We are building a strategic nutrient program to work with farmers, industry, and elected officials to reduce the nutrients that cause low oxygen events in our waters.
What we do to resolve this issue:
Our Field and Research team is establishing a plan to track baseline data on nutrients and water clarity at key submerged aquatic vegetation sites across the Mobile Bay watershed. By working with experts already doing this work we can leverage the data available and regularly test water quality and survey seagrass populations, to be able to show the scientific case for reducing fertilizer runoff into Mobile Bay. Our goal is to clearly show the impacts of over-fertilization over time and empower our community to take action to restore water quality.
This concerted effort allows us to create a robust scientific case for mitigating fertilizer runoff into our cherished Mobile Bay. It’s not just about gathering data; it’s about weaving a narrative that depicts the true cost of over-fertilization on our environment. With each test and every survey, we’re compiling a dossier of evidence to underscore the urgent need for community-driven action to restore and maintain the pristine quality of our waterways.
By sharing our findings, we aim to galvanize local residents, businesses, and policymakers, empowering them with the knowledge and tools to collectively combat the adverse effects of nutrient pollution.
Imagine a bay, once clouded with algae, now a vibrant ecosystem where seagrasses wave in clear waters. This was the transformation achieved in Tampa Bay, Florida, where persistent algae blooms caused by excessive nutrients once prevented sunlight from reaching the seafloor, decimating seagrasses — vital habitats for marine life. The turnaround came when systematic monitoring and improved wastewater treatment cut down the nutrient overload, clearing the way for seagrass recovery. It is this model of environmental stewardship that Mobile Baykeeper aspires to replicate in the Mobile Bay.
Tampa Bay’s journey from a nutrient-saturated bay with vanishing seagrasses to a revitalized waterway with thriving marine habitats underscores the effectiveness of setting and enforcing numeric nutrient criteria (NNC). These criteria are precise limits on nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, which, when exceeded, can lead to harmful algae blooms that shade out and kill seagrasses. In Tampa Bay, the implementation of NNC helped reduce nutrient levels, allowing the seagrasses to make an extraordinary comeback. This success story serves as a guiding star for Mobile Baykeeper’s advocacy for NNC in Alabama.
In Alabama, the absence of NNC leaves our waterways vulnerable to the same threats that once plagued Tampa Bay. Excessive nutrients from various sources degrade water quality and harm the delicate balance of aquatic ecosystems. By advocating for the adoption of NNC, we are seeking to establish clear, science-based standards to prevent nutrient overload and protect our bay.
As with Tampa Bay, the path to cleaner waters is paved with cooperation. We are rallying a diverse coalition of individuals and organizations to support the establishment of NNC. This collective effort is aimed at demonstrating the broad-based commitment to cleaner, healthier waters and the long-term benefits such standards can provide.
Mobile Baykeeper is committed to achieving for Mobile Bay what was accomplished in Tampa Bay — a vibrant, resilient aquatic environment, safeguarded by effective nutrient management. Through the implementation of NNC, we envision a future where Mobile Bay’s waters are as renowned for their clarity and ecological diversity as those of Tampa Bay are today.
The restoration of Tampa Bay’s waters highlighted the critical role of reducing nutrient discharges from point sources. This precedent informs our targeted approach in Mobile Bay, where we are not just advocating for change but actively working to secure tangible commitments from key dischargers.
Our efforts are concentrated on securing actionable, voluntary agreements with wastewater treatment plants, industrial operations, and agricultural producers. These commitments are not merely symbolic; they are specific pledges to implement changes that will result in a quantifiable reduction of nutrient loads entering Mobile Bay. The goal is to move beyond advocacy and achieve real, on-the-ground progress.
Success is grounded in the willingness of these facilities to embrace change and adopt new, cleaner methods of operation. Pilot projects and voluntary commitments are key steps in this process, showcasing the practicality and benefits of sustainable practices. These initiatives serve as real-world examples that inspire broader adoption across the watershed.
The expected outcome of these collaborations is a more balanced ecosystem in Mobile Bay, where reductions in nutrient pollution lead to clearer waters and healthier marine habitats. While the task is significant, the proven results from other regions like Tampa Bay offer a blueprint for success and an achievable goal for the health of Mobile Bay’s waters.
