2018 Feb 19-22, President's Special The Inn at Christmas Place Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Presidents Day, Monday, February 19
For breakfast, I cooked bacon, eggs, and toast.
Hubby and I rode to Athens to leave the Chrysler Van for repairs.
Filled up with gas at Murphy's in Athens.

We rode to Madison to look at an old Fireo.
We stopped at Dollar General for snacks, meat skins, and drinks.
We rode through Jasper, South Pittsburg, Whiteside, Chattanooga, and Trenton, stopping at Richville Rest Area, where I took pictures of Pushing Forward Knoxville Union Army on the Move.

We traveled US 72 through Huntsville, crossing into Tennessee near South Pittsburg. We then took I-24 through Chattanooga to I-75 N, continuing to Knoxville. From Knoxville, we took I-40 to Kodak, then followed 66 to Sevierville and 441 into Pigeon Forge.

We went to Huck Finn's for dinner, for we had skipped lunch.
My Hubby ordered the small catfish plate with creamed potatoes and fixings.
I ordered the Cajun Grilled Trout with creamed potato and fixings. (white beans, Coleslaw, onions, pickles, and hushpuppies.

Huck Finn's 

We took several pictures at Huck Finn's.
We checked into The Inn at Christmas Place at 4:38 P.M. for two nights.
We took our luggage to the room and returned up front in time to listen to the Christmas Bells Chime.
We rode through Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg, where we saw many Christmas Lights for Winterfest.
We saw Johnny Rockets, Bubba Gumps, Dicks Last Resort, Dude's Daiquiris, Texas Roadhouse, Calhoun's, Hollywood Star Cars, and Cooters'.
We returned to Pigeon Forge, where we saw a building illuminated in green light.
We saw a sign that read Dollywood loves every moment. Turn here.
We saw a storefront with alligators, sharks, and bear statues.
We rode through the archway at the Old Mill, which was covered in Christmas Lights of red and white.
Hubby took my picture in front of a picture of people skating at the Old Mill.
We bought a bag of yellow stone-ground cornmeal and apple fritter mix.
We rode to Patriot Park, stopping to take several pictures and videos. Stayed on the sidewalk because the ground in the park was still full of water from all the rain.
As we rode through Pigeon Forge, we saw Arcade lit up in neon lights and a new attraction called Alcatraz East Prison.

We rode through The Island, where we saw the carousel, fair wheel, Margaritaville, and Paula Deans's Family Kitchen.
We stopped to take several pictures of Dolly Parton's Smoky Mountain Adventures, which was covered in Christmas Lights; it was closed for the season.
We also saw the Magic Quest on our way back to The Inn at Christmas Place.
At 7:30 P.M., we sat on the balcony at the Inn eating oatmeal raisin, Chocolate, and Sugar cookies served with hot apple cider.
It was a clear and warm night as we watched the flow of traffic and all the Christmas lights that surrounded the Inn.
We retired for the night, for it had been a very tiring day.

February 20, Tuesday
Took showers, dressed, and walked downstairs to the dining room for breakfast.
I got three sausage links and watched the cook prepare my made-to-order omelet.
I chose mushrooms, spinach, peppers, ham, and cheese.
The cook said he loved to cook, and I told him that my middle son loved to cook.
I said you have to have a knack for flipping omelets, but he said it takes a good pan.

It was still a little foggy outside, and too early for stores to open, so we went back to our room. Hubby watched TV, and I wrote in my journal.
Last night, before we went out, we talked to the bellman of the Inn. He said his daughter was the manager at the front desk, and he was a retired Sheriff of 25 years. He still worked part-time to get his 30 years of service. He said that he loved working at the INN.
At 10 A.M., we rode to Gloria Vanderbilt and Lee's, where we bought Hubby a shirt.
We went to the Tanger outlet, where I bought a shirt from Under Armor and a black and white shirt from Nike. (I had only brought long-sleeved tops, and it was 77 degrees outside) It is too hot for long sleeves.
We rode to Bass Pro in Kodak, where we bought my husband a couple of shirts.
We ate dinner at Uncle Buck's, located inside Bass Pro Shops. We had all-you-can-eat shrimp for $9.99.

Uncle Buck's All-You-Can-Eat Shrimp.

We rode to the Douglas Dam and park, stopping to take several pictures.
We filled up with gas at Murphy's.
We rode by the Apple Bar, where we saw two geese waddling near the Little Pigeon River.
We stopped at the Upside-Down Museum, the Hatfield & McCoys, the Hard Rock Cafe, and the Titanic to take pictures.
We stopped at Dixie Stampede to take pictures of the horses.
We parked at The Island, walked around, stopped for Ice Cream, and finally sat down to watch the fountain dance to music.

Hatfield & McCoys 

The Island 

Watching Fountains Dance with the Sunset

Margaretville

We walked to the Margaretville Hotel, a gift shop, and a restaurant to take pictures.
We rode back to the Inn around 7 P.M.
From 8–9 P.M., we listened to Santa sing Christmas Carols and religious and Country Songs.
After the performance, we enjoyed milk, cider, and cookies.

Wednesday, February 21
My husband and I enjoyed a nice hot breakfast, packed, and checked out of the Inn, and started for home.
We stopped at the Rest Area in Jasper, TN, and Richville.
Hubby dropped me off in Athens to pick up the van.
Hubby rode to Madison to buy that Fireo we had looked at before we went on our trip. It had to be towed home. Hubby bought the Fireo parts for his Fireo.
Today is my grandson's twenty-seventh birthday, so we are meeting him, his wife, dad, and sister at Logan's Roadhouse for dinner.
Hubby and I ate hot rolls and fried mushrooms.
I gave my grandson a birthday card with money inside for his birthday. He said they were taking their camper to Fort Wilderness Campground and going to Universal Studios Theme Park for the weekend.

2018 Feb 24-25, Focused on Nature Photography Weekend Saturday

I checked into Joe Wheeler State Park Lodge for a fun-filled weekend.

Joe Wheeler State Park Lodge

The day began around 8AM with Nature Photography, taught by Rocky from Athens.

The next speaker was Joe from Tuscumbia he talked about photo editing featuring Lightroom & Photoshop. He also encouraged everyone to take photos in Raw format.

We broke for lunch.

Sharon joined me for lunch at the lodge, and we both enjoyed a baked potato.

We had a guided field trip to take pictures of waterfowl at Wheeler and Wilson Dam, with Guntersville’s park rangers Mike and Sharon riding with me.

Waterfowl at Wilson Dam 

I also took Sharon by River Heritage Park behind the Marriott Hotel. 

We rode back to the lodge to freshen up for dinner.

Hubby joined us for dinner in the Cypress Room at (7PM).

For dinner, I enjoyed fried catfish, salad, Coleslaw, and cheesecake covered with blueberries.

After dinner, a Wildlife show (Birds of Prey) was presented in the Cypress Room by David, the park ranger from Reelfoot Lake.

For show and tell, David brought a Red Tail Hawk, an Eagle, a Horned Owl, and a Barn Owl.

These are animals that have been rescued and cannot be released back into the wild because of a handicap.

Sunday 

Hubby stayed for the breakfast buffet in the dining room. We enjoyed crisp bacon, eggs, waffles, and coke. 

Hubby left for work after breakfast. I joined the rest of the group outside for more of the wildlife show. 

Barn Owl and Great Horned Owl 

Red Tail Hawk 

Our last adventure was a Pontoon boat excursion on Wheeler Lake to look for wildlife and Waterfowl.

Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day, but today was cloudy and cold, so I had to add several layers of clothing for the water adventure. 

We did see a pair of Red Tail Hawks sitting on the top of a tree. 

We had about 12 people on the boat excursion.

A couple from Tuscumbia, a couple from Trenton, Mississippi, a couple from Guntersville, a couple that likes to take pictures of old barns, a couple from Olive Branch, Mississippi, and Capitan Steve, our boat guide.

The wind was around 12 mph and a bit cold, so we traveled near the shoreline up to Wheeler Dam.

Captain Steve showed us the lock water discharge.

Hundreds of birds sitting around waiting for fresh fish 

It is the process of draining the lock, and the circular wall is the "discharge barrier," but local folks call it the "blow hole.”

I joined my sister, great-niece, and dad for lunch at Bojangles. 

2018 Feb, Swimming with Dolphins and Sea Lion Show Chankanaab National Park Cozumel, Mexico

Sea Lion Show 

Dolphin's Names:

Aitana, Amadeus, Anaeli, Apolo, Da Vinci, Diego, Gandhi, Jupiter, Kathy, Krista, Leia, Louis, Frida, Marina, Miracle, Noel, Olympia, Rames, Scarlett, Thor, Zuman

Swimming with Dolphins

Swimming with Dolphins

Kissing the Sea Lion

Wheeler National Wild Life Refuge at Visitor Center

• National Wildlife Refuge System

  The National Wildlife Refuge System is a network of United States lands and waters managed specifically for wildlife. 

  Units of the system stretch across the continent from the icy north shores of Alaska to the balmy Florida Keys and beyond to tropical islands in the Caribbean and the South Pacific.

  
  

  
  

  "Born of Necessity...Managed with Care"

  
  

  U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service
  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for protecting and conserving our country's wild birds, mammals, and fish for the enjoyment of all people. Cooperating with states and other countries, the Fish and Wildlife Service carries out several programs to preserve our priceless wildlife heritage.
  
  
  Refuges
  Migratory Birds
  Fisheries 
  Federal Aid 
  Law Enforcement
  Ecological Services
  
  U. S. Department of the Interior

  
  

  Wheeler National Wild Life Refuge 
  Established in 1938, Wheeler Wild Life Refuge protects and manages 35,000 acres of wetlands and forests for wildlife and provides various recreational opportunities for visitors.
  
  Waterfowl and wildlife
  Thousands of migratory waterfowl each fall, including 26 species of ducks and four species of geese, arrive at the refuge to overwinter. Sandhill cranes are numbering in the thousands, and it is also winter here.
  
  More than 500 wildlife species, including songbirds, wading birds, hawks, deer, turtles, and snakes, inhabit the refuge. Twelve of these species are federally listed as threatened or endangered.
  
  Habitat
  Wheeler Wild Life Refuge comprises diverse habitat types, including bottomland hardwoods, wetlands, pine uplands, shoreline or riparian woodlands, agricultural fields, and backwater embayments. These habitats provide excellent feeding, resting, and roosting sites for wintering waterfowl and Sandhill cranes as well as nesting sites for migratory songbirds and many species of resident wildlife.
  
  Wildlife Management
  Local farmers cultivate several thousand acres of cropland on a share agreement. During harvest, a portion of the crop is left in the field as a food source for waterfowl and other wildlife. Each fall, the refuge plants wheat to provide green browse for wintering geese.
  
  Water control structures are used in wet areas to control water levels. This type of management provides food for waterfowl by encouraging the growth of native plants in moist areas.
  
  Refuge Lands Within Redstone Arsenal
  Highways
  Secondary Roads
  Refuge Boundary
  Visitor Center
  Wildlife Observation
  Boating
  Flint Creek Environmental Area & Universally Accessible Fishing Pier
  
  Recreational Opportunity
  The Visitor Center offers wildlife exhibits, a gift shop, a large auditorium, two walking trails, special events, and refuge information.
  
  The Wildlife Observation Building located a short walk from the Visitor Center, offers a unique setting for viewing wildlife. December through February, when large concentrations of waterfowl and Sandhill cranes are in the area, is a good time for viewing, especially just before sunset.
  
  Fishing is a very popular activity on the refuge. Six improved boat launch areas provide access to miles of water in Wheeler Reservoir and adjacent creeks where bass, crappie, bream, and catfish are often caught.
  
  Hunting for deer, squirrel, rabbit, opossum, raccoon, feral hog, and quail is allowed on Wheeler NWR. Special regulations apply, and a refuge hunting permit is required. Waterfowl hunting is not permitted on the refuge.
  
  Wildlife Photography is encouraged on the refuge. One fully enclosed, permanent bend near the observation pond may be reserved for a special use permit.
  
  Environmental Education/Interpretation is an essential program at Wheeler NWR. Organized groups may reserve dates for presentations, wildlife tours, and outdoor classroom activities.
  
  Nature Trails, ranging in length from 200 yards to 3 miles, provide opportunities to observe birds and other wildlife. The Visitor Center has maps and additional information.
  
  The Visitor Center is open daily, October through February, from Rufrom ary to  9 A.The hours are from March through September 9–4 P.M., Tuesday through Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday
  Phone:256-350-6639
  Website: www.fws.gov/wheeler

Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Complex

Boating 
There are six improved and several unimproved boat launching facilities located on the
Refuge. Improved facilities are those with pad-ed parking and concrete launch ramps. Unimproved facilities are those with dirt or graveled small parking areas and dirt or gravel launch ramps. 

Improved Ramps 
Arrowhead Landing: Located in Limestone County on the west central portion of Limestone Bay. 

Triana: Located south of the town of Triana in Madison County, where Indian Creek flows into the Tennessee River. This is the easternmost boat ramp. 

Hickory Hills: Located in Morgan County on the northern portion of Flint Creek. 
Bluff City: Located in Morgan County on the southern bank of the Tennessee River, approximately nine miles upstream from the U. S. Highway 31 bridges. 

Sharp’s Ford/Cotaco Creek: Located in Morgan County on the western bank of Cotaco Creek at Sharp’s Ford Road. 

Tallulah/Sunnyside Landing: Located in Morgan County on the southern bank of the Tennessee River, approximately twelve miles upstream from the U. S. Highway 31 bridges. 


Unimproved Ramps
Arrowhead Landing:# 1 & #2 
Located in Limestone County on the west central portion of Limestone Bay.

Rockhouse: Located in Limestone County on the north bank of the Tennessee River, approximately six miles upstream from the U. S. Highway 31 bridges. 

Flint Creek: Located in Morgan County on Flint Creek near Alabama Highway 67. 
Duncan Hill: 
Located in Morgan County at the Flint Creek/Garth Slough confluence. 

Susie Hole: Located in Morgan County on the south side of Garth Slough. 
Cave Springs Mussel Camp: Located in Morgan County on the south bank of the Tennessee River, approximately five miles upstream from the U. S. Highway 31 bridges. 

Madden Branch: Located in Morgan County at the Madden Branch/Cataco Creek confluences S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Hunting 
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge is one of over 500 national wildlife refugees. The primary objective of a national wildlife refuge is to provide a habitat for the conservation and protection of all species of wildlife.
Carefully managed hunts are one tool used to manage wildlife 
populations.

Small and large game hunting with bows and flintlocks provides high-quality recreation for many people. Wheeler NWR offers public hunting on approximately 18,000 acres, and hunting regulations are published each year
in the WNWR hunting permit brochure. Hunters are allowed to hunt white-tailed deer, feral hogs, squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, opossums, and quail. 
Waterfowl hunting is not permitted on the refuge.

500+ acres between HGH Road and the Tennessee River are designated as a special access hunting area for disabled hunters. 
Special access permits are available at Refuge Headquarters.

Fishing is a very popular activity at Wheeler NWR, with an estimated 274,000 anglers trying their luck each year in the 18,000 acres of refuge waters.
Many creeks and sloughs adjoin the main channel of the Tennessee River throughout the refuge. Old river channels, open blackwater embayments, and
miles of tree-lined creeks and streams provide excellent fishing opportunities for largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, stripped, and hybrid bass, bluegill and redear sunfish, crappie, sauger, several species of catfish, and a few yellow perch. 

A universally accessible fishing pier is available on Flint Creek across Highway 67 from the Visitor Center. 

A three-acre catfish pond is available for organized events. 
Each year, groups ranging from special needs children and adults to summer
day campers and cub scouts enjoy fishing at the pond. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Water Level Management
Wheeler NWR staff manages impoundment water levels on the refuge to provide habitat for wintering waterfowl. Impoundments are enclosed bodies of water such as a reservoir. The management of these areas creates moist soil and flooded cropland conditions that produce natural, desirable vegetation and high-calorie food for waterfowl. Impoundments last benefit colonial water birds, marsh birds, and shorebirds. 

To grow moist soil plants, water levels in the impoundments must be lowered in the spring for the germination of wetland plants. The areas are then flooded in the fall just before waterfowl begin to arrive. A lack of water management limits food and plant options for the birds. This management objective is difficult to accomplish when TVA raises and lowers Wheeler Reservoir with a schedule that is opposite to what is needed for sustaining waterfowl. 

Farming 
3.500 - 4,000 acres are cooperatively farmed on the refuge. Cooperative farming is a mutually beneficial arrangement where the farmer is allowed to farm refuge land under certain guidelines and restrictions, including that a certain share of the crop (18-20%) be left for waterfowl and wildlife. It provides food, browses, cover, and nesting areas for waterfowl and other wildlife species. 

Crops grown include soybeans, corn, winter wheat, milo, and millet. Various waterfowl, such as Canada geese, Snow Geese, Sandhill Cranes, and Mallards, feed in the fields during fall and winter. Deer enjoy feeding on corn, soybeans, and winter wheat, while raccoons and squirrels drag ears of corn into the woods and feed on it there. Various species of songbirds feed on these crops also.

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge at Flint Creek

National Wildlife Refuge
Wheeler 
How Can You Help?

1. Dispose of fishing lines, hooks, and trash in the bins and containers provided. 

2. Pick up any trash you see. 

3. If you pack it in, you can pack it out.

4. Volunteer with the Wildlife Refuge for clean-up events. 

Reminder: artifact collecting is not permitted.

Contact Information 
Refuge Headquarters
256-353-7243
Visitor Center - 256-350-6639
In case of an emergency, call 911

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
Refuge Lands Within Redstone Arsenal
Highways
Roads
Refuge Boundary
Visitor Center
Wildlife Observation
Boating
Flint Creek Environmental 
Area & Universally Accessible Fishing PierU. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Our History 
1838
Trail of Tears: The discovery of gold in Georgia and thirst for land expansion prompted the U.S. Government and white communities to force the Cherokee nation from their ancestral lands. During the summer and winter of 1838, the first three detachments driven west traveled by water on the Tennessee River from Ross's Landing near present-day Chattanooga. They followed the river through Alabama and West Tennessee before merging with other rivers and eventually arriving in Oklahoma.

1933
TVA ACT: In May of 1933, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Tennessee Valley Authority Act creating the TVA. The Tennessee Valley Authority was designed to modernize the region, using experts and electricity to combat problems in the area. A primary part of the plan was to produce electricity and provide flood relief by constructing a series of dams along the Tennessee River and its tributaries.

1934
TVA COMES TO Town TVA acquired land in the middle third of the valley in 1934-35 to serve as a bed for and buffer around Wheeler Reservoir. Interested individuals and organizations urged that the government take advantage of the newly constructed reservoir to replace the waterfowl habitat.

1938 
AN EXPERIMENT: On July 7, 1938, President Franklin Roosevelt set aside the middle third of the new reservoir as an experimental national wildlife refuge to see if multi-purpose reservoirs could be made attractive to waterfowl. The reservoir and new refuge were named for General Joseph Wheeler, who lived near Decatur.

1950 
POLLUTION: Rachel Carson's 1962 classic, Silent Spring, documented the serious environmental problems caused by pesticide pollution, including those in the Flint Creek Watershed. In the late summer of 1950, farmers experiencing a very wet season reapplied pesticides to their crops multiple times because they kept washing off in the frequent rains. These high volumes of pesticides washed into Flint Creek, killing most of the fish.

Present 
HERE AND NOW, Impacted greatly by its controversial history, this section of the Tennessee River and Flint Creek is vastly different from what they were over 170 years ago when the Cherokee traveled west. Industries have sprung up, dams have been built, commercial water traffic is considerable, and recreational boating facilities have developed. Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge is one of the few areas remaining along the river that is dedicated to conserving the character of our wild and natural heritage.
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Flint Creek 
Flint Creek is a slow-flowing, meandering stream influenced by the fluctuating water levels of Wheeler Reservoir. The creek and its tributaries are comprised of 150 miles of streams that drain over 291,000 acres of land in Morgan, Lawrence, and Cullman counties. Its headwaters are in northern Cullman County, and the creek flows into Morgan County, where it converges with West Flint Creek near US Highway 31. As it confluence with the Tennessee River at mile 308.5

Fishing and Land 
the Flint Creek shoreline offers a wide variety of hardwoods, bluffs, farms, and wildlife, while the stream itself is home to crappie, bream, bass, catfish, and a few yellow perch. Much of the land surrounding the creek is within the TVA Reservation and Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, making it accessible to the public. Improved boat launching areas are available at Hickory Hills and Hwy 31 South. There is an improved launch area suitable for small boats and canoes located south of US Highway 67. This universally accessible pier was built so everyone can enjoy what the watershed has to offer.

Watershed Project 
The Flint Creek Watershed Project is a multiagency cooperative led by local leaders and watershed residents. In 1996, a Watershed Conservatory District was established, and plans were developed with the assistance of two federal agencies, five Alabama state agencies, and three local soil and water conservation districts. A variety of projects, including agricultural demonstrations, well sampling programs, on-site wastewater demonstrations, and riparian zone management efforts, have been implemented by this project. Public outreach activities include household hazardous waste days and pesticides.

Seagrass, Soup of the Sea and Migratory Birds

Soup of the Sea

Plankton are organisms that drift with currents. Plankton can be plant-like phytoplankton or animal-like zooplankton. Most plankton are small, but even larger organisms are considered plankton if they live their lives drifting with currents. Plankton is found in freshwater and saltwater all over the earth, and it is very important to humans. 

Thank your plankton

Imagine your favorite seafood - shrimp - crab, oysters, fish ... thanks to phytoplankton, we can enjoy this mouthwatering cuisine from the sea. Phytoplankton provides two things that are essential for animals  (including us) to live. One is food. Like plants on land, they use sunlight and nutrients to produce food. They're the base of the food chain in the ocean. Many tiny animals eat phytoplankton and, in turn, get eaten by larger animals up the food chain. Without plankton, we would not have seafood. 

Now, take a deep breath. The second essential ingredient produced by phytoplankton is oxygen. Estimates vary, but most scientists agree that phytoplankton makes up a significant portion of the air on Earth. 

There's a zoo out there.

Zooplankton eat. Many eat phytoplankton, and many eat smaller zooplankton. They are an important part of the food chain. A shark may never eat plankton and has no idea it exists, but it depends on plankton for all of its food. 

Many zooplankters go through a metamorphosis. Some of them are plankton for part of their lives and then grow large enough to swim against currents or settle to the bottom. Those are called meroplankton. Holoplankton are plankton their whole lives.

You might recognize the adult forms of many meroplankters. See if you can match the adult forms with their planktonic forms below.

Broth of the Bay

Look up at Mobile Bay. These are some of the planktonic organisms that are common in the bay. 

Plankton is collected with special nets like this one. The nets have tiny holes and are pulled along the water's surface. 

Crabs go through metamorphosis, much like butterflies or frogs. The megalops is one larval stage for crabs. 

Bristle worms get their name from their many bristles that are used for movement. They are related to earthworms. 

Dinoflagellates are phytoplankton. Some of them can glow like fireflies. Some make toxins that can be harmful to humans when there are lots of dinoflagellates in the water.

Diatoms are phytoplankton. They produce glass-like skeletons that are used in a variety of products. The grit in your toothpaste might come from diatoms. 

This is a nauplius, a larval form that is common to many different crustaceans, including barnacles. 

Copepods are thought to be the most abundant animals on earth. 

They are found in salt and fresh water and even in damp soil. 

They are incredibly strong for their size.

Saving and Restoring our Seagrasses

Threats to Seagrass

Nearly 80% of all seagrasses in coastal Alabama have been lost since the 1950s. 

A constant threat to seagrass beds is scarring created by boats' propellers and anchors. When boaters navigate across shallow areas or anchors. In seagrass beds, deep scars are created that can take years to recover, leading to erosion and further loss of seagrass. Poor water quality is also a major factor that poses a serious threat to the health of seagrass. For example, excessive sediments in the water limit the light perpetration necessary for plant survival.

How can we protect our seagrasses?

What are we Doing?

To help propeller scars heal and protect seagrass beds from further scarring, local partners are implementing protection and restoration projects throughout lower Perdido Bay, including Little Lagoon, the island near Perdido Pass and Ole River.

No motor and sensitive seagrass area signs will identify seagrass beds to help boaters navigate through or around shallow water sites containing seagrass. 

The scientist is using bird stakes to attract local waterfowl whose guano deposits will provide natural fertilizer to the propeller scars to promote the growth and expansion of surrounding seagrass.  

What can you do?

Be aware of idle or raised motors and poles when navigating through shallow areas.

Set anchors in sandy areas, avoiding seagrass beds.

Obey No Motor Zone or Sensitive Seagrass areas signs: wade, troll, pole, or kayak when navigating through these areas to your favorite fishing or beach spot. 

Seagrasses Coastal Nursery Habitats

What are seagrasses

Seagrasses are flowering plants that live in the shallow waters of every continent except Antarctica. 

Seagrass beds containing shoal grass and turtle grass are found in Alabama's calm and shallow coastal waters. 

Why are seagrasses important?

Seagrass beds provide food and protection for juvenile fish and shellfish, including many economically important species such as speckled trout, redfish, blue crabs, and shrimp. 

Many types of waterfowl feed on seagrasses, as do threatened and endangered species, such as manatees and green turtles.

Seagrasses help stabilize bottom sediment, filter runoff, and absorb nutrients from surrounding landscapes. 

Alabama's Coastal Connection

Migratory Birds

In search of food and shelter

Each fall, millions of birds leave North America and cross the Gulf of Mexico to spend the winter in South and Central America and the island of the Caribbean. In the spring, they make the return flight to their Northern American breeding grounds. Alabama's Gulf Coast provides an important rest stop for these travelers. Stopover areas are a key element in maintaining bird populations. 

With increased development along the entire Gulf Coast, tracts of diverse, forested lands such as these are disappearing. 

Migratory species, as well as resident birds, use this diverse landscape for foraging, resting, and evading predators. Birds must find enough food to provide energy for the long-distance flight to nesting sites far north. Migratory butterflies are dependent on food such as paw, paw, and passion flower larval growth. Songbirds feed on insects and berries, while shorebirds hunt for invertebrates in the mudflats. 

The western end of the Fort Morgan peninsula is an important stopover site for migratory birds and has become a nationally known hotspot for birders. When adverse weather forces birds to the ground during a spring "fallout," the birding can be spectacular, although treacherous for the exhausted birds that must find a safe place to recover. 

Bird species commonly seen during migration include vireos, warblers, flycatchers, buntings, and hummingbirds, The Monarch butterfly migration can also be breathtaking during fall when weather conditions are favorable. 

Alabama's Coastal Connection 

Permeable Parking 

A better way to go 

Combined sewer systems are remnants of the country's early infrastructure, and so are typically found in older communities. Combined sewer systems are designed to collect rainwater runoff, domestic sewage, and industrial wastewater in the same pipe. Most of the time, combined sewer systems transport all of their wastewater to a sewage treatment plant, where it is treated and then discharged to a water body. Heavy rainfall adds stormwater so that the wastewater volume in a combined sewer system exceeds the capacity of the system.

Combined sewer systems are designed to overflow occasionally and discharge excess untreated wastewater directly to nearby streams, rivers, or other water bodies. 

These combined sewer overflows also contain untreated human and industrial waste, toxic materials, and debris. 

The expansion of impermeable surfaces associated with urban sprawl and automobiles has so increased the stormwater volumes that the combined systems are being separated at great expense. The result is that stormwater runoff that used to receive treatment at the plants is now being delivered to receiving streams and coastal estuaries like Mobile Bay.

Water running off of roads, bridges, and parking lots has been estimated to be the largest volume of untreated wastewater in this country. Even twenty years ago, the Federal Highway Administration estimated that 25 million tons of rubber wear off the nation's tires every week -50 tons/week in Alabama. Since rubber is biodegradable, the process of biodegradation consumes oxygen when it occurs in streams and estuaries. Also of concern are the heavy metals found in steel-belted radial tires, oil, antifreeze, or even transmission fluid. 

The parking lot at the Estuarium allows all stormwater and associated contaminants to percolate down through the gravel, providing an enormous surface area for microbial treatment of the waste, returning it to the water and carbon dioxide. Any contaminated waste that remains cannot reach the shallow freshwater aquifers that lead either to the Bay or Dauphin Island community wells because an impermeable membrane four feet down traps it and sends it through a filter system that removes the hydrocarbon contaminants. The water and any overflows of the system then flow into a detention pond where the vegetation, including the common cane and other plants, remove any nutrients that contribute to low dissolved oxygen levels in the Bay.