The Importance of Water Quality in Mobile Bay & Coastal Alabama

March 27, 2002 Daphne Civic Center

7:30 AM:            Mr. David Yeager, Director, Mobile Bay National Estuary Program
                         Welcome and Agenda Overview

8:30 AM:            Dr. George Crozier, Executive Director, Dauphin Island Sea Lab
                         Title - Past Water Quality Studies in Mobile Bay & Coastal Alabama

A history of recent Water Quality Characterization studies in Mobile Bay including:  specific Bay issues and available information on toxins, sediment loading, pathogens and nutrient over-enrichment.  Discussion of the effects of pollutants from non-point sources.

9:00 AM:           Dr. Bert Eichold, Mobile County Public Health Officer

                        Dr. Lewis Byrd, Alabama Department of Public Health Seafood Division
                        Title – Water Quality and Public Health

A summary of the potential health impacts and County concerns related to local impacts associated with impaired water quality.  These include:  current concerns with mercury; fish consumption advisories due to toxins; shellfish and seafood safety due to pathogens; drinking water supplies; and waste water disposal issues.

9:45 AM:            Break

10:00 AM:          Dr. Semoon Chang, Director, Center for Business and Economic
                         Research, University of South Alabama

                        Mr. Herb Malone, President and CEO, AL Gulf Coast Convention and
                        Visitors Bureau 
                        Title – Local Economic Impacts of Water Quality

Discussion of the value of economic impacts of Mobile Bay and coastal area waters upon our area:  including the perceptions of tourists and winter visitors regarding plentiful water related recreation, safe drinking water and adequate wastewater disposal.  Also, discussion of how water quality affects population growth and impacts economic development.

11:00 AM:         Mr. James McIndoe, Deputy Chief, Water Division

                        Mr. John Carlton, Chief Mobile Branch Office
                        Alabama Department of Environmental Management

Mr. David Yeager, Director, Mobile Bay National Estuary Program
            Title - Water Quality in Mobile Bay & the Alabama Coastal Area
            A Baseline for Progress Measurement and Action Plans & Partnerships

Discussion of water quality improvement in Alabama during the last 25 years, statistics related to change; milestones and benchmarks.  Discussion of the NEP Water Quality Action Plans and the Coastal Alabama Clean Water Partnership hosted by the Soil and Water Conservation Districts of Mobile and Baldwin Counties.

11:45 AM:            Mr. Preston Bolt, Counselor at Law; Hand, Arendall, LLC.

A facilitated discussion among participants on their perceptions, concerns, and recommendations related to local water quality issues. 

Sponsors:  Mobile Bay National Estuary Program; South Alabama Regional Planning Commission; Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, State Lands Division, Coastal Section; and Envision Mobile Baldwin

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