MOBILE — The Mobile Baykeeper hosted a town hall Tuesday evening to discuss issues related to a project to widen and deepen the Port of Mobile. The meeting was held at Saint Philip Neri Parish in Theodore.
The Baykeeper said 90 million cubic yards of dredge material will be placed in Mobile Bay, threatening vegetation, wildlife and the quality of life.
They have six requests to mitigate the issues:
No in-bay disposal that is not beneficial use
Involvement and approval of Baykeeper for beneficial use projects
Formal study on wave energy mitigation along the ship channel
In-channel dissolved oxygen system
Private cost-share program to convert waterfront property to living shoreline
Largescale public waterfront property conversion project to living shoreline
Last month, the Baykeeper sent a letter of intent to sue the Army Corps of Engineers over the impact on the Gulf Sturgeon. Executive director William Strickland said he hopes the lawsuit never has to come to fruition.
“We recognize this is not the last time we need to do something like this,” Strickland said. “We're hopeful that we will avoid a lawsuit and that we will get the things that are listed there on that screen.”
“As you saw, there's already been new money appropriated for this issue, but it's not going to happen if you stop now; it's only going to happen if you continue to write and if you ask your neighbors to write [to elected officials],” he added.
The Alabama Port Authority asked the Mobile Baykeeper to stop threatening a lawsuit and have conversations with those involved. The Mobile Baykeeper has a meeting with the Army Corps of Engineers at the end of the month.
Bradley Byrne, president and CEO of the Mobile Chamber,previously warned the lawsuit "threatens future job growth."
Captain Patrick Garmeson, with Ugly Fishing, participated in the Mobile Baykeeper's presentation. He has been guiding for 14 years and has witnessed many changes.
“I have personally seen a lot of the areas where they do this open water disposal just really become void of life,” Garmeson said.
Garmeson said he believes the changes started about 10 years ago.
“You go in these areas where this stuff has been dumped, and that life isn't there,” he stated.
Following the Baykeeper’s presentation, several from the crowd of over 150 took to the microphone.
Glen Coffee, a former project manager for the Army Corps of Engineers, was one of them. He believes politics often get in the way of environmental needs.
“Our state, unfortunately, does not care enough about our natural resources,” Coffee said. “I'm talking about our state government. And that's the problem.”
“And our politicians in Washington and in Montgomery don't care enough either,” he continued. “I'm just trying to be frank because I've been working with lots of people over the last 10 years or so, including fishermen, and let me tell you.
Coffee said it takes more than a handful of people with concerns to make a difference.
“I feel very strongly about this,” he said. “Baykeeper needs to pursue the threat or the lawsuit with all the energy they can because that's always going to get the Corp’s attention.”
“If you don't do that, that's really the only weapon you have right now,” Coffee continued. “Because they're not going to listen to you any other way. They'll listen to you, but then as soon as the door closes, you leave, they're going to do what they want to do.”
Barry Wyatt lives on Mobile Bay, where he has a commercial oyster reef. He said he has lost 60% of that reef.
“Oysters look like mudballs,” he explained. “They can't breathe, and that's all I have to say. Dredging is just killing the bay.”
Others expressed concerns about heavy metals being brought to the surface due to dredging.
Fred Cassidy said the mud has caused issues in a local park, which is why he is concerned about so-called “beneficial use” projects.
“If you step down there by the park, you sink in about two feet of mud because I've done it,” Cassidy said.
He said dredge spoils from previous projects have been piled up, causing problems because crews must constantly manage them.
“One day, there's a mud pile and the next day, after a storm, there is not a mud pile,” Cassidy said. “Well, it's in my backyard, you know? And so, I mean, this is an old lesson. We keep learning the same old lessons.”
Strickland said that while no officials attended the town hall on Tuesday, he is hopeful they will hear what was said.
Participants in the town hall were encouraged to take pre-typed letters and envelopes to send to U.S. lawmakers from Alabama.
The Mobile Baykeeper will have another town hall on August 20 at Fairhope United Methodist Church at 6 p.m.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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