Bringing together all of the diverse groups to assess water quality, living resource abundance, the rate of habitat loss and conservation and the ability of communities to grow while remaining environmentally healthy is the aim of the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program (NEP).
An estuary is the place where salt and fresh water meet and the marshes intermingle with the sea grasses. They’re known as breeding grounds for many species of marine life. Most large ports in the United States are near estuaries, but the high-density population in these areas – Galveston, New York, San Francisco and Mobile – can have a detrimental effect on the estuaries. Pollution, increased sedimentation and altered salinity are all concerns for the health of the estuary.
The Mobile Bay NEP is a division of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and is a voluntary, non-regulatory program that promotes a community- and culture-based approach to watershed management. It was established in 2002 and is administered and funded through the Environmental Protection Agency and the Clean Water Act.
Its mission is varied. On its website you’ll find a tremendous amount of information, including the various watersheds in its monitoring program; access; beaches, dunes and shoreline; and fish and wildlife. You can also visit its library for videos, water management plans and videos.
Alabama’s Coastal Connection is closely associated with the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program that includes waterways in Baldwin and Mobile counties. Contact the NEP to learn more and become involved.
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