Mobile Bay National Estuary Program Completing Eastern Shore Watershed Study
Erosion on Fly Creek in Fairhope is one of the issues being examined in a watershed study by the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program. A draft of the study is expected to be ready for public comment by March. GUY BUSBY/GULF COAST MEDIA
By GUY BUSBY
Government Editor
guy@gulfcoastmedia.com
FAIRHOPE — Growth along the Eastern Shore is creating environmental challenges, such as sedimentation created from construction sites, a two-year study of the Mobile Bay watershed found.
Christian Miller, of the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, told members of Fairhope City Council the study is intended to not just find the environmental problems created by issues such as growth but also look for solutions.
"Mobile and Baldwin County are growing, Baldwin County specifically," Miller said Monday, Jan. 9. "Along the Eastern Shore here, we're seeing a tremendous amount of growth, and that growth, which we all want to encourage, comes with challenges, too. One of those recommendations is looking for ways that we can encourage development that's responsible and not going to put undue pressure on the resources of all the municipalities here along the Eastern Shore and the county itself as that relates to stormwater, sewer, wastewater, infrastructure, all those kinds of things. So, we're looking for ways to encourage sustainable and responsible development all across coastal Alabama through this process."
Miller said the study examines the watershed along much of the Eastern Shore from Daphne and Fairhope down to Barnwell. He said the COVID-19 pandemic delayed work on the program, but organizers expect to have a draft of the study ready for public comment by March.
He said residents have already expressed concerns about environmental issues in the area.
"Water quality is one of the things that we hear from a lot of the folks here are very concerned about, lot of sedimentation and erosion," Miller said. "A lot of that is due to development, but specifically, a lot of the tributaries that flow into Mobile Bay, Fly Creek, Rock Creek. A lot of the gullies that are associated with these tributaries have shown signs of deterioration."
The study examines areas where work will be needed to fix issues such as erosion. If areas are identified, officials can start working to find the money to resolve the problems, Miller said. He said agencies such as the Alabama Department of Transportation are working to fix erosion near highways.
"I know Fly Creek where it comes under the highway has been an issue," Miller said. "ALDOT's been trying to address that with emergency repairs. We're looking for ways to try to manage it long term. That's going to be probably a project that comes out of this."
