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The most important fact that defines an estuary is the mixing of fresh and salt water to create brackish water. An estuary is a place of transitions rivers to seas. This is exactly what describes Mobile Bay and its estuarine system. The rivers flowing through Alabama to Mobile Bay meet the water of the Gulf of Mexico. Mobile Bay is the 4th largest estuarine system by volume in the United States and the 6th largest in size. Our estuary is one of the 28 federally designated estuaries of national significance. An estuary is among the most productive environments on earth. Allowing an abundance of wildlife and habitats, this environment creates a fascinating ecosystem.
Our estuary provides direct benefits to the our residents. Flood control, natural filtration buffers for water quality, erosion control, recreation, and, simply enjoyable scenery. The opportunity for a science lesson from a living laboratory is at our doorstep. Regardless of the name it is called, marsh, swamp, or forested wetland, we all have a responsibility to maintain and preserve our very own "National Treasure". To find out how you can help, call the Mobile Bay NEP office, (251) 431-6409 or e-mail us. |
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As you can see from the map, our
study area encompasses a large geographic region. Mobile Bay is a drowned river valley.
The Mobile Tensaw Delta alone is 248,000 acres. Many of the Gulf of
Mexico estuaries are characterized by channels formed by majors rivers. Gulf Coast estuaries are
also known to contain the greatest amount of coastal wetlands and this is true for our
estuary. Mobile Bay is a very important breeding ground for many of the species of aquatic
life that eventually find their way to our oceans. It is within the wetlands of the
estuaries that small fish and shrimp spend early life, safe from larger predators.
Commercial and recreational fishing depend greatly on the functions performed by natural
wetlands to provide "future" catches.