| |
Meeting
on Public Access to the Water from Bayfront Park to Dauphin Island
March 1, 2006
|
Media Contact: Lisa Young
251/861-7509
WHAT: Meeting on Public Access to the Water from Bayfront Park to
Dauphin Island
PRESENTED BY: Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources,
State Lands Division; Auburn University, College of Architecture, Design
and Construction; Dauphin Island Sea Lab; Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant
Consortium; Mobile Bay National Estuary Program
WHEN: Monday, March 13, 2006 – 7pm
WHERE: Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Galathea Hall
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call (251) 861-7507 or e-mail anicholson@disl.org
The challenges of public access to the water are on the rise with
demands for more boat ramps and fishing locales. Last year, various
state agencies collaborated on a survey of public opinion of these
challenges, and used the results to design new access options in the
area south of Bayfront Park to, and including, Dauphin Island.
These plans for improved water access are now ready to be presented to
the public in order to gauge their opinions, comments and suggestions.
On March 13, Charlene LeBleu, Assistant Professor of Community Planning
and Landscape Architecture, Auburn University, will present the results
of the water user survey, an overview of the current challenges, and
design options for improved public access. All users of the water,
including boaters, commercial and recreational fishing interests, oyster
fishing interests, and others, are encouraged to attend this meeting to
deliver their opinions on these plans.
Once public comments are recorded and considered, the state agencies
will engage local and national entities to help enact these plans to
improve coastal access in the future.
“This is an exciting process for all users of the water, whether you’re
an oysterman, a boater, or a family hoping to find a beach on the way to
Dauphin Island,” said Dr. George Crozier, Executive Director of the
Dauphin Island Sea Lab. “The busiest boat ramp in Alabama is the east
end of the island – trailer rage has not yet escalated to violence but
local fishermen have told me that they’d never go back to the island
because of the congestion.” |
|
|
