Weeks Bay, AL

Weeks Bay, tucked along the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, is an oasis of forested wetlands, marshes, and swamps—an area so extraordinary it is one of only three in Alabama to receive the designation of Outstanding Natural Resource Water. The area is home to several endangered animals and plants, and the bay’s clean, shallow waters are a vital nursery for shrimp, blue crab, and other shellfish that support Alabama’s $450 million commercial fishing industry. But like much of the South’s coastline, the Mobile Bay area is growing at an unprecedented rate. Unchecked development has already eaten up thousands of acres of wetlands. Because Weeks Bay is located in a county without zoning, there is concern that overdevelopment will generate polluted runoff and other contaminants that will wash into the bay, degrading water quality and conditions for wildlife. One example is a company’s recent proposal to build a sewage treatment plant right in the Weeks Bay watershed. Without stronger regulations to rein in this kind of inappropriate development, Alabama risks losing one of its most productive natural resources and treasured landscapes.

Learn more about SELC's efforts to protect Weeks Bay. This work is part of our regional Land and Community and Clean Water programs.

Photo: ©Ryan M. Moody