Weeks Bay Watershed Management Plan

Welcome to our short survey...

Thompson Engineering has been awarded a contract to develop a Watershed Management Plan for the Weeks Bay Watershed. Work began on this project in January 2016 and will be complete by the end of March 2017. Actions recommended in this plan will be considered for funding.

An extremely important part of the this project is gathering input from people who live, work, and enjoy the watershed. On March 2, 2016, we held a stakeholder engagement and visioning workshop with breakout groups of farmers, environmental group leaders, developers, businesses, elected officials, homeowners, scientists, engineers, and city/county staff members. Each group identified strengths and positive trends, weaknesses and negative trends, and identified opportunities for improvement.

Now it's your turn: We've listed some of the major things that this group came up with on the next page (you can find all of their items at www.mobilebaynep.com). Please take 3 minutes to help us rank them in order of importance and tell us what they have missed.

Thanks for your help!

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* 1. Strengths: In a large workshop on March 2nd, the participants identified the following items as things that are right and should be preserved/strengthened in the Weeks Bay Watershed. Now it's your turn to help: Please rank each item in order of importance: 1 is most important, 9 is least important.

Water quality

We have strict limitations on effluent discharges

Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (education and outreach)

Cities/County storm water management

Largely undeveloped

Active caring community

Recreational opportunities, public access

Fish and Wildlife

Natural flowing habitats and rivers

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* 2. Weaknesses & Threats: In the same workshop, they identified these items as what’s not right or as negative trends. Once again, we need your input: Please rank each item in order of importance. 1 is most important, 9 is least important.

Flooding

Not enough public access

Inconsistency of rules/regulations among municipalities

Failing septic systems and sewage system overflows

Sedimentation, lower water depth

Lack of land use control

Rapid development- increased impervious surfaces and conversion of Ag land to urban

Uneducated public - lack of understanding of impacts

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* 3. What else? Are there strengths or weaknesses/threats that aren't listed above that we should consider? Please put an "S" or a "W" next to each of your thoughts.

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* 4. Opportunities: The workshop came up with these ideas for improvement. While our scientists will identify more areas in the next few months, we would like your input on these. Please rank this list, again 1 is the most important and 8 is the least.

Reduce pathogens from leaking septic tanks or sewage system overflows

Promote Low Impact Development

Consistent comprehensive watershed based storm water management plan

Regular meetings of stakeholders

Buy land for preservation to protect watershed

Educate engineering communities, developers, farmers, and approving authorities

Identify livestock operations that have animals with access to stream/wetlands

Public education and awareness

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* 5. Any other ideas? Please share your thoughts...

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* 6. To help us tabulate the responses, let us know your relationship with the Weeks Bay Watershed. Check all that apply...

I live, own property, or have a vacation home on the Fish River

I live, own property, or have a vacation home on the Magnolia River

I live or work in the Weeks Bay Watershed

I am active in an environmental organization that is concerned about this watershed

I am a member of federal, state, county, or municipal government

I farm in the Weeks Bay Watershed

I fish and boat in the Weeks Bay Watershed

I just enjoy the Weeks Bay Watershed!

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* 7. Want us to stay in touch? Please share your contact information...

Name

Address

Address 2

City/Town

State/Province

ZIP/Postal Code

Email Address

Phone Number