Our Vanishing Island

The West End after Hurricane Katrina
(click photo to enlarge)

Where we are today

As seen in the above photograph, the West End was nearly lost after Hurricane Katrina, and it has only partially restored itself since then.  This area is now in serious crisis again since Tropical Storm Ida in November 2009.  To make matters worse, the winter storms of late 2009 and early 2010 have brought (and continue to bring) relentless wind and rain to the entire Gulf Coast.  The strong wave action generated by these storms is accelerating erosion and further weakening the West End.  The Audubon Bird Sanctuary public beach on the East End has also suffered severe erosion.

We are seeking local, state and federal funding, as well as private funding, for shoreline restoration for all public beach areas on the island.  We particularly seek immediate help to address the crisis zones, to stem the land loss until a long-term solution can be put in place. 

Why save Dauphin Island?

As the only coastal barrier island for the state of Alabama, Dauphin Island - particularly the long western tail of the island - protects the mainland coastal towns of Coden and Bayou La Batre, the coastal marsh south of Route 188, and the estuarine habitat in the Mississippi Sound that is essential to shrimp, oyster, crab and fish production.

Doesn't the Gulf beach belong to private property owners?

NO!  That is a common misunderstanding.  The entire Gulf-side beach on the West End -- from the tide line up to the "first tier" lots -- is PUBLIC.  The Audubon Bird Sanctuary beach on the East End is also public.  These beaches are for ALL of us to enjoy.  But due to massive erosion in the last few years, large portions of the public beach are now underwater.  We want to bring it back.

How bad is it?

The oyster industry around Cedar Point has been decimated due to oversalinatation.  The coastal marsh near Cedar Point now has less protection from hurricanes and wind-driven waves which cause erosion.  And almost 50 lots on the West End beach (and all the public beach south of those lots) are underwater or partially in the water.  In that area, a stretch of public beach 100+ feet wide by 4 miles long has been lost in the last several years.  More businesses, land and homes are threatened every year in the absence of regular shoreline maintenance and ongoing beach renourishment.  Other states and localities provide funding to periodically restore their shorelines and renourish their beaches.  We should too!

I don't own property there.  Why should I care?

In addition to the devastating environmental impact from island land loss, Dauphin Island is the second-highest revenue generator of property tax income for Mobile County.  If the property is lost, so is the property tax revenue.  This also impacts revenue generated by tourists - lodging taxes (from hotel, house and condo rentals) and sales tax income from restaurants, fish markets, stores, boat rentals, slip fees and much more.  Restoring the beaches will restore revenue-generating property that is currently underwater.  This revenue benefits the entire county, as well as the state.

And as mentioned before, these beaches are YOUR beaches.  They are public beaches, and they are there for all Alabamians to enjoy, as well as being tourist destinations for other Americans and even world travelers.  The only public Gulf-front beaches in Mobile County are on Dauphin Island.  Your beaches are disappearing, so fight to keep them!  Other states do!

I want to help.  What can I do?

There are many things you can do!  Sign our petition, join our email list, contact your elected officials.  See our How You Can Help page for details.