The Mobile Bay watershed is the fourth largest river basin by volume in the United States; as such, the Bay serves as a dynamic transition zone where freshwater rivers mix with the tidal salt water of the Gulf of Mexico. The Mobile Bay National Estuary Program (MBNEP) is charged with protecting and restoring the water quality and ecological integrity of this estuary of national significance. As a part of this mission, the MBNEP is tasked with generating periodic ‘State of the Bay’ reports to provide a comprehensive assessment of the environmental health of Alabama's coast, focusing on Mobile Bay and the surrounding landscape.

Since the last stand-alone report in 2008, the Program has been integrating years of research and new data to share. In a collaborative approach that included literature reviews, data requests, an interactive workshop, and an open comment period, the new State of Alabama’s Estuaries and Coast report features work from numerous MBNEP management conference members, state and federal agencies, environmental consulting partners, and the NOAA RESTORE-funded Decadal Study team.

The scope of the State of Alabama’s Estuaries and Coast includes the vast network of uplands, wetlands and waterways that characterize lower Alabama.  The document aims to illustrate the connections between and contributions of local tidal watersheds, Mobile Bay, and the broader Mobile Bay watershed. Program priorities and data analysis focus on critical elements such as water quality, land use change, community and environmental resilience, habitat health and diversity, fish and wildlife populations, heritage and culture, and access. Impacts on the coastal environment are highlighted, stressing the importance of community involvement and education in fostering sustainable stewardship of natural resources. In addition to status and trends in ecosystem health, the report also brings attention to local research, restoration, and conservation efforts that improve our understanding of the Bay and work to preserve our coastal way of life.

This presentation will cover some highlights of the report, provide opportunities for digital downloads, and detail the next steps in sharing this information with our coastal communities and partners.