Spanish Fort council asks Army Corps to reconsider Mobile Bay dredge disposal plan
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Summary
The council adopted a resolution asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to investigate alternative dredge-spoil management strategies for the Mobile Harbor expansion after staff said the Corps plans to deposit up to 90 million cubic yards of dredged material into Mobile Bay over the next two decades.
The Spanish Fort City Council unanimously adopted a resolution expressing concern about proposed dredge-spoil disposal into Mobile Bay and asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to investigate alternatives.
City staff explained that the Corps’ Mobile Harbor expansion project is expected to generate large volumes of dredged sediment. “It is anticipated that over the next 20 years ... over 90,000,000 cubic yards of dredged sediment or spoil will be deposited directly into Mobile Bay,” David Connor said. The resolution requests that the Corps consider alternative disposal or management strategies to protect the health of Mobile Bay while allowing the Port of Mobile to continue operations.
Why this matters: the resolution frames potential environmental and economic concerns tied to long-term dredge disposal in a bay that supports fisheries, recreation and port operations. The council directed staff to transmit the resolution to the Army Corps of Engineers promptly.
Action: The council voted to adopt the resolution by roll call; the vote was recorded as unanimous and the mayor instructed staff to prepare and send the document to the Corps.
Next steps: staff will prepare the resolution for delivery to the Corps and follow up as requested by the council.