Priorities guide the Mobile Bay Shore Habitat Conservation and Acquisition Initiative, as a city implements restoration and conservation.
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund (GEBF) awarded the City of Mobile $6.4 million to implement Phase2 of the Mobile Bay Shore Habitat Conservation and Acquisition Initiative. City of Mobile capital improvement funds complemented the award. Moffatt & Nichol has been on board the project for both Phase 1 due diligence and Phase 2 implementation, as the city embarked on creating living shorelines, hydrologic restoration through bridge raising and barrier removal, and coastal land management. Selected project components were determined to provide the highest and best conservation value to support resources injured in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
As project manager for Phase 2, Moffatt & Nichol was tasked with ensuring successful project implementation. Support included developing a park master plan for the entire area of interest, assisting with land acquisition transactions and conservation easement, and ensuring sub-recipients performed in accordance with GEBF guidelines. Moffatt & Nichol also developed Monitoring and Adaptive Management Plans for the hydrologic restoration and management for these coastal forest lands. Ultimately, these important conservation areas will help Mobile’s vision for providing more access to natural resources through passive recreations, such as blueways, greenways, and biking trails.
