bay National Estuary Program’s mission is to ensure the wise stewardship of the quality and living resources of Alabama’s estuarine waters. The Western Shore Complex Watershed Management Plan is a key element to our mission, and community participation is vital to its development. We hope every resident who cares about Mobile Bay’s Western Shore will turn out.”

“We hope many people from all Western Shore watersheds come out and share their ideas about our future,” said Debi Foster, a member of the Steering Committee for the Plan, “The more people who participate, the better job we can do to make sure the plan addresses everyone’s interests and concerns.” For more information, visit our Western Shore page or contact Herndon Graddick (hgraddick@mobilebaynep.com (251) 380 7944).