It’s time to stop federal mud-dumping in Mobile Bay, like every other state.
Drone footage taken east of Middle Bay Light in Mobile Bay. Thanks to commercial shrimper Patrick Gormandy (@heritage_seafood_llc ) for alerting us that the dumping had begun again. To ask your elected official to end mud dumping visit SaveMobileBay.com or click the link in our bio.
We’ve responded to several reports of muddy water along the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay recently.
That muddy water doesn’t happen by accident.
As more wetlands and natural areas are replaced with roads, rooftops, and parking lots, stormwater moves faster and hits harder. Without proper drainage systems and investment in stream and gully restoration, that runoff tears through the land and carries sediment straight into our waters.
And the muddier our waters get, the harder it becomes for seagrass and oyster reefs to survive. Those habitats help keep Mobile Bay healthy, support marine life, and protect the way of life people came here to enjoy.
Over the past year, Mobile Baykeeper held three community listening sessions and heard the same concerns again and again from people across Baldwin County: high bacteria in local waterways, flooding getting worse, muddy stormwater, and wetlands being filled.
These are not isolated problems.
Growth is not the problem. Growth without better rules and enforcement is.
We compiled what we heard into a community report outlining the biggest concerns facing Baldwin County’s waters and the changes residents want to see moving forward. Now, we are taking what we learned there and developing suggested regulations for the county to implement to make these protections a reality. We'll be releasing those in the coming weeks, stay tuned.
Read the report → link in bio
Some people leave their mark on the water long before they’re gone. Brandon Wilson was one of those people.
He loved these waters the way so many of us do down here. Not as scenery. Not as a backdrop. But as part of life itself. The places we fish, swim, work, and make memories with the people we love.
That connection runs deep along the Gulf Coast. And Brandon carried it with him.
As we remember Brandon, we’re reminded why this work matters. Protecting these waters means protecting the people and stories tied to them.
We’re keeping Brandon’s family and loved ones in our prayers.
These waters are yours. Defend our way of life.
Centuries ago, dense forests of enormous oaks, pines, and cypress trees covered lower Alabama. Giants that would dwarf the typical trees we encounter today. Some say the Spanish explorers looked to the massive stands of cypress trees as navigation beacons when entering Mobile Bay. A sight on the horizon we could only dream of, as now there is but one of these giant cypress trees remaining, hidden deep within the Delta marsh, surrounded by a brigade of cypress knees. And the only way to reach her is by water.
Reconnecting with our local waterways and natural resources is essential for their protection. Check out the full article, “The Enduring Delta Queen,” in Currents magazine, and let it inspire you to get out and explore. Read the full article: link in bio.
These votes matter.
SB71 means you and your family are less protected from cancer-causing chemicals and other toxics.
HB181 turns dumping mud in Mobile Bay into beneficially using the dredge material.
We tracked how legislators voted on both.
See the full scorecard -> link in bio.
Most people never see how their representatives actually vote on issues that impact our water.
Several pieces of legislation were passed that will either help or harm the health of our coastal waters.
On May 12th, we’re releasing a scorecard that breaks it down.
Who’s protecting our waters and who isn’t.
Get on our newsletter, and we’ll send the scorecard directly to your inbox when it’s released on May 12th -> link in bio.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve made significant progress in restoring the oyster population in Coastal Alabama, thanks to the collaboration of the Alabama Commercial Fishermen's Association, Fish Tec, and folks in the community. Together, we’ve successfully built 12 oyster reefs across Heron Bay out of our planned 28
This initiative works alongside the reef-building efforts of the Alabama Commercial Fishermen's Association, providing habitat for baby oysters for years to come and supporting our overall mission to restore oyster populations in Coastal Alabama.
Huge thank you to Isle Dauphine Oyster Company, whose donation of shell kicked off our initial planting, the volunteers who rolled up their sleeves to help bag the shells, Fairhope Roasting Company for donating the burlap sacks, and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for allowing projects like this to happen.
This project shows what can happen when the community comes together to take responsibility for the health of our water.
We need your help to continue this work. Join us for oyster keeper maintenance or shell bagging events. Sign up to volunteer at the link in bio.
If you’ve relied on SWIM, this might surprise you.
Baykeeper shouldn’t have to run a program like SWIM.
Protecting water quality and public health is the responsibility of our government.
Agencies like ADEM do conduct testing, but not at the scale and frequency people need to make real decisions about when and where it’s safe to swim. And the information that is provided is not easily accessible.
You can view their current monitoring on their website - link in bio.
That’s why we stepped in.
And why, for years, we’ve worked to give people clear, consistent answers about their water.
We know many of you want to help. But until the program is fully funded through consistent, designated support, SWIM will remain paused.
Most people never see how their representatives actually vote on issues that impact our water.
We kept score on the votes impacting our water and our way of life.
On May 12th, we’re releasing a scorecard that breaks it down.
Who’s protecting our waters and who isn’t.
Get on our newsletter and we’ll send the scorecard directly to your inbox when it’s released on May 12th. Link in bio.
The Landing has watched me grow up, drift away, and return again — each time a little older (and hopefully wiser), yet always drawn back to the same spot that shaped my first Lagoon memories. It’s far more than the sum of its creaky wooden parts; it’s a touchstone for every version of myself that’s come home to the water.
Storms may wash away our landings, wharves, piers, docks, and camps, but the veins of our coastal blood run thicker than the wood beneath our feet or the saltwater that surrounds us. It lives in the memories anchored to these sacred places, and in the people who return to them, time and again, through each chapter of life.
For long after the storms have passed, our soul and spirit will endure beyond the pilings and plywood that call us home.
Read the full article “Meet Me at the Landing” from CURRENTS magazine at the link in bio.
You can’t talk about a healthy bay and not talk about oysters. Without them, our waters and the communities that depend on them suffer.
Oysters are nature’s filter feeders, working to remove nutrients, dirt, and pollutants from the water, significantly improving the water quality and safety. A single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day. Imagine what large reefs made up of tens of thousands of oysters can do for our waters.
Unfortunately, our oyster population has been in decline, with nearly 80% lost since the 1950s. But with the support of our community, we’re bringing them back.
Our Oyster Keepers Program is a hands-on reef restoration initiative that engages the community by encouraging waterfront property owners to use their docks and piers for growing young oysters. These oysters grow in suspended cages, where they filter the water and produce larvae that help seed new reefs. Each cage has the potential to create 100 million oyster larvae per year and filter 2,000 gallons of water daily.
Get your hands dirty this summer and see firsthand how oyster restoration actually happens. Sign up to volunteer at the link in bio.
We know the SWIM program matters to a lot of you.
And we want to bring it back.
But to do that, it needs dedicated, sustainable funding.
We’re actively looking for corporate partners who want to be part of protecting the health of our waters and our way of life.
This is a chance to directly support something people use and rely on every day.
If you own a business or work with a company that cares about the SWIM program, we’d love to talk.
Reach out to us at [email protected]
