The environmental health of Mobile Bay - a complex estuary where more than 463,000 gallons drain from two major rivers each second - isn't as bad as one might think, although decades of increased urbanization on Alabama's coastline have done their share of damage, according to a comprehensive new report.
The "State of Mobile Bay" report by the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program culled scientific data from a variety of sources to assess the health of Mobile Bay and the diverse range of creatures and plants that thrive in the estuary. Estuaries form where tidal saltwater interacts with freshwater currents draining into the sea. "It's such a dynamic system," said Roberta Swann, interim director of the estuary program. "Overall, I think you could determine, based on this report, we're in pretty good shape. ...We're hoping this report will be a baseline for us to implement a survey over time."
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