COASTAL ENVIRONMENT

Growth in development has converted thousands of acres of land, including wetlands and upland acreage previously under silviculture, to industrial and residential uses. Until 1973, residential development included the construction of elaborate systems of canals through both upland and coastal marsh habitats in order to provide deep-water access. Industrial development has included expansion of shipbuilding and port and harbor facilities, as well as increases in the numbers of wood-product and oil and gas associated operations. Along with development comes increased pollution from both point and nonpoint sources and the associated impacts to the freshwater and near-shore coastal environment.

Nonpoint source pollution is recognized nationwide as a major contributor of contaminants to rivers, waterways and inshore waters. Common sources of nonpoint pollution in Alabama and Mississippi include agriculture (both crop and livestock farming), silviculture, stormwater runoff, failing individual septic systems, surface mining, landfills and hazardous waste sites. Failing septic systems are problems for individual homeowners as well as to the environment. Individual homeowners are concerned because a failing system may cause sewage to back up into their homes. Environmental concerns arise when the native soil is not properly treating the sewage and untreated or partially treated sewage enters the water table, potentially contaminating private drinking water wells, rivers, bayous, or nearshore waters. The degree to which the effluent is purified is dependent on the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil and the elevation of the groundwater table. Coastal plain soils inherently are not good for this type of treatment, yet it is the treatment method most often utilized.

Changes in coastal land use have impacted water-dependent industries. The harvesting sector of the seafood industry has lost access to vital vessel support services such as ice plants, fuel docks, and unloading facilities. Vessels that travel to other ports or states to receive these primary services take with them a substantial portion of the market for secondary support services such as net shops, marine repair businesses, and marine supply businesses. There are many of these small businesses along the Mississippi and Alabama coast. There is also a shortage of mooring facilities for small craft of all types (commercial and recreational). Public access disputes are growing in frequency in Mississippi and Alabama.

As public awareness of the environment grows, so too does the knowledge that no one part of it is isolated from the rest and what were once thought to be "harmless" activities are now known to have potentially large consequences to the quality of our lives. Nowhere has this newfound awareness become more evident than in our coastal areas. Topics like coastal pollution, marine debris, endangered species protection and habitat loss are increasingly part of the public debate about developmental pressures on the environment and associated resources. Other issues facing Mississippi and Alabama include the potential for establishment of invasive species and disease brought into the state either through importation of raw seafood products or the introduction of foreign species through ballast water. Fisheries productivity in many regions has been severely impacted by the introduction of invasive species and disease. More and more people are concerned about the levels of these activities and the "need" to limit them, and/or in some cases, reverse past damage. While this increased debate and participation by the public is welcomed, there is a dark side to public awareness and debate. The limited information on a given subject can and has led to unjustified concerns and confusion over a number of issues, many of which involve controversial state and federal regulations aimed at protecting resources. Simply stated, this problem stems from the limited nature of this "newfound awareness" of the environment and how it may affect someone.

Issues related to loss, alteration and degradation of coastal habitats are often controversial, and decisions made by regulatory agencies concerning protection and conservation of coastal ecosystems will have far-reaching implications for the future. While awareness of environmental issues has increased, true understanding of the issues as they relate to coastal and marine resources is sometimes complicated by the nature of science itself. Gains in understanding are incremental rather than revolutionary and results that are valid today may be modified or overturned as the scientific process evolves. This is particularly true in issues related to living marine resources. Transfer of knowledge in a manner understandable to the lay public and to those responsible for conservation of coastal resources is paramount.