Mobile County Buys Critical Shoreline Forest on Mobile Bay

Posted on: Nov 10th, 2015 | News and Announcements

The Mobile County Commission will take ownership of an important maritime forest and tidal marsh, a 233-acre parcel along the western shore of Mobile Bay near Old Fowl River. The land purchase is funded by a $4.2 million federal conservation grant. ?It?s one of the last remaining maritime forests along the Mobile Bay coastline containing invaluable wetlands supporting a diverse habitat for sea life, plants and animals,? said Mobile County Commission President Jerry Carl. ?It?s a privilege and a responsibility to manage and preserve these acres for the future good of the community.? The project builds upon the Mobile County Commission?s Coastal Impact Assistance Program for habitat conservation and restoration. The program is funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Federation Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund. The Mobile County Commission has so far purchased around 1,000 acres of sensitive land that abut vital natural resources in the county. Most of the land, or 760 acres, is located within the Big Creek Watershed. ?We are blessed with incredible natural resources that need to be protected and preserved,? said Mobile County Commissioner Merceria Ludgood. ?It?s a matter of preserving the health and beauty of our land.? The Mobile Bay parcel includes 4,000 feet of shoreline and about 90 acres of brackish marsh characterized by a heavy cover of smooth cordgrass and black needlerush. Forested upland knolls and ridges overlook the marsh. The canopy of trees across the property reflects the absence of logging over a period of 100 years or more. ?A high diversity of plants and birds has been observed on the property,? said Mobile County Commissioner Connie Hudson. ?It?s a perfect set-up for a living shoreline on the beach and in the water.?