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Teams Up With Local Experts
NOAA Teams Up With Local Experts to Restore Alabama Shorelines
 National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration has
announced plans to invest $1 million over three years to help
restore Alabama's Mobile Bay, partnering with local organizations
and citizens to reverse the loss of wetlands caused by coastal
development.
As
part of an innovative restoration practice called "Living
Shorelines," NOAA's Restoration Center will work
with a number of organizations including the University of
South Alabama, the Association of National Estuary Programs,
and Mobile Bay National Estuary Program to use natural techniques
to reduce coastal erosion, improve water quality, and prevent
future damage from boat wake, storms, and climate change.
"This
effort in Mobile Bay demonstrates that by working together,
we can make a difference in the fight against shoreline erosion,"
said Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D.,
under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and
NOAA Administrator. "Habitat restoration gives our coasts
a fighting chance against ever-increasing threats, making
them more resilient and resistant to dramatic change."
In
the past, shorelines were typically stabilized with hardened
structures, such as bulkheads and seawalls, to prevent or
minimize coastal erosion. However, scientists have found that
these structures can actually increase the rate of coastal
degradation. Waves reflect off the hardened structures, scouring
the area in front of the wall and causing additional shoreline
erosion. Bulkheads and seawalls also block tidal water flow
to coastal wetlands, as well as hamper natural flood control,
water treatment potential, and access for juvenile fish to
their nursery habitat.
"Through
our relationship with NOAA, the University of Alabama will
be able to expand its oyster restoration program to include
the restoration of a variety of habitats," said Dr.
Robert Shipp, principal investigator for the university's
project team. "This expansion will enable us to have a more
holistic, ecosystem-wide approach to restoring these important
coastal resources."
The
following Living Shorelines projects are planned for Alabama:
 Luscher
Park on Dog River: The goals of this project are
to control erosion, create habitat, and establish an educational
site for showcasing environmentally-appropriate erosion control
technologies as viable alternatives to sea walls and bulkheads.
The Mobile National Estuary Program will implement this project
in partnership with NOAA and the Association of National Estuary
Programs.
Alabama
Oyster Reef and Fisheries Habitat Enhancement Program:
The University of South Alabama will implement this multi-year
program in cooperation with NOAA, conducting a scientific
study to assess the multiple benefits of near-shore oyster
reef restoration to prevent shoreline erosion at both Point
Aux Pines and Alabama Port in Mobile Bay. The program will
assess current marine habitats; conduct large-scale habitat
creation and restoration activities; undertake targeted research
projects; and perform public outreach, education, and communication.
Since 1999, NOAA's Restoration
Center has invested more than $7 million in the state of Alabama.
In cooperation with its partners, NOAA has restored salt marshes
and seagrass, created and restored oyster reefs, and educated
communities about the value of habitat and restoration. Altogether,
these projects have engaged more than 1,100 volunteers and
resulted in the restoration of approximately 90 acres of coastal
habitat.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department,
is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety
through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related
events and information service delivery for transportation,
and by providing environmental stewardship of our nation's
coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global
Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working
with its federal partners, more than 70 countries and the
European Commission to develop a global monitoring network
that is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts
and protects.
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