Use of Dredged Sands & Dauphin Island Restoration
(Letter from Bob Hastings to State Senator Bill Hightower and Representative David Sessions)
On behalf of the Alabama Chapter of the Sierra Club and its statewide membership, I am writing to inform you that our organization fully supports the proposed legislation requiring sands dredged from Alabama’s coastal inlets to maintain navigation channels be placed at suitable locations to reduce shoreline erosion.
For some time now, the Sierra Club has been aware of the severe erosion plaguing Dauphin Island. We are also aware of specific studies that point to the contributing role that dredging of the Mobile Harbor ship channel and the locations where inlet sands are placed play in the island’s erosion.
Specifically, dredged sands have been dumped for years at locations that permanently remove them from the coastal littoral drift system crucial to maintaining Alabama’s Gulf beaches. If the proposed legislation were to become law, its implementation would represent a positive step toward solving Dauphin Island’s erosion problem.
The Alabama Chapter of the Sierra Club is aware that the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources was able to obtain funding to conduct the Alabama Barrier Island Assessment. While we are hopeful the Assessment will identify long term fixes for Dauphin Island’s erosion problem, we are equally concerned that, after four years of study, the final report is purposely designed not to develop a firm recommended plan for implementation. That important deficiency in the report appears to be intentional, indicating our State has not yet developed the necessary commitment to pursue a meaningful solution to Dauphin Island’s erosion issue.
The message conveyed to Alabama Chapter of the Sierra Club and other environmental organizations in Alabama, is that our State government does not appreciate the important role that Alabama’s only barrier island, Dauphin Island, plays in creating and maintaining the important estuarine ecosystems in Mobile Bay and Mississippi Sound. Those ecosystems are vital to sustaining both commercial and recreational fisheries, many coastal bird species, and to providing the aesthetic environmental qualities that drive South Alabama’s tourism industry. Yet for years, our State has turned a blind eye to the Alabama State Port Authority’s consistent refusal to acknowledge any connection exists between maintenance of the ship channel that is essential to the Port Authority’s economic viability and the erosion of Dauphin Island over the last half a century despite considerable evidence to the contrary. (download the full letter) (read the proposed legislation here).
Black Warrior Riverkeeper Helps Scientists Find Rare Crayfish Species
During the spring and summer of 2015, Black Warrior Riverkeeper helped out with a crayfish survey in the riverbottom hardwood forests and wetlands within the Black Warrior River’s floodplain in Tuscaloosa and Hale Counties. Led by Michael Kendrick, a PhD Candidate in the University of Alabama’s Department Biological Sciences (bsc.ua.edu), and Rebecca Bearden, a Biologist with the Geological Survey of Alabama’s Ecosystems Investigations Program (gsa.state.al.us/gsa/eco), two separate surveys were performed
In May, while surveying vernal pools and wetlands, we found a very rare crayfish – the Vernal Crayfish (Procambarus viaeviridis), and this was the first find of this species in Hale County. This is a rare crayfish for Alabama (it has Priority I – “highest conservation concern” state status). Priority I is the highest level of protective status a species can have at the state level, the equivalent of the federal Endangered Species Act’s “Endangered” status. Prior to 2014, the Vernal Crayfish had only been found in Tuscaloosa County and Lauderdale County.
In June, while surveying cypress and tupelo gum wetlands, oxbows, and creeks, we found a number of different species, including an incredibly rare Hale County find – an undescribed species of crayfish, (Cambarellus [new_species]). Michael netted multiple gravid female Camabrellus, helping to determine that this very small species indeed does not get any larger.
In total we found 9 species of crayfish: Vernal Crayfish (Procambarus viaeviridis); Digger Crayfish (Fallicambarus fodiens); Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii); Devil Crayfish (Cambarus diogenes); Shrimp Crayfish (Orconectes lancifer); Paintedhand Mudbug (Cambarus polychromatus); Sharpnose Crayfish (Procambarus acutissimus); White River Crayfish (Procambarus acutus); and (Cambarellus [new_species]).
Such impressive crayfish biodiversity in the lower Black Warrior River basin is a good sign for the river and its floodplain. Moreover, these findings are a great addition to the growing Alabama crayfish record, all of which will be captured in an upcoming Alabama crayfish book that we eagerly await.
Be Vigilent Out there Folks: Citizen Action Protects Our Streams and Lands!
From Cahaba Riverkeeper: Shades Creek at Elder St laid bare by Bham City w/no silt fence leaving dirt to wash in w/ rain. Old lawsuit inhibits intervention? James Lowery on patrol!
Update: On 12/16/15 the Alabama Department of Environmental Management issued a notice of violation to City of Birmingham, Alabama for activity on Shades Creek at Elder Street. Among other things, the city had no permit to do the work and did not implement BMP's (Best Management Practices). The Army Corps of Engineers was also notified. The city has until December 31st to respond to the notice. Oh, and they had a back hoe IN THE STREAM!
As always, huge thanks to the citizens who took time to let us know what was going on so we could follow up! Learn more here.
Announcements from the North Alabama Group
Resolve to Hike More in 2016
Happy New Year to everyone! It's that time for making resolutions and thinking about getting back in shape. Why not resolve to do more hiking and other outdoor activities this year? We live in an area that is rich in wilderness areas with easy access to many trails, bike paths and rivers for all levels of experience. Take a look at the outings list and plan to get out there more this year. There are hikes this Friday and Saturday - an easy one Friday afternoon on Monte Sano and a longer, more strenuous one on Blevins Gap Saturday morning. Come join us!
And while you're at it, why not think about becoming an outings leader? We can always use more people to lead hikes, backpacks, bike rides and paddling outings. It just takes a few hours of training and a commitment to plan a few outings. Show us a few of your favorite outdoor places. You don't have to be an expert to lead an outing. Short easy hikes are just as welcome as long, difficult backpacks. Contact the Outings leader listed under Excom Members for more information. Get outdoors more in 2016!
Welcome to new Excom Members
Welcome to the new members of the executive committee for the North Alabama Sierra Club - Patricia Wales, Carolyn Brooks and Judy Burley. The Club would not function without the excom and thanks in advance for all you will do to help keep things running.
Tuesday Night Hikes Resume in April
The Tuesday night hikes have ended for now and will resume in April on Monte Sano after the time change.
Volunteer to Help with Fiery Gizzard Trail Work
If you hike the Fiery Gizzard Trail you probably know about the closure of major portions of this wonderful trail that are on private land. There are plans to reroute the trail down into the canyon and this will take time and a lot of work. The Park Rangers are asking for help with the trail work. If you want to help with the work to reopen this trail, check the Meetup site for the Friends of South Cumberland http://www.meetup.com/ Friends-of-South-Cumberland-State-Park-Hikes/ There will be information about dates for trail work and a way to let them know you are coming to help.
Southern Environmental Law Center donates “Southern Exposure” DVDs to Birmingham Public Library
The Southern Environmental Law Center and Black Warrior Riverkeeper have partnered to donate to the Birmingham Public Library System (BPL) dozens of Southern Exposure DVDs educating the public about Alabama’s natural resources.
Southern Environmental Law Center has donated 57 DVDs – 2013, 2014 and 2015 editions of each Southern Exposure film, said Charles Scribner, executive director of Black Warrior Riverkeeper. That is enough for each of the BPL’s 19 locations to have a free copy of each edition available for checkout to the public. The public can get more background on the DVD at the Southern Exposure website: www.southernexposurefilms.org.
Keith Johnston, managing attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center’s Birmingham Office, said the organization was honored to donate the DVDs to the Birmingham Public Library as an avenue for educating the public.
“As a vital public resource for our city and state, we are thrilled that the Birmingham Public Library will now house the entire collection of the Southern Exposure films,” Johnston said. “These films highlight our state’s abundance of natural resources as well as the challenges and threats that they face, and the partnership with the Birmingham Public Library will help to continue raising awareness and appreciation for Alabama’s environmental wealth.” (read more on the Black Warrior Riverkeeper website)
Facebook and The Environment
Have you explored Alabama's environmental community on Facebook. There are lots more, but you might want to give these a look to keep updated on what's happening around Alabama. This is just a random list of some of the many Facebook pages we rely on for information. We'll plan to share additional pages in the coming months. Got a favorite? Share it with us on our Facebook group!
- Alabama Sierra Club
- Cahaba Group of the Sierra Club
- Alabama Hiking Trail Society
- WildSouth
- Cahaba River Society
- Alabama Rivers Alliance
- The Nature Conservancy of Alabama
- Birmingham Audubon Society
- Alabama Environmental Council
PROCEDURE FOR SENDING MATERIAL TO THE ALABAMA SIERRAN
Many thanks to Roe Hyche, Bob Hastings, Lucina Horner, and Peggie Griffin for agreeing to be the new newsletter committee.
The newsletter is put together monthly, and material for the newsletter should be sent to plgriffin@comcast.net, with a subject line of "For the Editorial Board" no later than the 15th of the month.
Group newsletter editors may continue sending group meeting information and calendars of events to Joe Watts at joe@joewatts.com, no later than the 25th of each month.
Guidelines for Material:
- The newsletter committee is seeking articles about Alabama environmental issues, articles highlighting Alabama’s special beautiful places, and engaging write-ups about group and chapter activities.
- Articles should be originally written for the Alabama Sierran, factual, and timely.
- A link to another publication should only be used rarely, but if a link is to be used, a full summary of the information (at least a paragraph long) should be written, with the link provided for more detailed information.
- The newsletter committee has the right to make any changes, so that material will meet these guidelines.